A group of Wolcott Keeper’s House volunteers traveled to Dundee, Michigan, May 13th, to participate in their second Hearth Cooking class with Georgeann Brown. Brown operates a cooking school in her restored farmhouse, called ‘un coup de main,’ French for ‘a helping hand.’ The trip was part of an Ottawa County Community Foundation grant to complete pantry furnishings, and train docents in frontier fireplace cooking and food history to enhance Ottawa County residents, and visitors’ understanding of life on the Firelands frontier. Brown came to the Keeper’s House in August of last year for the first class, using the House’s restored fireplace to make an early 19th century ‘Sunday dinner.’ This time, the emphasis was on ‘fast food,’ recipes suitable for a series of demonstrations during the weekday tours for the summer season, and special demonstrations for area organizations. Besides making fritters, donuts, and gingerbread over (and under) hot coals, the group made a diced apple cider drink and fried, salted cucumbers from Brown’s authentic recipes. They also enjoyed a tour of the house, with its many antiques and historic cooking implements.
Attending were Ray and Georgette Marchar, Lois Tuttamore, Suzanne Lavoie, and Kathy Leonard. The group plans to meet at the Keeper’s House soon to gather a menu and plan a schedule for future demonstrations. The restored home of the Marblehead Lighthouse’s first keeper, at 9999 Bayshore Road, is open during the summer season weekdays from 1:00-5:00, and on the second Saturday of each summer month, concurrent with the Marblehead Lighthouse schedule. The House is a project of the Ottawa County Historical Society, and is supported through donations, grants, and fund raising activities.
Ray Marchar tends the apple fritters.
Ray and Georgette Marchar, instructor Georgeann Brown, and Lois Tuttamore prepare frontier snacks.
Ray Marchar and Suzanne Lavoie prepare punch
