Rittermere Farm Craft Studio Fonds, 1951-2006

During the 1950’s, the Rittenhouse family of Vineland in the Niagara Peninsula opened a craft store and studio. Within a short period of time, they realized that resources for the craft of rug hooking were in demand and they began to build their business around this niche. Edna Rittenhouse, the mother, was the wool dyer; Margaret Rowan, the daughter, was the pattern designer; Ted Rowan, the son-in-law, changed careers and became the manager of the family business. The 1960’s were a prosperous time, not only in the Niagara Peninsula, but also for the Rittenhouse business. Edna Rittenhouse had been hooking rugs for decades but she and her family worked at developing and sharing newer techniques with newer materials. Shading manuals were authored and published; students became teachers; creativity abounded in the demand for and the creation of new designs. Instead of using woolen yarn, they were using pure woolen fabric; instead of using a standard cutter, they began using a uniquely designed cutter; instead of using frames, they employed a table top method. The new material and technique resulted in a rug with a smooth, uniform texture and a soft nap. Since many crafters belonged to crafters guilds, Margaret and Ted Rowan began promoting the idea of a guild for rug hookers and in time the Ontario Hooking Craft Guild was also a reality. A joint project between Chatelaine magazine and the Rittermere studio for Canada’s centennial year of 1967 was extremely well received within the circle of hooking crafters and the Rittermere Farm Craft Studio became a North American landmark for crafters. From this point onward the studio had a large customer base not only in North America but also overseas. The studio remained popular until 1984 when Margaret and Ted Rowan decided to retire. The Rittermere name has been preserved in the name of Rittermere-Hurst-Field which is a similar business located in Aurora which is just north of Toronto.

Transferring Results of Behavioral Research to Industry to Improve Animal Welfare on the Farm, Ranch and the Slaughter Plant

The article focuses on three results of the study: "(1)Communicate your results outside the research. Write articles in popular and industry magazines. Speak at producer meetings and develop websites that can be used to transfer research results into practice. (2) Choose places (e.g. farms or plants) that have managers who believe in your research, and be prepared to spend a lot of time with the first place that uses your findings. (3) to fail. (4) Do not allow your technology to get tied up in patent disputes."

Farm Account Book

The book contains account information and also lists some birth and death dates.

Farm Account Book (2)

Another account book with some pages missing and some damaged.

Payment for the Atkins and Schmidt accounts from Jarvis, Conklin and Morgan Negotiators of Farm Mortgages

Payment for the Atkins and Schmidt accounts from Jarvis, Conklin and Morgan Negotiators of Farm Mortgages, Dec. 29, 1884.

Letter regarding farm loans addressed to S.D. Woodruff from Jarvis, Conklin and Co.

Letter (1 page, printed) regarding farm loans addressed to S.D. Woodruff from Jarvis, Conklin and Co., Sept. 12, 1882.

Letter to S.D. Woodruff from Jarvis, Conklin and Morgan Farm Mortgages

Letter to S.D. Woodruff to acknowledge the sending of Crew and Mauk papers signed Jarvis, Conklin and Co., April 15, 1885.

Letter to S.D. Woodruff from Jarvis, Conklin and Morgan Farm Mortgages

Letter to S.D. Woodruff which accompanied Crick documents. It is signed Jarvis, Conklin and Morgan Farm Mortgages, April 18, 1885.

Letter to S.D. Woodruff from Jarvis, Conklin and Morgan Farm Mortgages

Letter to S.D. Woodruff which accompanied the Underwood abstract. It is signed Jarvis, Conklin and Morgan, May 4, 1885.

Letter to S.D. Woodruff regarding a resolution passed that the engineer be requested to examine the fence built by the contractors alongside of the Henry Vandenburgh Farm

Letter to S.D. Woodruff regarding a resolution passed that the engineer be requested to examine the fence built by the contractors alongside of the Henry Vandenburgh Farm and report to the secretary as to whether this is a lawful fence, completed according to Williams’ contract. This is signed by Duncan McFarland, president. There is a reply written by S.D. Woodruff at the bottom of the letter stating that the fence is not built in accordance with the contract, Dec. 18, 1856.

List entitled “Farm” including produce and prices

List entitled “Farm” including produce and prices, 1866-1867.

List entitled “Fruit farm”

List entitled “Fruit farm”, 1871.

List entitled “Memo of receipts – farm”

List entitled “Memo of receipts – farm”, 1872.

List entitled “Memo of receipts – farm

List entitled “Memo of receipts – farm, 1873.

List entitled “Receipts of farm”

List entitled “Receipts of farm”, 1874.