Mt. Vernon Register-News

Local

Related Photos

  • Jefferson County Historical Society volunteers John Howard and Tom Newton sit near the entrance of the Historical Village Saturday, welcoming visitors and talking about the bygone days. RORYE O’CONNOR/REGISTER-NEWS

    historical village
June 7, 2010

Historical society plans summer events

By RORYE O’CONNOR rorye.oconnor@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — The Jefferson County Historical Society is planning for a variety of events this summer, including an expansion of the Day in the Life of a Prairie Child event.

With the help of a $2,000 grant from the Schweinfurth Foundation, and an $800 donation from PRM Enterprises, the historical society hopes to expand its Prairie Child educational event from one day to a series of four to five dates from June through August, said Jefferson County Historical Society Director of Community Relations Ron Copenhaver.

The historical society is consulting with administrators from the Jefferson County 4-H, the Girl Scouts of Shagbark Council, the Veterans Park Day Camp and St. Mary’s Good Samaritan day care to create a set of dates for children to come and learn what it would have been like to live on the Illinois prairie long ago, Copenhaver said.

This year’s theme for the event will be dance and music, he said.

“The children are going to learn square dance lessons and lessons on the dulcimer,” Copenhaver explained. “For gardening and cooking, they will transplant herbal plants from the gardens around the cabins.”

With the help of Sharon Yearwood, children’s librarian at C.E. Brehm Memorial Library, children who attend the Day in the Life of a Prairie Child event will also get to see the clothing Civil War-era citizens wore.

“She has a cousin with a collection of gowns and clothes from the Civil War period,” Copenhaver said. “They will be on display and modeled.”

The Historical Society is also putting on a music festival for the first time.

The JCHS Bluegrass Festival is slated for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 19 at the Historical Village. The Historical Society is still looking for bluegrass bands or solo musicians to play at the event. Those interested may call Cassie Andrews at 242-8280 to sign up.

In addition to the Prairie Child event and the Bluegrass Festival, the JCHS is also planning to hold its traditional Ice Cream Social August 7, said JCHS member Sharon Nichols.

“That’s always fun,” she said. “We’re going to have entertainment and homemade cake along with ice cream.”

The JCHS is planning a Civil War reenactment in September or October, Nichols said, before the eighth annual Heritage Festival the first weekend in October.

JCHS member George Kuhn said there are also plans for a treasure hunt later in the fall.

The Historical Village and museum are open May through October, Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 246-0033.

Text Only
Local
  • Start Smart program to start second season

    MT. VERNON — The Mt. Vernon Department of Parks and Recreation will host a second season of Start Smart, a program that helps parents teach their children sports skills.

    February 8, 2012

  • Mayor declares February Black History Month

    MT. VERNON — February is Black History Month across the United States, but it is officially Black History Month in the city of Mt. Vernon as well.

    February 8, 2012

  • Church to host revival

    MT. VERNON — Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church will be hosting a three-day Black History Month Celebration/Winter Revival in conjunction with Jefferson County Crusaders for Change.

    February 8, 2012

  • City approves track construction plans

    MT. VERNON —  The Mt. Vernon City Council on Monday approved a resolution allowing a rail spur to be built onto Continental Tire the Americas property.

    February 8, 2012

  • fire fighter Fire fighters tour with military truck

    MT. VERNON — Mt. Vernon Fire Department firefighter and Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Chris Heiken brought a military tactical fire fighting truck to the 42nd Street Mt. Vernon Fire Department station on Tuesday.

    February 8, 2012 1 Photo

  • Chamber of Commerce seeks nominations

    MT. VERNON — Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominations for its 2012 Citizen of the Year and Small Business Person of the Year.

    February 7, 2012

  • Crime Stoppers to release Watchdog Quarterly

    MT. VERNON — The Jefferson County Crime Stoppers is gearing up to release its first Watchdog Quarterly.

    February 7, 2012

  • Two plead guilty in controlled substance cases

    MT. VERNON — Jefferson County courts recently saw two guilty pleas in controlled substance cases.

    February 7, 2012

  • The soccer field at Lincoln Park now named Steve Harrison Field

    MT. VERNON — The Mt. Vernon City Council on Monday approved a resolution to name the soccer field at Lincoln Park Steve Harrison Field.

    February 7, 2012

  • Yeager Local woman's first book is published

    MT. VERNON — Janet Yaeger’s first children’s book, “Matilda’s Upside Down Smile,” is being released this week through Casa de Snapdragon Publishing Company of Albuquerque, N.M.

    February 7, 2012 1 Photo