Jersey County Victorian Festival Historical Demonstrations- Jerseyville, Illinois

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The Jersey County Victorian Festival
Civil War Era
Historical Demonstrations
Jerseyville, Illinois

Labor Day Weekend
August 30 - September 1, 2008


Gettysburg Address		Victorian Civil War Style Show

"Four score and seven years ago ..." So began the Gettysburg Address and each day at 12:30 pm President Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln are ably portrayed by the husband and wife team of Max and Donna Daniels from Wheaton, Illinois. Donna will explain the history and significance of the Address and Max will give a moving rendition of one of the greatest speeches in American history.

Learn what, how, and why Civil War era women wore what they did as Mrs. Lincoln narrates the show that is informative, entertaining, and educational. The show starts daily at 11 am.

Pewter Smith Demonstration

Thomas and Patricia Hooper of ASL Pewter in Louisiana, MO will be showcasing traditional handcrafted pewter and demonstrating various processes involved with the art of working with pewter. The Hoopers have been been recognized nationally by Early American Life magazine in the "2008 Directory of Traditional American Crafts."

Living History

There were many domestic activities that the people of the Civil War era had to practice to produce goods that we take for granted today. For instance, all the tools, utensils, and other essential items had to be made by hand by the local blacksmith or the farmers themselves. Visitors to the Festival will be able to see first hand many of these activities performed by artisans who want to keep these traditional skills alive. There are many artisans demonstrating historical working crafts at the Festival and include wheat weaving, wood carving, gunsmithing, rope making, quilting, blacksmithing, pottery, and even a dulcimer instrument maker who is also a musician.


Great Wheel Lathe Great wheel lathes were used by woodworking craftsmen.		Blacksmith A working blacksmith demonstrates the “hardware store” of the past.

Woodcarving Vernon DePauw has been recognized nationally by "Early American Life" in 2008.		Gunsmith Pappy Horn gives demonstrations on making guns and has period guns for sale.