Learn role of corn, farming in 1850s at Harvest Gathering

Step back in time at the 1850s Powers-Walker House and find out how integral the production and use of corn was to everyday lives during early settlement at McHenry County Conservation District's Harvest Gathering of 1858 from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1 at Glacial Park's Powers-Walker House, 6316 Harts Road in Ringwood.

Join costumed re-enactors as they share how early settlers harvested, processed and used corn. See examples of heritage corn in all sizes and colors. Try your hand at shelling corn off the cob and grinding it into flour with a hand crank, or creating fall garlands and dolls using cornhusks. Make a wheat-weaving ornament, a yarn doll or learn old-time candle making methods. Other harvest activities include bobbin lace weaving and a weapons demonstration of the era by a Cavalry sergeant on horseback.

Be sure to follow the smells of cornbread baking in the wood-burning cookstove inside and take advantage of a rare opportunity to tour the historic farmhouse, which is open to the public only a few times a year.

"Since the exterior of the house has been completely restored and recently repainted, we started adding more to the interior details such as the insert cupboard in the summer kitchen," said Gail Brown, volunteer restoration coordinator. "It's worth coming back for each event to see what new piece of the puzzle has been added."

The program is free and registration is not required for this drop-in event. For information, call Prairieview Education Center at (815) 479-5779 or visit MCCDistrict.org.