With a greater emphasis on children's activities, Log Cabin Days amused and entertained hundreds of them Sunday afternoon at Lighthouse Park at the tip of Old Mission Peninsula.
More than 800 people — double the attendance of last year — stopped by to play old-fashioned games, watch demonstrations of traditional arts crafts, listen to Civil War poetry and stories, tour the 1850s Hessler log cabin and climb the lighthouse tower. Another popular attraction was the master harmonica class that introduced 40 children to the instrument. The Peninsula Community Library also sponsored a story circle and face painting for children.
"This year we did some new things, added more children's games and of course we had our lovely couple who did the 1800s games,” said Heatherlyn Reamer, chairperson for the Log Cabin Day committee of the sponsoring Old Mission Peninsula Historical Society, referring to Don and Helen Pratt.
"One hundred and one children made a cup and ball game to take home, that's a very exciting number,” she added.
The events were part of a statewide homage to pioneer living that featured tours of 96 log cabins for the 21st Annual Log Cabin Days sponsored by the Log Cabin Society of Michigan.
One of the children who attended the local Log Cabin Days, Ivy Bailie, 10, presented information on the life of the Metis who lived in the Great Lakes region. She gave a substantive talk on the culture, history and life of the mixed French and Indian hunters and trappers. Wearing a period costume featuring accessories she had made herself, including two leather pouches and a bonnet, between spiels Bailie enjoyed checking out the dozen other presenters.
"I really, really liked the tin smith, my friend does that and she's made two lanterns,” said the Grand Traverse Academy student. "I also liked the crafts.”
Presenters included weavers, furniture makers, spinners and a tin smith as well as representatives from the Grand Traverse Lighthouse — who brought a foghorn kids could sound — and from the South Fox Island Lighthouse.
"It is Log Cabin Day but because it is next door to our lighthouse they kind of go together,” said Reamer of the synergy between the log cabin and lighthouses.
Jim Rantala of Traverse City made his first appearance at Log Cabin Days, bringing samples of both his handmade Windsor furniture and tin work. His presence did not reflect the historical period, however, as tin smiths did not exist in early Michigan because mass produced tin items were cheaply and easily made in factories. The tin plates, lanterns, silverware and cups nevertheless gave settlers moving to the state an affordable substitute for finer items made of pewter or silver.
"There were stamping plants and those were Eastern things,” said Rantala, who demonstrated tin smithing for attendees.
Majel Chance Obata of Glen Arbor brought her twining loom, representing another aspect of frontier days where settlers were as self-sufficient as possible. Made of common hardware store items including a frame of one-inch by two-inch boards, string, wing nuts and dowels, her portable twining loom turns rags — or her preferred strips of purchased fabric — into rugs.
"I started twining 27 years ago and they are the perfect rugs, you never wash them, you just turn them over,” she said. "Not very many people do twining, they may do it within their other weaving.”
For more information, see the Old Mission Peninsula Historical Society's web site at www.omphistoricalsociety.org.