Toy Tractor And Collector Weekend Together!
On April 7 and 8, the BHHA will be hosting not only the Toy Tractor Weekend but Collectors Weekend as well. Yes, we are moving our fall Collectors Weekend to the springtime! Toy tractors and farm implement of all shapes, sizes, and brands, will be exhibited on the first floor of the Steeple Building Museum as well as other collections, such as patent medicine, celluloid items, and much more! All these treasures from individuals’ private collections will be on display for just one weekend from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. These displayed items are not for sale.
From Prairie to Farm to City: Music to Commemorate Illinois’s Bicentennial
Singer and hammered dulcimer player Phil Passen will perform songs telling the story of the growth and development of Illinois. Mr. Passen will begin with a melody from a Native American tribe indigenous to Illinois. His presentation will feature songs and tunes representing various ethnic communities that have contributed to life in Illinois. Songs of the Underground Railroad, which ran through Illinois, will also be featured. So will music selections representing farmers, workers, labor struggles, disasters, and tragedies, as well as a few blues and rock-and-roll songs. Mr. Passen will provide commentary about the histories of the selections and the contexts in which they have been sung and played in Illinois. The concert will start at 1:30 p.m. in the Dairy Building on Saturday, April 14. It is free and open to the public due to the sponsorships of the BHHA and the Illinois Humanities Council Road Scholar Speakers Bureau.
Booth Shot Lincoln: Folksongs of Illinois, 1818 to 1960
Illinois has rich and diverse folk music traditions that remain under recognized by both specialists and the public. From the beginning of Illinois statehood through the folk revival that swept the nation and state in the 1950s, the many people who have made Illinois their home produced a huge body of folksongs and music. What better time than the Illinois Bicentennial to invite the citizens of our state to hear and appreciate the folk music legacy of the Land of Lincoln?
Booth Shot Lincoln by singer and guitarist Bucky Halker brings a sample of these songs to life through both performance and commentary. This presentation runs approximately 60-70 minutes, with additional time for questions and answers. The concert will start at 1:30 p.m. in the Dairy Building on Saturday, May 5. It is free and open to the public due to the sponsorships of the BHHA and the Illinois Humanities Council Road Scholar Speakers Bureau.
Civil War Day is Returning!
As part of Bishop Hill’s celebration of the Illinois Bicentennial, the BHHA has organized a Civil War Day for Saturday May 26. There will be Union and Confederate encampments in the village park, with programs going on every hour on the hour. All these programs are free and open to the public. Some of the programs are: a speech by General “Black Jack” Logan, a battlefield surgery demonstration, a skirmish, and much, much more. This event is partially sponsored by Community State Bank. Later this spring, check out www.bishophillhertiage.org for more details.
“Never Give In”
To honor the 100th anniversary of the War to End All Wars, the theme for the sixth annual Bishop Hill Chautauqua will be World War I. The Chautauqua will be performed in the village park on August 25. This is a free family oriented event where you will hear re-enactors tell inspiring stories about the historical characters they are portraying. Winston Churchill, General Black Jack Pershing, and Herbert Hoover will all be making appearances in Bishop Hill. Students from Galva and Williamsfield will also portray various historical figures. The Chautauqua is partially sponsored by the BHHA and the Twinflower Inn Bed and Breakfast.
Jordbruksdagarna is September 29 and 30
Going into its 47th year, Jordbruksdagarna (Swedish for “earth work days”) celebrates Bishop Hill’s rural roots, with 19th century harvest activities, music, dancing, demonstrations, hands-on learning stations, farm produce, and much more. For more details, check out www.bishophillheritage.org this coming summer. This event is partially sponsored by Nelson Farm Service; State Bank of Toulon; the Illinois Arts Council Agency, and the Henry County Independent Insurance Agents Association.
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