GLIDDEN HOMESTEAD EVENT GOES ON DESPITE RAIN!

We have moved many activities inside DeKalb’s Hopkins Park Shelter House and will do the best that we can given the weather circumstances!  The Quilt Show begins at 2 p.m., as do the Children’s Games and food items. At 3:30 p.m., there will be a Pie Auction!  Dinner will be served from 5-6:30 p.m., with the Square Dance exhibition and dancing to follow!  Hope to see you at Hopkins Park TODAY!!

Uncle Joe’s Country Faire June 13 recalls days of old
  
The Glidden Homestead’s upcoming Uncle Joe's Country Faire seeks to recapture some of the fun and pleasures of an "Olde Tyme Country Faire" of over 100 years ago, including a barbecue dinner and square dance.

Uncle Joe's Country Faire will be held Saturday, June 13, 2-8:30 p.m., in and around the shelter house at Hopkins Park, 1430 Sycamore Rd., DeKalb.

While a donation is being asked for the meal and dance, admission to the Midway is free, where special historical figures in old-time costumes will stroll the grounds and join in the fun. Faire-goers will also enjoy hot dogs, cotton candy and popcorn available for sale.

Participants will enjoy the sound of historically-themed music on the Midway where they can select from many bake sale items. The public is encouraged to donate family specialties baked for this event to benefit of the Glidden Homestead. The public is also encouraged to donate to the Homemade Pie Auction. Contact board member, Kim Goyke, for details (815) 260-7154.

Old-time games and craft-making will be featured for children that afternoon at the Faire. There is a one-time fee of $3 per child for participation in all games and craft-making.

Activities for children from 2-6 p.m., will include:

• Games and prizes—children will rediscover the simple pleasures of days gone by. The many games for prizes will include horseshoes, balloon darts, bag toss, ring toss, treasure hunt, buckets, and putt-putt golf into the mini Glidden barn.

• Kids’ craft making area—participants will make old-time hats, fans and whizzers.

 
The afternoon’s events also include demonstrations of several old-time crafts, as well as a special quilt exhibit in the shelter house from 2- 4:30 p.m. A People’s Choice Award for the most popular quilt will be presented at 4:30 p.m.

Uncle Joe’s Country Faire also will include several contests, including a cupcake eating contest.

 The day will conclude with a special old-fashioned dinner-dance with musical entertainment. One $20 ticket will cover the evening’s festivities. 5- 8:30 p.m.

A barbecue dinner with all the fixings will be served from 5-6:30 p.m. It will be outside if the weather is good, otherwise inside the shelter house. There will be musical entertainment during dinner.
   
After dinner, there will be a Square Dance Exhibition by the Sugar Squares of Hinckley. Their presentation will include a demonstration of square dancing, followed by lessons for those who are interested, and then open dancing for all.

For tickets to the event, call (815) 756-7904. They also will be available at the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce, at other retail locations and from board members.

Uncle Joe’s Country Faire is a benefit for the Joseph F. Glidden Homestead and Historical Center in DeKalb.  The Homestead is the site where Joseph Glidden invented and manufactured “The Winner” barbed wire, for which he received a patent on Nov. 24, 1874. The house and barn built in the 1860s still stand on their original site at 921 W. Lincoln Hwy., DeKalb (between Copy Service and Burger King).

Glidden Homestead board president, Kathy Siebrasse, said Uncle Joe’s Country Faire will help continue restoration and preservation of one of DeKalb’s true historic gems.

“Glidden’s invention of The Winner is a great American story. His innovation not only affected DeKalb County, but it had far-reaching impact on the development of the American West and ultimately the world beyond. Glidden's barbed wire is still in use today,” said Siebrasse.

The Glidden Homestead is conducting a $2 million fund drive to help expand the museum campus on West Lincoln Highway, and to complete renovations of the house and barn.

“We have a unique opportunity to develop the property as a center for education and innovation that secures its place in history and also enriches our area as a cultural destination point,” she said.

The Glidden Family has offered the Homestead board an option to purchase property next to the house which includes a building. The goal is to develop that building into the museum’s Welcome Center.

Other funds will help restore the historic brick barn where Glidden first manufactured his barbed wire invention. The barn will then become additional museum space for the Homestead.

As a not-for-profit [501(c)3] corporation, the Glidden Homestead is run by a 15-member board, including two Glidden family members. Support for work at the Homestead has come primarily from a membership base, local and regional donations, along with some state and regional grants. The house and barn at the Homestead are both listed on the National Register of Historic Places.   
   
For more information about the Homestead, visit www.gliddenhomestead.org or call (815) 756-7904.