Macktown Living History Center hosts the 25th annual Gathering

JEAN SEEGERS PHOTOS The Herald
Re-enactors Jessanna and Bailey Stein and their chicken Rosalind, greeted students in front of the Macktown Living History Center on Education Day, April 28. Each year children, teachers and chaperones are invited to spend the day prior to the Gathering weekend experiencing hands-on history about life in an 1840’s settlement.

By Jean Seegers
REPORTER
Despite the cool and rainy weather, the 25th annual Gathering at Macktown, drew hundreds of visitors on Saturday, April 29. Re-enactors packed up on Sunday, April 30, after stormy weather dampened the day’s activities.
Every year, Macktown hosts Education Day, the Friday before the regular Gathering festivities. Again this year, elementary Schools from as far away as Dixon and into Wisconsin loaded students on to busses for an educational field trip to Macktown.
Stephen Mack (portrayed by Allen Harrison) got things underway at 9:15a.m., with an opening ceremony at the flagpole in the center of the village.Mack explained the history of Macktown, followed by the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance and raising of the flags.
Approximately 250 children, teachers and chaperones spread out to explore the village. They conversed with re-enactors and learned first- hand about everyday life in the settlement of Macktown in the 1840’s. Students took part in a spelling bee in the Whitman Post classroom; learned about fur trapping and
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