Journey back to the Illinois frontier lifestyle Saturday
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Life on the Illinois Frontier will return to the Saline Creek Pioneer Village 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
The annual event sponsored by the Saline County Historical Society brings to life activities and personalities at the museum grounds at 1600 S. Feazell St. in Harrisburg.
Re-enactors from the 17th Illinois Territorial Rangers will present programs throughout the day led by Mike Bolen, Seth Graves and his wife Christa. The re-enactors focus on the War of 1812 era 200 years ago from 1811 to 1814.
Deloris Vick has volunteered to organize the event for the last decade. This year's event, she says, offers families and history buffs a chance to interact with the re-enactors.
" What we are going to do is just gang together and tell stories when they want to," she said noting that there won't be a set schedule this year.
"Joe Phillips will be out there with his petting zoo and wagon rides," Vick said, a favorite of both children and adults.
Rita Mitchell will be doing personal portraits. A group of master gardeners "will be there to answer questions about heirloom flowers and garden items."
Hovie Stunson is bring his collection of railroad history and displays. Majorie Dotson will make butter with her husband's grandmother's 100-plus-year-old daisy butter churn.
Broom-maker Claudia Parson of Crossville will demonstrate broom-making and John Parker and John O'Dell will do log-splitting.
In addition to the exhibits and displays all of the historic buildings on the museum's grounds - including the 1877 Saline County Pauper House - will be open to the public for tours.
At least four food vendors will offer a variety of food from funnel cakes to sandwiches.
Admission is free and Boy Scouts from Harrisburg Troop 23 will be parking cars across the road for $1.
The grounds have been cleaned up since the Feb. 29 tornado though a close look will show the damage to some of the buildings. Mary Shackleford, president of the historical society, had nothing but praises for the volunteers who have helped with the cleanup.