Re-Creation of the Past and Kinship with it

by Ms. Janet Pickett Coordinator of Interpretive Services Illinois Department of Conservation

Conservation - sponsored special events in Illinois' state parks have come a long way since that first event five years ago, when a pack of costumed, rain-soaked canoers shoved off on the initial race at Fort de Chartres.

Last June marked the fifth anniversary of the Fort de Chartres Rendezvous — the once-obscure pair of 36-foot birch bark replica canoes has been replaced by a small fleet of French Voyageur model Montreals and Norths. Other facets of the annual celebration have also matured. The metamorphosis has taken place through the continued interest of historically-minded people in the Parks Division, and among the citizenry, not only of Illinois but throughout the midwest.

Engulfed In a Different Era

Attired in 19th century garb, one of the descendants of the original Bishop Hill communal village weaves on one of the colony's original looms during the "Jordbrukdagarna."

The aura of a full-fledged special event is perhaps best felt and described by Fort de Chartres. The rustic stone front gates of the old fortress, along the Mississippi River near Prairie du Rocher in northern Randolph County, beckoned to thousands last June, who became totally engulfed in a different era as they passed through the historic portals.

At Fort de Chartres, the physical impact of an historic environment is complete—children, clad in French colonial dress lead you into the fort's interior where you are greeted by local 18th century artisans working with hand-turned lathes, leather and forge. An aroma fills the air —you follow its scent to where kindly ladies in crisp starched white are busy with long-handled flat wooden paddles extracting earthenware crocks bloated with brown-crusted bread from a rough-hewn stone oven. You're offered a taste of this soft delicacy — fresh-baked bread — along with freshly churned butter. Delicious!

As you finish your second piece you hear the beat of drum and sound of fife in the distance. This is the approach of the parade of the "Red Coats."

Interpretive Effort Began in 1970

The Pee Wee hockey tournament is an annual event at the Rock Cut Winter Carnival.

The Rendezvous, senior special event, was conceived by personnel in the Conservation Department's Division of Parks in 1970, when it was decided to attempt to dramatize the rich and varied historical heritage that is so prominent a part of the state park system. A pilot interpretive effort began that year with an objective to preserve the natural and cultural heritage through public programming; the special events are a facet of the interpretive effort. As they presently exist, special events are two-day, weekend programs which either recreate a specific period in time at historic parks or memorials, or highlight outstanding natural resource areas by ecological or recreational programming.

Special events, by their very nature, involve people of all ages, diversified and organized clubs, and many individual enthusiasts in varying areas. To these people, special events offer a constructive and creative use of leisure time, unique in comparison with their previous experiences. By encouraging public participation, either by direct methods such as those mentioned or by the indirect method of reliving the past through simple attending, the hope is to instill an awareness and an appreciation in people which will lead to public desire for preservation of our valuable resources. This is one of the deepest, most basic objectives of the program Planning Section.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 6 January/February, 1975

The chill of winter settles over Lincoln's New Salem village, which will host a traditional 19th century Christinas in December.

1975 Special Events More Than Doubled

Public response to special events has been gratifying, it has been extremely supportive. Realizing the educational and recreational values in this type of programming, the Department has more than doubled the number of events for this year. Here is a brief description of each of our anticipated 1975 special events:

• Feb. 15-16—Winter Carnival at Rock Cut State Park, Rockford. A multitude of winter recreational activities prove that parks can be fun in the "off-season," too.

• April 26-27—Southern Illinois Country Days, Ferne Clyffe State Park, Goreville. Highlights the unique heritage of southern Illinois, through bluegrass music, crafts, nature tours.

• May 17-18—Wild Foods Festival, Lincoln Trail State Park, Marshall. The identification and preparation of edible plants, and their use in medicinal remedies. Guided tours.

• June 7-8—Sixth annual Fort de Chartres Rendezvous, Fort de Chartres State Park, Prairie de Rocher. Portrays the influence and the importance of the early French colonial period in Illinois.

• June 21-22— Olde English Faire, Jubilee College State Park, Brimfield. Reflections of the British culture and influence in settling and educating mid-Illinois.

• Sept. 13-14—Turn of the Century celebration, Siloam Springs State Park, east of Quincy. A well-known health spa of the period, Siloam Springs once again hosts the "good old days."

A wood carver plies his trade during Southern Illinois Country Days at Ferne Clyffe State Park.

Recreation WITH Nature

• Sept. 20-21—A Wanderer's Weekend, Lake Le - Aqua - Na and Apple River Canyon State Parks, between Freeport and Galena in northwestern Illinois. An ecological event emphasizing recreation with nature

• Oct. 4-5—"Jordbrukdagarna" at Bishop Hill Memorial, west of Kewanee. The mid-19th century Swedish "Utopia" lives again.

• Nov. 1-2—Fort Massac 1776, Fort Massac State Park, Metropolis. Early American military and colonial lifestyles prevail in and around this reconstructed fort.

A New Salem Christmas

• Dec. 6-7—A New Salem Christmas, New Salem State Park village, south of Petersburg. The village once again comes to life as settlers prepare for a traditional Christmas, 1835-style.

In his classic, "Interpreting our Heritage," Freeman Tilden says: "Ideal interpretation implies: recreation of the past, and kinship with it."

This is what our special events programming is all about. Therefore, be it for a weekend or a week, one event or a dozen, we of the Department of Conservation invite you to join us on our journey through the past.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 7 January/February, 1975