Spruce Forest Artisan Village facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Spruce Forest Artisan Village |
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Spruce Forest Artisan Village in September 2014
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| Location |  Garrett County, Maryland |
| Founded | 1957 |
| Founder | Alta Schrock |
The Spruce Forest Artisan Village is a special place in Garrett County, Maryland. It's like a living museum where people can see how crafts were made long ago. It helps keep the history and traditions of the area alive. Talented artists work here, showing off skills like blacksmithing, pottery, and woodturning. They work in old log cabins and historic buildings. About 60,000 people visit this village every year!
A Look Back: Village History
The area where Spruce Forest Artisan Village stands was once called Little Crossings. Part of the Penn Alps Restaurant used to be an old stagecoach stop. This stop was known as the Little Crossings Inn.
The village we see today was started by Alta Schrock in 1957. The old buildings you see in the village were moved from different places in Western Maryland. They were carefully put back together on this site. One cabin is even older than the American Revolution! Another cabin is from the time of the American Revolution. Other cabins were built around the 1830s. One special cabin is where Alta Schrock lived when she was a child.
The 2020 Wind Storm
On April 8, 2020, a big storm hit the village. Strong winds, called straight-line winds, knocked down about 50 tall spruce trees. Several buildings were also damaged. The Esther Yoder Cabin, the Red Shed, and the Covered Bridge Entrance were so damaged they could not be fixed. Other buildings, like the village church, also needed repairs.
After the storm, all the remaining spruce trees were cut down. Even trees that looked fine were removed. This was because experts believed the storm had weakened them. They thought these trees might fall in the next big storm.
In October 2021, the village started planting new spruce trees. They bought about 20 new trees. This was possible thanks to $20,000 in donations received over the previous 18 months. The village rebuilt the entrance bridge in early spring of 2022. They also made plans for new walking paths and a new parking lot.
What to Do and See
The village has six artists who live there and show their crafts. You can find their work in the historic buildings and at the Penn Alps Restaurant Craft Shop. The village is open all year. Sometimes, in winter, it might close due to bad weather.
The village often has public events. You can also arrange workshops with the artists to learn a craft. Every year, the village hosts "Christmas in the Village." During this event, the whole village is decorated with candles, lights, and wreaths.
You can find the historic Casselman Bridge at the west end of the village. The Penn Alps Restaurant is right at the entrance. The Cornucopia Cafe is located at the north end of the village.
See also
- Stanton's Mill
