Macktown Living History

THE EDUCATION CENTER OFFERS REGULAR PROGRAMMING TO THE PUBLIC AND HAS HOSTED PROGRAMS AND EVENTS FOR VARIOUS GROUPS, INCLUDING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS, GIRL AND BOY SCOUT GROUPS, HISTORIC AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETIES, LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE. INDIVIDUALS ANNUALLY DONATE THOUSANDS OF HOURS TO CREATE PROGRAMMING, CREATE PUBLICITY, UPDATE A WEBSITE, CONDUCT TOURS, WORK ON BUILDINGS AND A NATIVE AMERICAN VILLAGE AREA, MAINTAIN HERITAGE AND MEDICINE WHEEL GARDENS, HOST PROGRAMS INCLUDING THE GATHERING RE-ENACTMENT EVENT, STUDENT AND ADULT ARCHAEOLOGY DIGS, FIBER ARTS FESTIVAL, AND FRENCHMAN'S FROLIC RE-ENACTMENT EVENT. CLASSES ARE ALSO CONDUCTED IN HISTORIC PERSONA DEVELOPMENT, ARCHAEOLOGY, MUSIC AND PERIOD CRAFTS. PUBLIC AWARENESS AND INTEREST CONTINUES TO GROW, AND THIS YEAR HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS FROM ILLINOIS AND WISCONSIN PARTICIPATED IN THE GATHERING EDUCATION DAY, AN EARLY 1800'S LIVING HISTORY DEMONSTRATION EVENT. SCHOOLS UNABLE TO ATTEND THIS EVENT SIGNED UP FOR INTERACTIVE LIVING HISTORY FIELD TRIPS. IN COOPERATION WITH NOT-FOR-PROFIT GROUPS AND LOCAL/STATE ORGANIZATIONS, MLH HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE FOREST PRESERVES OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, ROCKTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY, MIDWEST ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH SERVICES, HONONEGAH HIGH SCHOOL, NATURAL LAND INSTITUTE, ROCKFORD YMCA, ROCK VALLEY COLLEGE, TALCOTT LIBRARY AND THE VILLAGE OF ROCKTON TO COORDINATE COOPERATIVE PROGRAMS AND REFERRALS. THE STEPHEN MACK HOUSE AND WHITMAN TRADING POST, BOTH LOCATED IN THE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED MACKTOWN HISTORIC DISTRICT, HAVE BEEN RESTORED AND CONTINUE TO NEED PROTECTION AND REPAIR. THE FOREST PRESERVES OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY, MACKTOWN LIVING HISTORY AND MIDWEST ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH SERVICES HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER TO LOCATE THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE ORIGINAL SETTLEMENT STRUCTURES AND TO CONTINUE ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS AS FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE. IN 2014, THE STATE OF ILLINOIS AWARDED A 50,000 GRANT TO CONSTRUCT A TIME-PERIOD APPROPRIATE BARN. IT IS USED FOR LIVING HISTORY DEMONSTRATIONS, STORAGE OF MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES, AND HAS BEEN USED WITH LIVESTOCK. A SECOND PROJECT NEARLY COMPLETE IS THE RELOCATION OF THE ORIGINAL 1838 BUILDING BUILT BY STEPHEN MACK, JR. WHICH WAS MOVED OFF PROPERTY CIRCA 1850. VOLUNTEERS HAVE SALVAGED THE ORIGINAL TIMBERS TO RECONSTRUCT THE BUILDING ON ITS ORIGINAL SITE, ALTHOUGH MOST WERE UNABLE TO BE USED DURING ACTUAL RECONSTRUCTION DUE TO BUILDING CODES. THE BUILDING, NOW DESIGNATED AS THE STEVENS SHOP, HOUSED A CABINET MAKER'S SHOP AND RESIDENCE, A GRANARY AND ONE OF THE EARLIEST SCHOOLS IN WINNEBAGO COUNTY, UNIQUE IN THAT IT EDUCATED NATIVE AMERICAN CHILDREN. THE STEVENS SHOP IS THE LAST ORIGINAL BUILDING KNOWN TO EXIST IN THE MACKTOWN HISTORIC DISTRICT. MACKTOWN LIVING HISTORY HAS STARTED A SECOND SUNDAY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM EACH MONTH THAT PRESENTS VARIOUS EVENTS ON THE SITE, FREE TO THE PUBLIC. IN 2019, MLH RECEIVED A COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS GRANT TO FURNISH THE STEVENS SHOP BUILDING IN THE AMOUNT OF 18,366.49. THE GRANT ENABLED THE PURCHASE OF LEARNING MATERIALS, BOOKCASE, TEACHER'S DESK, STUDENT BENCHES, 1830'S ORIGINAL 10-PLATE STOVE, WORK TABLE, WASH STAND, DUNCE STOOL AND SUPPLY CABINET AND GRANARY SUPPLIES INCLUDING WOODEN BARRELS AND BURPLAP SACKS. THE CABINET MAKER'S SHOP WAS FURNISHED WITH A WOODWORKING BENCH, TREADLE LATHE, CABINETS, WORK TABLE, SHELVES AND TOOLS. THE RESIDENCE PORTION WAS FURNISHED WITH AN EARLY 1800'S STEP STOVE, DRY SINK, COOKWARE, CABINETS, WASH STAND AND BASIN, TABLES AND OTHER ITEMS.