For the late Fred Rogers
Buttermilk Falls was a place of childhood enchantment.
Buttermilk Falls was once owned by Fred McFeely, Mr.
Rogers maternal grandfather. As a child Mr. Rogers
often visited his grandfather’s farm near Clyde,
PA. After Sunday dinners and on summer vacations he
would walk the grounds with his grandfather sharing
in special times. Many ideas and expressions used
in the children’s television program ‘Mr.
Rogers Neighborhood’ were originally conceived
at Buttermilk Falls
In the late 1970’s Mr. Rogers
revisited Buttermilk Falls to film a segment for the
PBS series entitled “Old Friends…New Friends”.
Two character actors portrayed Mr. Rogers and his
grandfather in the program which focused on what different
generations can learn from each other.
We have posted photographs on this website
of Buttermilk Falls from the Fred McFeely collection.
The photos show the family cottage and grounds during
Fred McFeely’s time there. Fred Rogers vividly
recalled his days at Buttermilk Falls. In a 1996 Indiana
Gazette interview he remembered climbing on the stone
walls at the site and crawling behind the falls to
look through the cascading water. Remnants of the
stone walls are still visible and the water still
flows over a 45 foot cascading waterfall.
Much has changed at Buttermilk Falls
since Fred McFeely’s and his famous grandson’s
visits. However, when visiting the site today it is
not hard to imagine how a young boy, who grew up to
influence millions of people on public television,
could recall in later years the special significance
this place held for him. Even today Buttermilk Falls
is a place of enchantment and magic. |
