Longaberger Baskets, Newark, Ohio

June 26, 2008
Woke after the stormy night still dry. It was about noon by the time we headed out. We’d had enough of interstate driving and took off meandering on the narrower gray roads. And in the immortal words of Jackie Gleason, “ And away we go!”

Driving east of Newark, OH driving on route 16 we saw a large basket, really large; the size of a seven story building! It was the dream of the late Dave Longaberger. The building is a trademark of The Longaberger Company, keeper of the art of basketmaking inspired by four generations of Longaberger family tradition and pride in quality. Plans are for an entire industrial park of basket buildings.

After spending an hour or so at the corporate basket building watching the video, seeing the room designs filled with baskets, and chatting with Libby, we drove to the Longaberger Homestead & Manufacturing Facility. The Crawford Barn was moved to its new location in 1998 where an old fashion barn raising was held. Today it houses a shop and eatery. The Longaberger Home is a gallery/shop with items displayed in room like settings. The cement tree at the center goes up through the floor to branch out on the ceiling. The children’s shop is upstairs. Basketmaking Facility is where you can make your own basket or watch the 400+workers making them. We were there after work hours, 3pm so we didn't get to see the facility packed with basket weavers, but it was still very interesting. The family take turns signing baskets; Kathy was chatting with Maryann and Windy. Their mother just turned 84! There are other guest services through out the Homestead. Consultants, those having parties around the country selling baskets, can even have a party at the house on campus.

We continued to weave our way across Ohio. East of Drennison we stopped at Tappan Dam. We were just about finished with dinner when the sky opened up and the rains fell. We rushed getting everything inside just as the rains stopped, but the sky remained black. We moved from the dam to Township Hwy 213 along a finger of the lake where Kathy did up dishes. Will talked with a young man fishing; he had been in Pittsburgh for the Kenny Chesney concert. We spent the early evening listening to the weather radio following the storm east of Rockford, OH heading our way. We got the thunder and saw the lightning. The rains poured. We watched the third Harry Potter movie before crawling into bed glad we had a house generator so we didn’t have to get out in the rain.