History, Heritage, and Halloween at Lincoln Pioneer Village and Museum

ROCKPORT – The Lincoln Pioneer Village and Museum was full of history and Halloween fun Saturday for its annual Fall Heritage Day. Interpreters and visitors in the garb of pioneer Hoosiers joined visitors attired for the evening’s Howl on the Rock festival across the way to keep the little village bustling with activity.

Dennis Hutchinson of the Sons of Union Veterans offered drilling instructions to kids throughout the day, giving them a crash course in how to march in a 19th Century army. In lieu of hard tack, suckers were distributed to new recruits.

The grounds were also filled with artists partaking in some plein air painting. Several scenes of the village, and the fall foliage, were captured on canvas throughout the day as onlookers watched their progress.

One new attraction this year was Kevin Clinton, who offered a demonstration of how to make buckskin in the traditional manner. Other costumed interpreters demonstrated how to operate a spinning wheel, work a blacksmith’s hammer and anvil, or make some music with traditional instruments. 

Kentucky Colonel Henry Tuttle also returned to the village Saturday with some of his tools of the trade. He welcomed guests into the Old Pigeon Creek Baptist Church, where among other things he described the 19th Century pseudoscience of phrenology. 

Other interpreters, such as George Meece, stuck close to the cabins. Meece, a descendant of the Crawford family that befriended the neighboring Lincoln family during their stay in Indiana, tended the fireplace in the replica Crawford Cabin to keep out the coming winter chill.

Featured Image: Guests were able, among other things, to witness a demonstration on candle making during the Fall Heritage Day event.

Rockport Mayor Cathy Kirkpatrick visits with Kentucky Colonel Henry Tuttle and listens to what he has to say.

George Meece tends to a fire in the replica Crawford Cabin. Meece is a descendant of the Crawford family, who were neighbors to the Lincoln family during their stay in Indiana.

Dennis Hutchinson trains recruits Amelia and Isabelle Schipp on how to march in a 19th century military.

David Hamilton partakes in the act of Plein Air Painting and paints a scene during the event.

A few interpreters performed many traditional pieces of music to keep guests entertained throughout the day.

The 4-H Cloggers club performed different clogging routines throughout the day.

Kevin Clinton demonstrates how to traditionally make buckskin.