Five Miles Southeast of Charleston, Illinois

2011 Living History Open House Photos

October 9, 2011 - Fall Living History Open House

Cider Pressing; Blacksmithing; Stove & Hearth Cooking, Food Preservation; Spinning; Blue Grass Music

August 28, 2011 - Program - Abraham Lincoln - 1856 Political Rally; White Coopering; Blue Grass Jam; Spinning.

August 14, 2011 - Program - Monroe & Ellington Murders, 1855-56; Music by Motherlode; Spinning.

July 10, 2011 - Program - Firearms & Medicine of the Civil War; Civil War Camp; Spinning; Open Hearth Cooking; Bluegrass Music

June 26, 2011 - Program - Coles County and the Gold Rush, 1849; Spinning Demonstration

At the June 26th Open House, Nancy Easter-Shick and David Kent Coy presented an interesting program on Coles County and the Gold Rush, 1849.  A spinning demonstration was also presented by Marcia Buroughs, Lynn Klec and Myrna Madigan.  Below, Kathy Hummel talks to visitors about the Herb Garden. The large reddish-purple flowers are Bee Balm.

May 29, 2011 - Open Hearth & Wood Stove Cooking; Spinning; Period Clothing

At the first Living History Open House of the year, Kathy Hummel and Gail Casey demonstrated open hearth cooking in the 1840s kitchen, while Cheryl Hawker and Jennifer McCoy demonstrated cooking on a wood stove in the 1960s kitchen. This was the maiden voyage for the new 1860s cook stove and the fulfillment of a dream of having both period kitchens operating side by side.

Lemon balm cookies and strawberry pie are baked on the hearth while a chicken is baked in the stove's oven and a pot of vegetables is cooked on the stove top.

Judy Chapman and Lynn Klec demonstrated spinning and visitors enjoyed looking at original 1840s & 60s clothing in the west room.