History is magic in the Log Village

MT. PLEASANT — In Peter Pan children climb out their windows and join Peter in Neverland. At Old Threshers Reunion it is nearly as common for children to peel away from their parents and hop on the trolley to visit the Log Village.

The Log Village takes visitors back in time to an 1856 village consisting of Kossuth House, the Cassidy House, Oak Ridge School, a sawn-log barn, public house, outhouse, vendors and a touring medicine show.

While it might not seem to have all the magic of Neverland, to children and many adults, the simple pleasures of wholesome fun, laughter, and peace that envelope the area are a magic in and of themselves.

As visitors pull up on the trolley the conductor yells out, “Log Village this stop. Log Village. This is a must see stop. Best sarsaparilla this side of Sioux City.”

As they step into the past, the trolley passengers can be overheard commenting, “It’s like Little House on the Prairie!” with excitement.

According to Oak Ridge School volunteer Robin Henriksen, many volunteer children attend the one room school house and actually participate in school activities such as spelling bees, recess games, and even a Declaration of Independence presentation.

Modern day viewers peer in windows, stand around the edges of the classroom, and peek through the open door of the school house to listen as children participate in the scheduled spelling bee.

“Unanimous,” the schoolteacher gave fifth-grader Jack Dameron a word to spell.

“U-N-A-N-I-M-O-U-S,” he spelled with minimal hesitation.

The line methodically sifted through additional words.

Necessary took out a student. Separation took out two.

Jack effortlessly spelled foreign and then magnanimity as his turn came again.

Unfortunately, however, he was taken down by the ever-tricky word, sufferable.

Sixth-grader Julia Settles of Pella won with the correct spelling.

More than the participating school children enjoy the time in the Log Village.

Among the log houses, various old-time games like a ring and hook on a tree, checkers, and a marble gadget invite children to play.

Five-year-old Caleb and his dad Brett Nikkel from Pella enjoy spending time at the log village playing checkers on a back porch of a log cabin and candy shop combination building.

“We’re just here for fun,” Brett said of their Old Threshers experience.

Meanwhile, 7-year volunteer Julianne Fischer manned the candy shop counter just inside with third year volunteer Jill Ita.

Out front, 4-year volunteer Merna Miller sat on the other porch rocking contently in her chair as she watched 1-year-old volunteer Julia Nelson play with marbles.

Just outside the log house, Professor Farquar and Polecat Annie entertain large crowds with their old-time medicine show.

The Professor and Annie, however, do not peddle snake oil, elixirs or other traditional medicine, but they do freely distribute copious amounts of laughter.

Annie asked for volunteers as she displayed her vast scientific and dance knowledge.

“Centrifugal force keeps the plate on our hands,” she explained as she and her volunteer elegantly rotate a tin plate in a circle on their flat hands without dropping it.

Annie even took her skills a step further as she proceeded to do the same trick with her heel in her hands above her head.

The black smiths could be heard hammering away just across the law.

A faint bleating of goats, cluck of chicken, and moo of cows floated through this old-time wonderland as they closed up shop on one more year of a successful Old Threshers.

While the log village may be quiet now, soon it will welcome school field trips, and in no time, the dedicated Reunion Volunteers of 1856 will return.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com