Have you ever wondered how the pioneers made their own rope or dipped their own candles?  Maybe you have even thought about trying your hand at spinning wool.  If so, you should come to the Hitchcock Pioneer Skills Festival.

The Festival will be held on Saturday, May 7th at the Hitchcock House, which is located 6 miles south of Atlantic and 1.5 miles west of Lewis, IA.  The festivities will begin at 1:00 p.m. and end at 4:00 p.m.  You will have an opportunity to visit the historic Hitchcock House and see many of the skills and crafts that people of the late 1800’s used in daily living.

You could begin your visit with a tour of the Hitchcock House that is also a National Historic Landmark.  At the barn, there will be rope making, candle dipping, tin punching, and butter making.

Don’t miss out on this exciting day!  The festival will be held rain or shine.  Families are encouraged to come and share the day together as they might have in the 1800’s.  There is a $5 fee for a tour of the Hitchcock House, last tour at 4:15 pm.  All activities in the barn are free of charge; donations to the Hitchcock House will be accepted.

For more information contact Lora Schwendinger, Naturalist, Cass County Conservation Board, at 712-769-2372

(CCCB Press Release)