Kirby's Marble-ous Mill 2021
Learning the game of marbles (Jim McClintock)
Elizabeth & Louie Reboudo as Mr. & Mrs MarBelle, ready to hand our marbles to all who earned them (Clive Fetzer)
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A happy treasure hunter on the trail (Rob Richardson)
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Close up view of the Fairy Garden (Chris Naizer)
Guests try out the spiral marble run in the Fairy Garden ( Rob Richardson)
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James Kirby, as portrayed by Rob Kazar, joined the fun. (Jim McClintock)
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The axle on Kirby's water wheel balanced on ball bearings - the first of it's kind! (Sandy Norris)
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Ecent Marshall Clive Fetzer poses beside a history display (Rob Richardson)
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Check-in at the Lodge (Rob Richardson)
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Oviatt House, Inc booth with Bob Hooper and Judy Makowski
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Two guests at one of the Waypoints (Jim McClintock)
Marble run facilitator Mary Estelle Bilunas (Chris Naizer)
Detail of Fairy Garden (Chris Naizer)
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The "Rocket" piercing the roof of Mable Smith Shelter (CliveFetzer)
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Courtney Richardson and Sandy Norris at the souvenir shop (Chris Naizer)
Sunday, September 19 from 1-5 pm at Richfield Heritage Preserve
4374 Broadview Rd. / Richfield, OH 44286
You will receive a treasure map leading to a series of waypoints. There is a simple question about each waypoint that you can answer by observing your surroundings. You earn one marble for each correctly answered question.
You can use your marbles to learn the game of marbles from Michael Cohill, Director of the American Toy Marble Museum. Then you can try your marbles out on the marble runs especially constructed by Michael for this event.
You take home the marbles you earn! (limit 20)
There will be a shop where you can shop for additional marbles, marble bags and souvenirs. See displays of park history---especially featuring Richfield inventor Jim Kirby whose home this once was and who built the original "marble-ous mill".
All pandemic safety precautions will be utilized. Participants will not be retrieving their marbles from shared caches but will instead take their answer sheets to a central, no-contact marble distribution point.
Allow 1-2 hours. Program length varies depending on the number of waypoints you try for, and activities you choose. Arrive any time before 4 pm for a full experience. Event takes place rain or shine!
4374 Broadview Rd. / Richfield, OH 44286
You will receive a treasure map leading to a series of waypoints. There is a simple question about each waypoint that you can answer by observing your surroundings. You earn one marble for each correctly answered question.
You can use your marbles to learn the game of marbles from Michael Cohill, Director of the American Toy Marble Museum. Then you can try your marbles out on the marble runs especially constructed by Michael for this event.
You take home the marbles you earn! (limit 20)
There will be a shop where you can shop for additional marbles, marble bags and souvenirs. See displays of park history---especially featuring Richfield inventor Jim Kirby whose home this once was and who built the original "marble-ous mill".
All pandemic safety precautions will be utilized. Participants will not be retrieving their marbles from shared caches but will instead take their answer sheets to a central, no-contact marble distribution point.
Allow 1-2 hours. Program length varies depending on the number of waypoints you try for, and activities you choose. Arrive any time before 4 pm for a full experience. Event takes place rain or shine!
KIrby's Mill- The ORIGINAL Marble-ous Mill. Built in 1922- almost 100 years old!
Why are we giving away free marbles?
This program is sponsored by the Friends of Crowell Hilaka and the Richfield Joint Recreation District to promote the idea that engineering and problem-solving can be fun! Jim Kirby constructed his mill as a hydroelectric generator, using the ancient technology of gristmills---but giving it a playful, yet practical twist. He balanced the mill's waterwheel on ball bearings---like the marbles he played with as a kid. The ball bearings allowed the wheel to turn easily with just a small flow of water.
Until 2015, the former Kirby estate was not open to the public---having served as an enclosed Girl Scout camp. Few people (except the Girl Scouts!) knew it existed. Now, thanks to the people of Richfield, the land is a public park and a wonderful science-literacy resource for northeast Ohio.
The generous backing of the American Toy Marble Museum for this program helps families rediscover the simple pleasures of marbles.
Questions? email [email protected].
Joanie Gottschling and MIchael Cohill setting up the Tupelo Grove Marble Run (Jim McClintock)
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Vintage photo pf Kirby in his mill was the basis for every waypoint sign along the route. ( Richfield Historical Society)
The Marble-ous trail led past the natural moss garden (Chris Naizer)
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