Holmes County provides an A+ effort for its Model-A car visitors
Holmes County has always been known for its Amish and Mennonite flavor, with people wanting to step back in time for a peaceful visit making the county a major tourist attraction.
The week of May 19-23, it stepped even further back in time when hundreds of Model-A enthusiasts rolled into the area for the annual Model-A Restorers Club encamped in Berlin, filling area byways with a combination of buggies and old-time autos.
One might say it was old world meets older world.
According to Rod Cotter, who helped plan the event, the connection between the century-old Model-A automobiles and the Amish buggies so common to Amish Country make for an ideal fit.
Cotter, who hails from Lake Orion, Michigan and is a member of the Oak Leaf Region of MARC, said members came to Amish Country from all over the Midwest, and while the cars are a central theme to the weeklong gathering, it really is about something far more valuable than an automobile.
“It’s more about the people than the cars,” Cotter said. “This is about people sharing a common interest coming together and building lasting friendships. Our closest friends are Model-A owners, and we love every minute we can spend together. We have Model-A friends all over the country, and I’m sure everyone here shares that sentiment.”
He said the committee members for the annual national Model-A tour started preparing for this one more than a year ago, and because it moves around the nation every year, it takes a great deal of work in preparing the schedule.
“We had a tremendous amount of fun putting the event together,” Cotter said. “Working with the local people has been an absolute joy. Everyone has been fantastic and treated us so well.”
A couple of the club’s members actually suggested Amish Country as a possible tour destination, and it didn’t take long for the committee to recognize there would be plenty of fun sights to visit with the rolling, picturesque beauty of the countryside providing a background for the members to enjoy while they put their Model-A autos in motion.
“We took that idea and ran with it,” Cotter said of having Berlin be the central meeting spot for the event. He said his local club has made a habit of visiting Holmes County and its surrounding areas once a year for many years.
“We fell in love with the natural beauty and the community and the people here,” Cotter said.
The tour began with many of the club members arriving Monday evening, May 20. Tuesday saw a number of self-guided tours around the area, and many members simply hopped in their cars and enjoyed the area.
Wednesday had them doing the same during the day before they met for a huge ice cream social at Behalt, where Behalt Executive Director Marcus Yoder gave a presentation of the Anabaptist history and everything Behalt’s grounds have to offer, setting the stage for an evening under a giant tent outside the facility.
“The ice cream social and getting to hear Marcus’ wonderful stories and his sharing the Anabaptist journey was probably a big highlight for most of us,” Cotter said. “He was fantastic, and his passion was infectious.”
“We were both excited and honored to host them for the evening,” Yoder said of the club, which created quite a sight in the Behalt parking lot with 126 Model-A autos drawing plenty of attention. “These people are amazing, and we were blessed to be able to share our story with them.”
On Thursday members could join one of two tours, one to Malabar Farms and the other to Roscoe Village.
Which led them to Friday, when they had to bid one another adieu.
“That’s the sad part, when it comes to a close,” Cotter said. “We have such a great time fellowshipping together, and getting to do so in such a beautiful and peaceful setting where people are so kind and generous is exactly what we hope to experience on these journeys.”
The week presented a perfect opportunity for all the members to experience the serenity and beauty of an area where Model-A vehicles could feel right at home.
