The Past Revisited:

Alton Heritage Days

Written by Dr. Harvey Viet & JoAnne Lenz
Photos by: JoAnne Lenz

What was an idea of a small group of people only three years ago, has turned into a people-drawing special event participated in by over 14,000. This was the attendance at the last year's "Heritage Days" held at The Gordon F. Moore Community Park in Alton. The concept behind the festivities is to take the American living situation of the 1776 to 1840 era, and reproduce it for children and adults to see and understand.

Dr. Veit, an Alton physician and prime-mover in this venture, came up with the Heritage idea after organizing a successful fife and drum corps for the 1776-1976 Bi-Centennial Celebration. His Alton Fife and Drum Corps is a talented group of 10-18 year olds. Costumed in authentic uniform replicas of that era, they have, since 1976, traveled all over the United States, participating in many parades and special events, winning acclaim wherever they appear. From the success of this group came the idea for the even more ambitious heritage days.

The Gordon F. Moore Community Park, site for the festival, is relatively new with each step of its development carefully planned. When Dr. Veit and his group decided to start this event, they came to the Park Area Development Committee, requesting a portion of land be made available to them. They needed some place they could return to each year, so land was set aside, in an undeveloped part of the park. They have installed three oversized flag poles and each day's activities start with the flag raising ceremony.

The Third Annual Heritage Days will be held this year on October 2nd and 3rd. Each year it draws more interested people as participants and spectators. Children have their own special activities, accenting how children played, ate, and lived in the 1700's. The broad purpose for holding Heritage Days is to educate the general public in the customs, manners, methods, tools, clothing, food, and equipment used by the early settlers of Southwestern Illinois in their daily lives and pursuits. In support of that goal, the organizers sponsor and assist in the presentation by various groups of the arts and crafts of the early settlers. A related purpose is to provide a focal point for civic attention and

Dr. Veit leading the nationally known Alton Fife and Drum Corps in the opening Heritage Days ceremonies.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 12 July/August 1982

pride while contributing to the total cultural and historical environment of the community thus making it attractive to newcomers and prospective residents.

The almost forgotten art of tomahawk and knife throwing.

The number of participants has increased dramatically each year and each brings a special creativeness to the public. Dressed in authentic clothing, material as well as style, they come from near and far. A guideline for contributors is that everything they demonstrate or sell, must be traceable to the late 1700's. It seems that every thing associated with day to day living is demonstrated. Food, its preparation, availability, or preservation, or manner of eating it, is a big drawing card. The clothing shown must match the style, material then available, and be hand woven and dyed. The shelters erected must contain the correct types of materials and style of the day. The weapons and tools used must be handmade according to year, model, and appropriate materials. Whether they weave, dye material, shoe horses, cook food, bake bread, make musical instruments, spin wool, quilt, dry flowers or food, make pottery, sell guns, or carve wood, whatever their craft, the participants' efforts must be authentic. This has meant a great deal of research for the contributors and a great deal of learning on the part of the people who come to observe.

Some of the most spectacular participants are the men and women who dress as Indians or buckskin-clad frontiersmen and live in their handmade shelters for the weekend. The days are reminiscent of the days when the Indians would come to the rendezvous with the French traders and trappers, to spend time swapping their furs and pelts to obtain the necessities to get them through the winter. It was also a time for socializing, trading news, and generally having a good time. Many Alton area people come to enjoy the show of colorful costumes, the food, and the comradeship this event brings to us.

Come and join us this year.

A soldier, a trapper, and an Indian-each a part of a rich heritage.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 13 July/August 1982