The Favre Barn - The Backside Story

I'm here to show and tell the rest of the story  behind "Mr Rodgers Neighborhood!"  Are you looking forward to the 2012-13 Green Bay Packer Season?  Me too!   So is Ms Patti Schroeder of Larsen WI, who has been supporting the Packers in a "big" way for many years, dating as far back as Brett Favre's career with the team. The sign on the side of the historical barn has matured from supporting Brett Favre, to morning his loss, and cheering on his replacement Aaron Rodgers. The signs are constructed from re-purposed corrugated plastic which is old signage from Patti's "Clintonville Shell" gas station in downtown Clintonville.  And interestingly enough....this signage is just the beginning of the story.

#12 from the back!

On the backside of the "Farve Barn"now known as Mr "Rodgers" Neighborhood...is the PS Schroeder Estate....a pristine property with a lot of history, dating back to before Wisconsin was a state! Lovingly named by Patti's sister, the "PS Schroeder Estate" is located on "Manu" Road (named such by the Town of Winchester neighbors popular vote, in honor of Patti's -now deceased- pet duck) in the small community of Larsen, WI. And if you haven't noticed yet, take a good look, this particular barn has two cupolas with two different dates on them and for good reason. The first part of the barn was raised in 1895. The second half was added in 1906.  And if just those few facts are not interesting enough, Patti Schroeder of Larsen, WI  has plenty more stories to tell.  Patti is one of the nicest people you'll ever meet, she is well loved and respected in the Town of Winchester (hence the proof in her neighbors naming the road after her beloved duck) and shared almost 2 hours of her time off this Sunday, to show me around her lovely restored home and farm.


Patti has preserved the entire farm exactly as it is: including the house, the summer kitchen, the old cold smoke house, the pump house, and the 117 year old barn.  Each one of the outbuildings on the farm has its own unique history and usage. (Several buildings were not accessible at this time because of the storms from last year, in which I believe Patti said, she lost 13 full grown trees.)  Patti has also lovingly planted an orchard, new and old trees both grace the property, some with there own stories, several planted in the memory of personal friends of Patti's. Patti also landscaped the entire area surrounding the buildings and although some of the properties grounds have fallen victim to over growth, she still showed me her enchanted woods marked by a sign:  Enter these enchanted woods, you who dare! A favorite poem of Patti's by George Meredith....I'll include it here at the end of the Blog.  I took close to 250 photos at this location alone.  A lot of them will not make the cut, but many will be added to a "Collection" and available for purchase in the next month or so.  20 will be posted on this weeks "Capture Wisconsin's" Photo Contest this Thursday.

Colors reflected from sign

I want to thank Patti for her time and effort, for the tour, for the contributions she has made to the community, to Packer Country, to the preservation of a beautiful historic country farm estate here in Wisconsin.  And I want to wish her well.  Her work on the estate will hopefully continue until she passes the torch on to another. 
  
"Enter these enchanted woods, You who dare. Nothing harms beneath the leaves More than waves a swimmer cleaves. Toss your heart up with the lark, Foot at peace with mouse and worm, Fair you fare. Only at a dread of dark Quaver, and they quit their form: Thousand eyeballs under hoods Have you by the hair. Enter these enchanted woods, You who dare."

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