On Saturday August 24, the Bishop Hill Heritage Association will rededicate the 1851 Carpenter Building during the Bishop Hill Chautauqua. This pre-Civil War structure played an important role in the history of the Bishop Hill Colony, producing furniture and other items for Colony use and for public sale. The Carpenter Building, as well as the Meat Storage Building, are the two oldest remaining Colony brick buildings. Today, the Carpenter Building contains the U.S. Post Office and Garden Thyme gift shop.
Over the last couple of years, the BHHA, with the support of many individuals and organizations, have conducted extensive exterior repair work to preserve this unique building for future generations. Trillium Dell, located in Knoxville IL, did the historic restoration work. The restoration is now complete, and it is time to honor those organizations and groups that made this project possible.
The rededication ceremony will be located outdoors between the Carpenter Building and the Steeple Building. The formal ceremony will start at 2 p.m., with the following individuals speaking: Local children portraying Bishop Hill Colonists, Brian David from Trillium Dell; Kate Jennings, district director for U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos; and Bruce Karstadt, President/CEO of the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis and Honorary Consul General of Sweden for Minnesota. Light refreshments, provided by BHHA volunteers, will be served immediately after the formal ceremony. Hammer and Pick will be providing the music. In addition, the Colony Store will also be having a sale on all their items, 10% off for all customers or 20% off if you are a BHHA member.
The public is invited to attend the rededication ceremony. The Carpenter Building is located at 107 North Bishop Hill Street in Bishop Hill, Illinois. For more details about the rededication or the Chautauqua, please call the BHHA at 309 927-3899 or email bhha@mymctc.net.
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