Boone County Historical Society hosts ice cream social

By Kathryn Menue

Editor

BELVIDERE – On Tuesday, Aug. 25, the Boone County Historical Society hosted its 11th Annual Old Fashioned Ice Cream Social Fundraiser from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on the Boone County Historical Museum lawn, located at 314 S. State St. in Belvidere.

The event truly was a step back in time with old cars, wagons, old oil and gasoline carriers, old buggies, and carriages lining the streets up to the tent and picnic area of the ice cream social.

Inside the tent were hundreds of people standing in line for pie and other refreshments while others sat and enjoyed the conversation over their dinner and dessert even before 4 p.m. when the event was supposed to begin.

In total, by the end of the night, the Boone County Historical Society served 1,014 people.

The museum was open for the event so people could enjoy some nice hot dogs with chips, finish off with a generous slice of homemade pie, ice cream, and a drink, and then head into the museum and learn about the historical mark Belvidere and Boone County have left on not only Illinois but the entire nation as well.

The ice cream social featured pie or a brownie, ice cream, and a drink for only $5.

In fact, 197 pies were made for the event.

People could also buy hot dogs for $2, BBQ for $3, and chips for 50 cents.

Musical entertainment sounded in the background as people gathered to enjoy the good food and support the Boone County Historical Museum.

Children especially enjoyed the music, shouting out requests for “Jimmy Crack Corn” and “B-I-N-G-O.”

Over on the sidewalk beside the music area was a small table where people could also buy the new book, Images of America: Belvidere and Boone County: The Boone County History Project.

To the Boone County Historical Society, the event was more about bringing people together than raising money.

“It’s a community event, more of a fellowship and gathering of the community,” said Executive Director Anna Pivoras.

This community gathering was made possible by the volunteers and workers from the Boone County Historical Society and Museum and by Berg Industries, and Deans Food, who provided the ice cream for the Old Fashioned Ice Cream Social.

For more information on the Boone County Historical Society or the museum, contact Teri Keegan at (815) 544-8391, find them on Facebook, or go to the museum website at: http://www.bchmuseum.org/.