Completed in 2016 in time for the Webster Fall Festival, this structure, mimicking a large corncrib like those found on many farms, honors the memory of Richard Dieterle, founder and fiddler of Ann Arbor’s premier bluegrass band, The RFD Boys. Richard was born on his family farm not far from Historic Webster Village in Ann Arbor Township. He loved all things country and was an ardent supporter of the Webster Fall Festival. Beginning in the early 1990s, he and his band played there every year, and the remaining RFD Boys continue to honor this tradition. The corncrib event stage, architecturally designed to reflect Richard’s rural roots and blend in with the existing buildings, is constructed of vertical grain Douglas Fir–great for clogging.
Groups that have performed on the stage during the Webster Fall Festivals, 2016-2022, are: Fiddle Pie, Nessa, the North Creek Fiddlers, Full Circles Band, Stout Hearted Strings, Pearl Street Band, and Foxtree with the RFD Boys giving the final performance annually. In addition, Rosie the Riveter performed here during the 2018 fall festival, and the Dexter Boy Scout Troop 477 conducted a flag retirement ceremony here during the 2018 and 2019 festivals.
Dexter Boy Scout Troop 477