Experience harvest in the 1850s at Glacial Park

Submitted by McHenry County Conservation District

Step back in time to the 1850s at McHenry County Conservation District's “Harvest Gathering of 1858” from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6, at Glacial Park's Powers-Walker House, 6201 Harts Road in Ringwood.Join costumed re-enactors as they share how early settlers harvested, processed and used corn and other natural fibers in their everyday lives. 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 making your own corn husk doll or yarn doll to take home. Make or learn candle making methods. Other activities include making bobbin lace, spinning and weaving. There also will be a weapons demonstration of the era by a cavalry sergeant on horseback and a surveyor showing how land boundaries were defined prior to today's GPS technology.Be sure to follow the smells of bread baking in the wood-burning cook stove and take the opportunity to tour inside the historic farmhouse, which is open to the public only a few times a year.#8220;The exterior of the house has been recently repainted and we have been busy on the interior. Our recent focus this year has been restoring the parlor and parents' bedroom on the first floor. We have just recently unveiled the newly strung rope-bed complete with a corn husk mattress, tatted-trimmed sheets, and topped with an antique quilt,#8221; said Gail Brown, volunteer restoration coordinator. #8220;It's worth coming back for each event to see what changes have taken place.#8221;The program is free and registration is not required. For more information, call Prairieview Education Center at (815) 479-5779 or visit www.MCCDistrict.org.