Aug. 4, 2008

Echoes of a once bustling 19th-century industrial community will stir again on Michigan's Garden Peninsula as Fayette Historic State Park hosts its 22nd annual Fayette Heritage Day, Saturday, Aug. 9, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fayette is located in Delta County, on the shore of Lake Michigan, between Escanaba and Manistique.

This annual living-history event observes Fayette's rich social and industrial heritage through costumed interpretation, 19th-century crafts, period music and a variety of the era's children's games and sporting competitions. The event begins at 11 a.m. with folk singer-song writer Carl Behrend, who'll bring to life stories and legends of the Great Lakes.

"In these tough economic times, Fayette Heritage Day offers families inexpensive fun - the entertainment, horse and wagon rides and children's 19th-century activities are free of charge," said Brenda Laakso, site historian at Fayette Historic State Park. "We invite the public to spend the day not only enjoying the festivities but also experiencing all that Fayette has to offer, from the historic town site to the varied and innovative museum exhibits."

Fayette Heritage Day's programs include "Looking Back Thirty-Three Years: Archaeology at Fayette," presented by State Archaeologist Dr. John R. Halsey. Among other talents featured are the Village Artisans Youth Players of Garden, performing a skit about 19th-century life at Fayette. The final performer of the day, Wisconsin folksinger and songsmith David HB Drake will present the life, times and music of a 19th-century great lakes sailor in "A Schooner Songbag." Based on the1850s unpublished diaries of sailor William Hulme, Drake talks about the hardships, including songs and yarns from the days when schooners sailed the Great Lakes.

Laakso said that visitors can observe skilled artisans at work demonstrating blacksmithing, pottery-making, quilting and spin-weaving crafts, and view Fayette through the media of various artists like landscape, pastel and ink sketches. Again this year, artists and crafters will be selling their wares.

Additional ongoing activities will include display of a 19th-century Wherry boat and handcrafted boat cleats, a 19th-century lighting display, free horse and wagon rides, a food tent sponsored by the Bay De Noc High School Booster Club and a pie social.

Children of all ages can enjoy watermelon eating and "seed spitting" contests, sack races, three-legged races, lawn croquet and 19th-century reproduction toys. Later, guests will be treated to an old-time "base ball" game fielded by the Fayette Historic State Park Team; the public is invited to participate. Game play will follow 1880s rules, meaning players will use no gloves and a bell will ring up each run.

Scheduled activities include:

• 11 a.m.: An hour-long performance by folk singer-song writer Carl Behrend


• 12:30 p.m.: "Looking Back Thirty-Three Years: Archaeology at Fayette" by State Archaeologist Dr. John R. Halsey


• 1:30 p.m.: Children's watermelon-eating and "seed spitting" contests open to the public


• 1:45 p.m.: A skit performed by the Village Artisans Youth Players of Garden


• 2:30 p.m.: "Schooner Songbag," musical performance by Wisconsin folksinger and songsmith David HB Drake


• 3:15 p.m.: Silent auction winner announced


• 3:30 p.m.: "Base Ball-1880s Style!"

Fayette is one of the nation's premier examples of a 19th-century industrial community and company town. In operation from 1867 to 1891, its furnaces produced over 229,000 tons of pig iron to become the second largest producer of charcoal iron in Michigan.

Today 20 buildings are preserved, including the furnace complex, hotel, town hall, company office and several residences. Eleven buildings contain exhibits and are open to the public, including a modern visitor center with a scale model of the townsite as it looked in the 1880s.

Fayette Historic Townsite is administered by the Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries' Michigan Historical Center in cooperation with the Department of Natural Resources' Parks and Recreation Division. The museum village is open daily, 9 a.m. to dusk through Labor Day and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Labor Day through mid-October. Admission is by Michigan state park permit. For information call (906) 644-2711 or visit the museum's Web site at www.michigan.gov/fayettetownsite.

The Department of History, Arts and Libraries is dedicated to enriching quality of life and strengthening the economy by providing access to information, preserving and promoting Michigan's heritage and fostering cultural creativity. In addition to the Michigan Historical Center, it includes the Library of Michigan, the Mackinac Island State Park Commission and the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs. To learn more, visit www.michigan.gov/hal.

Read more press releases from the Department of History, Arts and Libraries (HAL).