The Cole Homestead

Hello Everyone,

At the home show we met a farmer who just bought a living history village (really!).  The charming little village is comprised of about 30 buildings from the 19^th century, and the theme is the turn of the century. 

Village School House in the Summertime

We toured the village and explored its many shops, a school house, two churches, a general store, bank, printing shop, and doctor's office, ice cream parlor, farm house, a log cabin, and three covered bridges.  There are also many small buildings for potters, blacksmiths, weavers, syrup makers, and other demonstrators of old trades.  

Isaac Brown & the Horses

There are horses, goats and chickens on site. There are hills, forests, fields and a creek.  It is currently open on weekends in spring, summer and fall.  There are many events that happen every year that draw many people.  The little village has been a popular destination in the past, but is now in need of revitalization and new vision.

A Covered Bridge

We are considering rebuilding the home show cottage at this location, and spending two or three years helping to revitalize this little village until such time that we can build Simpler Times Village.  

We think it would be a wonderful experience for our family, being part of something that really resonates with our dreams and goals.  If we moved to this location we would also plan to have a sustainable homesteading exhibit on-site.  We are not sure if this is the direction we will take, but we are seriously looking into it.

Village House

We have always wanted to build a small homesteading community in a beautiful rural location.  Simpler Times Village is designed for a location close enough to Indianapolis for some to commute.  But this little village is about an hour and a half away from the center of Indianapolis.There are several possibilities with this location.  Perhaps we could build a small homesteading community adjacent to the living history village.  We think it could be comprised of 10 to 20 lots each with 3 to 10 acres. 

Perhaps some of the people who would live in the homesteading community could participate in the revitalization and operation of the living history village.  We think that the owner of the little village would like for folks to adopt buildings in the village to run businesses and exhibits.  There could also be opportunities to build a campground and vacation/retreat cottages.

If anyone is interested in exploring this opportunity with us, please let us know and we will share more of the details with you.  We are also looking at a few other properties that may be well suited for Simpler Times, but we have a feeling that it could be two or three years before we can build Simpler Times because of the housing market.

Village General Store

Please email us for more information on the opportunity with the living history village or the possibility of a quiet little agricultural community in the hills.

Thanks!

 Josh & Sarah Brown

info@ruralvillage.org

1 800 581 3603

www.RuralVillage.org