In a city park close to the middle of Papillion, the glimpse of an 1860s farmhouse stands strong. The John Sautter Farmhouse sprawled over 800 acres during its heyday with cattle, grassland, a vineyard, and three hundred apple trees! The old German American farmhouse was occupied from construction in the 1860s until about 1916, when it was used for storage and butchering. Next door, the historic Portal School depicts a slice of life for those who want to experience how education worked in a one-room schoolhouse over a century ago.
The Sautter Farmhouse wasn't always in the middle of a park. The original house was built one mile north of Papillion. The Papillion Area Historical Society (PAHS) was organized in 1979 to save the historic home. The society successfully relocated the Sautter House to its current location, and in 1980, the landmark site became a property of the National Register of Historic Places.
Cindy Mahanes, PAHS Vice President, believes history is valuable, and preserving a segment of history helps us understand who we are today.
"We all know there are reasons to love Papillion," says Mahanes. "We appreciate the past. That's part of what makes Papillion so special. To show what life was like, we preserve the past."
She recommends the website papilionhistory.com for a peek at how to connect generations through history. An impressive event lineup occurs all year with farmer's markets (May 21 - August 6), a "Fall for Papillion" day to celebrate the history of Papillion, the "Gingerbread Stroll," and a festive "Winter Wonderland." Visitors can step into history one event at a time.
"We're trying to reach out to Papillion and say, 'this is a great little place,'" says Mahanes, who admits she very much needs volunteers. "We want kids and families to look forward to building experiences every year. Our forefathers gave us a great starting point, which we built upon. Papillion is cited as one of the best places to live in the country!"
Mahanes loves the kids' faces when they tour the Sautter house with wide eyes, amazed that oil lamps were used for light, fireplaces the only heat source, and instead of refrigerators, iceboxes kept food cold with a block of ice.
"We can read about history all day long, but when you touch the things families did, and see how they lived, it's different. It brings history to life."
Mahanes invites everyone to share a piece of history by touring the Sautter Farmhouse and Portal School. After all, the best place to live embraces the pioneer spirit that lives in each of us.