Step back in time with Lisle's Depot Days
With their tug-of-war, sack races and seed-spitting contests, the children who lived in Lisle more than 100 years ago just may have been onto something.
Though low-tech, those pastimes still appeal - so much so that all three will be featured at the 24th annual Lisle Depot Days, a celebration of the village's heritage coming up this weekend, Sept. 20 and 21.
Children who attend the festival also will get plenty of chances to learn about their town's history - not by watching, but by doing.
"We're getting more active things, more things for the kids to enjoy," said Rose Mary Hosé, Lisle Station Museum curator.
Kids can use natural plant dyes to color, play with old-time toys, and search for pennies in a haystack.
That's not to say there won't be plenty of activities to simply watch.
Hosé said volunteers will demonstrate how to grind corn, how to hook rugs, and how to use blacksmith tools to forge metal objects such as horseshoes.
An elaborate model railroad will chug around its tracks in the farmhouse basement while costumed volunteers bake pie in the summer kitchen. And roving musicians playing guitar and fiddle will add to the ambience.
"The old standbys are always popular, the blacksmith shop and baking in the kitchen," said Mike Toohey, recreation superintendent for the Lisle Park District. The district, in cooperation with the Lisle Heritage Society, presents the annual festival.
"Most of what we do is late 19th century, early 20th century," Hosé said.
Festivalgoers also will have a chance to tour the museum buildings at Lisle Station Park, including the Netzley/Yender farmhouse, the Beaubien tavern, the blacksmith shop and the train depot, where an 1881 CB&Q caboose rests.
"Lisle was not built on the railroad line," Hosé said. Instead, it was the plank road that is currently known as Ogden Avenue that led settlers to the Lisle area. "There was always a transportation attraction in the area."
The train has long been an important part of Lisle residents' lives though, she said.
"Of those farms that were in Lisle, a lot of them were dairy farms," she said. Refrigerated freight cars made it possible to transport milk to customers in Chicago.
Depot Days also will feature a Lisle Heritage Society holiday ornament sale, a book sale presented by the Friends of Lisle Library and a 2 p.m. Saturday performance by the Chorus of DuPage men's barbershop singing group, followed at 3 p.m. by the Lisle Area Chamber of Commerce Rain Barrel Auction.
Lisle Depot Days
Where: The Museums at Lisle Station Park, 921 School St., Lisle
When: Noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 20 and 21
Admission: Free
Info: (630) 968-0499 and lisleparkdistrict.org
Depot Days schedule
Lisle's Depot Days runs noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 20 and 21, at the Museums of Lisle Station Park, 921 School St. Free admission. Free festival parking available in Lisle commuter lots. Events will include tours of museum buildings, corn grinding, model railroading, telegraph demonstrations, old-time toys and vehicles, rug hooking, Friends of Lisle Library book sale. Sponsored by Lisle Heritage Society and Lisle Park District. Info: (630) 964-3410 or lisleparkdistrict.org.
SEPT. 20
Noon Bike and buggy parade
1 p.m. Family Pie-Eating contest
1:30 p.m. Penny in a haystack
2 p.m. Chorus of DuPage performance
3 p.m. Rain barrel auction
SEPT. 21
12:30 p.m. Seed-spitting contest
1 p.m. Water and spoon race
1 p.m. Tug-O-War
1 p.m. Sack races
2 p.m. Penny in a haystack
2:30 p.m. Cemetery tours
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