Back To The Days Of Kosciuszko Sept. 29-30
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
Back to the Days of Kosciuszko is an event honoring the namesake of Kosciusko County. The time period portrayed in the two-day historical reenactment is 1746 to 1817, the years of Kosciuszko's life.
Back to the Days starts Sept. 28 with school day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Karen Ellison, with Back to the Days, said they expect 875 fourth-grade students from area schools and 110 chaperones to be there.
"That's up from last year," said Ellison. "They will eat there. Chicken stew will be fixed in the iron kettles. They will go from different learning stations to watch the various demonstrators."
Some of the demonstrations include candle dipping, bow napping, flint napping, spinning, hide preserving, leather working, the village blacksmith and other colonial crafts.
Students will enjoy participating in military drills with wooden muskets, and attending a "Punch and Judy" puppet show.
Each year, an essay contest is held prior to the event. Students write a first-person narrative on a subject chosen. Winners receive a pizza party donated by Pizza Hut.
Sponsors of student day include Monteith Tire, Teachers Credit Union, Kosciusko Community Foundation, Dekko Foundation and several individuals.
Public days kick off at 9 a.m. Sept. 29 with opening ceremonies and morning colors. During the two-day event, there will be performances of "Punch & Judy" puppet shows, Ben Franklin and Thistle Mountain Lap Dulcimers throughout both days. The children's craft corner is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, with closing ceremonies and colors both days at 3:45 p.m.
"Ben Franklin" and his wife Deborah are new to Back to the Days this year. Presented by an experienced first-person reenactor who has spent years researching Franklin, the actor will inform audiences on Franklin's life, the signing of the Declaration of Independence and his experiment with a kite in a thunderstorm.
At the blacksmith shop, an old bellow has been put in. "You can see the blacksmith working like they would have back then," said Ellison.
The 1854 log house will be in place. "That's when it was originally built," said Ellison.
Attendees also can purchase food while viewing history up close. "It would be something people would have eaten back then," said Ellison.
The "Punch & Judy" show is "always good," she said. The show is put on by Royal Jamison.
Fourth-graders from Judy Kinsey's class at Harrison Elementary School also will be selling their buck-eye jewelry. Some of the proceeds will be given to charity, with the rest of it being used in the classroom.
"It's good for kids to do that kind of thing to give them experience," said Ellison.
The Thistle Mountain Lap Dulcimers is a group of three people who will play music on dulcimers from that era. Ellison said they will be performing off and on during the whole weekend.
Everyone's favorite, Ellison said, also will be back - the cannon. "That's what people like to see and hear," she said.
Back to the Days will be held rain or shine. Admission is $3 per person, children under 5 years old are allowed in free. Parking is free, and no pets are allowed.
For more information on the 17th annual Back to the Days of Kosciuszko, visit online at www.backtothedays.com
Back to the Days is a 501(c)3 organization.
According to Ellison, its goal is "to educate the public basically on how lucky they are nowadays that they don't have to live back then. There were no modern conveniences."[[In-content Ad]]
Back to the Days of Kosciuszko is an event honoring the namesake of Kosciusko County. The time period portrayed in the two-day historical reenactment is 1746 to 1817, the years of Kosciuszko's life.
Back to the Days starts Sept. 28 with school day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Karen Ellison, with Back to the Days, said they expect 875 fourth-grade students from area schools and 110 chaperones to be there.
"That's up from last year," said Ellison. "They will eat there. Chicken stew will be fixed in the iron kettles. They will go from different learning stations to watch the various demonstrators."
Some of the demonstrations include candle dipping, bow napping, flint napping, spinning, hide preserving, leather working, the village blacksmith and other colonial crafts.
Students will enjoy participating in military drills with wooden muskets, and attending a "Punch and Judy" puppet show.
Each year, an essay contest is held prior to the event. Students write a first-person narrative on a subject chosen. Winners receive a pizza party donated by Pizza Hut.
Sponsors of student day include Monteith Tire, Teachers Credit Union, Kosciusko Community Foundation, Dekko Foundation and several individuals.
Public days kick off at 9 a.m. Sept. 29 with opening ceremonies and morning colors. During the two-day event, there will be performances of "Punch & Judy" puppet shows, Ben Franklin and Thistle Mountain Lap Dulcimers throughout both days. The children's craft corner is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, with closing ceremonies and colors both days at 3:45 p.m.
"Ben Franklin" and his wife Deborah are new to Back to the Days this year. Presented by an experienced first-person reenactor who has spent years researching Franklin, the actor will inform audiences on Franklin's life, the signing of the Declaration of Independence and his experiment with a kite in a thunderstorm.
At the blacksmith shop, an old bellow has been put in. "You can see the blacksmith working like they would have back then," said Ellison.
The 1854 log house will be in place. "That's when it was originally built," said Ellison.
Attendees also can purchase food while viewing history up close. "It would be something people would have eaten back then," said Ellison.
The "Punch & Judy" show is "always good," she said. The show is put on by Royal Jamison.
Fourth-graders from Judy Kinsey's class at Harrison Elementary School also will be selling their buck-eye jewelry. Some of the proceeds will be given to charity, with the rest of it being used in the classroom.
"It's good for kids to do that kind of thing to give them experience," said Ellison.
The Thistle Mountain Lap Dulcimers is a group of three people who will play music on dulcimers from that era. Ellison said they will be performing off and on during the whole weekend.
Everyone's favorite, Ellison said, also will be back - the cannon. "That's what people like to see and hear," she said.
Back to the Days will be held rain or shine. Admission is $3 per person, children under 5 years old are allowed in free. Parking is free, and no pets are allowed.
For more information on the 17th annual Back to the Days of Kosciuszko, visit online at www.backtothedays.com
Back to the Days is a 501(c)3 organization.
According to Ellison, its goal is "to educate the public basically on how lucky they are nowadays that they don't have to live back then. There were no modern conveniences."[[In-content Ad]]
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