The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1889-07-12
The Fourth at vanHoten's.


AS the west bound train stopped at Bur-
ton, we could see VmIIoten's berry wagon
waiting to carry us over to the strawberry
gardens. We had just seated ourselves when
boom went the cannon, and had we been in
speaking distance, we should, no doubt,
have heard the oft repeated phrase, "Fill
her up, George, pile in the powderr'
Our host has as fine little farm as can
be found in Michigan. His buildings are
kept up in good style, his lawns nicely
clipped, and there is an air OF thfjftiBess
about the whole place that bespeaks the con-
slant watchfulness and care of its owner.
In n pavilion, at the north Of the house,
we are invited to take refreshments. 'Ice
cream Qr strawberries the waiteress asks.
The Idea! Whet we came here for straw
berries, but we stfae cur astonshment and
calmly reply: ''Both, II you please" Oh!
the strawberries, the delicious strawberries
and cream,-let me repeat, cream If we
shocked the worthy people who so kindly
waited on us, by the amount of food neces-
sary to refresh the inner man, let this only
be our eXcuse the strawberries and sand
wlches were so good.
We were then invited to investigate ever
thing about the place just where we pleased.
Our curiosity had been aroused by the sign
''Cold Storage" on a building near the tank
house; on inquiry, our host said he would
take us there and explain its use. Opening
a door into small anteroOm, lantern was
| lit and we proceeded to explore. But what
| is the matter with the temperature-itg grows
lower and lower.
Entering a second room we find crates of
berries which were picked over three weeks
ago; tasting them, we find the flavor just as
nice, the appearance just the same as though
they had been just picked. In fact but
one difference between these berries and
those we had been making merry over
these are cold oh! so cold! Not frozen, no.
as the temperature of the .."cold house" is
rarely below 81 deg, Fair. Our host tells
us that although when these berries are
taken into the open air their color may
change somewhat, yet their flavor remains
the same, and they are just as good for can
ming and eating purposes, as those fresh
from the vines. Another feature of the
cold house is that the walls are perfectly
dry. The ice is stored above, the water
running off on the outside by means of pipes
the warm air going up on one side, the cold
air coming down another. But we feel as
though the July sun would seem good, so
| we again seek the light of day.
Now for the strawberry patch! The
patch is also the very picture of neatness
so that it is pleasure to pick the berries
which hang so full on the vines. We were
told that one of the pickers, a few days be-
fore, had picked 210 quarts of berries in one
day. One of our party between the mouth
fuls of berries asked: "Do you suppose one
could make himself sick eating straw
berries?" "Oh, no! the berries would taste
tart before one could eat enough to hurt
him." Perhaps that explains why when we
entered the patch the berries tasted SO sweet
but when we left they had more of tart
taste.
About five o'clock we were invited to be
seated in order to hear the exercises pre-
pared for the occasion.
After the "Star Spangled Banner" rem
dered by quartet from Owosso and the
boom of the cannon, prayer was offered
by Rev. Riley. The orator, Hon. Geo. M.
Dewey, of Owosso gave us fine Grafton,
holding his audience without any signs OF
WEAKNESS to the very end of his discourse,
which fact speaks for itself as to the quality
and mode of expression of the production.
With more music from the quartet and
cannon, we dispersed until evening should
allow us to have fireworks and grand ba-
loon ascension.
The Shetland ponies then took our atten-
ton for some time until Strawberries, ice
cream and sandwiches" were announced
and in spite of dinner and strawberry patch
we did them justice.
We noticed quite number of Owossc
people in attendance.
| During the evening we heard the question