Waterloo Farm Museum: The Realy House was Really the Siebold House
Longtime residents of Stockbridge, Munith, and Grass Lake referred to this old farmhouse as the “Realy” house, some not knowing that the original name was ‘Ruehle’.
Built in 1854 by Johannes Siebold, who was originally from Endersbach Germany. He emigrated to Ann Arbor, then finally to Waterloo Township in Jackson County in 1846.
Siebold’s wife Fredrika had been married before, and the last name of her two children was Ruehle. After buying the log cabin property from James Goodwin, Siebold began farming. By 1854, he was doing well enough to build a brand new farmhouse. When he passed away, the farm was inherited to his step-son, Johannes Jacob Ruehle. It was during Ruehle’s time spent in the Civil War that his last name was altered to “Realy”.
The Realys had seven children, with five of them who never married but lived their lives out on the farm.
When the 1900s hit, the farm was well-known for its production of apple cider, withe cider mill just across the road.
Years later when the last Realy brother passed away, the state of Michigan took over the farm, now part of the Waterloo State Recreation Area. possession of the property. In a move I’m not too fond of, the state demolished the barns and cider mill. Thankfully, in 1962, the Waterloo Area Historical Society saved what was left of the farmstead and had it restored. They leased three extra acres and had the farm turned into a museum.
The museum grounds contain:
1) Perkins Windmill, a rare remaining wooden windmill
2) Log Cabin, with an original stone fireplace
3) Blacksmith Workshops
4) Granary Gift Shop
You’ve heard about it for years...now it’s time to finally pay a visit and see what you’ve been missing. Located at 13493 Waterloo-Munith Road, Jackson County.
