2004 Year in Review

Early American Crafters to Host Fall Fest at Heritage Canyon

Early American Crafters to Host Fall Festival at Heritage Canyon

Saturday and Sunday

October 9th and 10th

10 am. to 4 pm.

Come step back into the 1800’s in this wonderful reproduction of an early village. The Early American Crafters have planned an exciting Fall Festival Weekend at Heritage Canyon, 515 North 4th Street, Fulton. The recent crisp cold weather has started the leaves falling in earnest and the Canyon will have that wonderful smell and feeling that says Fall. Join in the fun and laughter. Enjoy the sights, sounds and smells and learn about the daily life of the settlers of the area.

The many buildings of the open air Historical Village Museum will be open to the public with most of them being filled by Crafters, dressed in period clothing, demonstrating tasks and skills from the 1800’s. The Town Hall/Fire Station will house a chip carver and a wood worker with many items being for sale, A chair caner will be demonstrating and teaching his art. The broom makers will be set up outside, teaching all the skills necessary to make a long lasting straw broom. They will have many sizes and varieties of brooms for sale in that area too.

A trip across the Swinging bridge will take you to the log cabin settlement where you will find much activity. Through out the weekend there will be noodles being made, open fire cooking, one and two man saws being used, washing in progress, and much more as the inhabitants go about their daily activities.

Across the covered bridge you will find the small Canyon Church. Stop to enjoy the music, visit with the circuit riding preacher if he’s in, or just soak up the peaceful feeling that can be found there. The church is a wonderful replica of country churches of the past and typifies the need that villagers had to band together to survive.

The original 1860’s House and Summer Kitchen will be open and visitors will be able to learn about life on the prairie during the time of the Civil War. Down the lane, the Doctor will be in his office for those who want to consult him or just to learn more about medicinal practices of the past.

The village Blacksmith will be busy with his work and if you are lucky you will find him working at his outside forge. Be sure to visit the farm store upstairs in the Blacksmith shop. Stop at the iron works and view the many and varied items and pieces of machinery housed there before going on to visit the Little Red Schoolhouse where the children are learning their lessons.

The printing press is silent at the Print Shop but you will find the Main Street building alive with activity. A bake sale will be in progress at the Ice Cream Parlor and the General Store will have lots of items for sale that might be useful as Christmas gifts or stocking stuffers, along with candies and big fat pickles. Visit the store fronts in the upper level of that building and find a bank, dentist office, mortuary, pipe shop and shoe shop. Visit the new dressmaker/millinery shop and see what the latest fashions were in the mid 1800’s. There will also be a small shop open in one of the empty rooms containing hand crafted items for sale.

Bake sale items, pickles and candy are all great to have but if you really get hungry, visit the Fulton D.A.R.E. food stand for some of their wonderful food and drinks.

The cost to get into the Canyon is small, just a two dollar donation for adults and 1 dollar for students but the memories last a long time. Come join in the fun and laughter.

Don’t forget to visit the down town Fulton area as well. There are lots of interesting things going on and Fulton’s famous Wind Mill will be open. Look for the schedule and join in the fun there as well. Make this weekend a time to remember.

Be sure to mark a special date on your calendar also. Next weekend, October 16th, 10am. to 9 pm. and October 17th 10 am. to 5 pm. the Early American Crafters will be hosting a special fund raising event for Heritage Canyon. This event will take place at Spring Valley Farms, owned by Catherine and Marc Gravert, at 21919 Hillside Road, Fulton. It will feature hayrack rides, petting zoo, many different contests, games, food, antique tractors and so much more. A special Campfire Sing a long with the Glory Bound band will be held on Saturday night with a last moonlight hay rack ride at eight o’clock. Be sure to look for more information in another part of this paper.

by  Editor, theCity1.com
October 4, 2004