I have been asked a number of times what I thought the most valuable artifact at Wagner Farm is. I have a short list of responses for this question. One of the items would have to be the small collection of family pictures that only recently came to the museum from the Miller family (grandchildren of the Wagners). A favorite artifact of mine is the 1942 Case "SC" tractor. It was purchased by the family new and has been here working ever since. It is one of the easiest driving tractors I have ever worked on. The grand-daddy of artifacts at the farm in my opinion would have to be the buildings. When most people think of artifacts they likely visualize heirlooms of great value or cultural importance. The Wagner house, barn and associated outbuildings might not have extreme financial or national importance but I would have to say that they do mean a lot, and stand for something in our little community. The idea of preserving a "run of the mill" 4-square farmhouse and Gambreled roofed barn, and for that matter a farm says plenty about our desires to keep a reminder of our past. The Wagner buildings, and those like them in our area have made a transition. A transition from being common to being a strange exception in a matter of a few decades. Now all farming is in Glenview is what happens at the museum. So buildings like our farmhouse are so important to keep as that link to what this town was not that long ago.
To help make sure that the buildings are around for the next generation the Friends of Wagner Farm have made it possible to provide a state of the art fire and burglar system. So a huge thank you goes out to all the donors who have helped out in this effort. An effort to protect a very special artifact.
To help make sure that the buildings are around for the next generation the Friends of Wagner Farm have made it possible to provide a state of the art fire and burglar system. So a huge thank you goes out to all the donors who have helped out in this effort. An effort to protect a very special artifact.
