Ninth annual Old Time Gathering draws 3,500 visitors

By Pat Hahn for the Daily Times
Monday, September 24, 2007 12:43 PM CDT

Max Schram, Kenosha, shared his knowledge of tinsmithing with visitors at Saturday’s ninth annual Old Time Gathering held at the Dodge County Fairgrounds.. He skillfully shaped flat pieces of tin into candle holders, pie plates and other tinware. The day featured a Buckskinners encampment, folk art demonstrations, and hands-on opportunities. (Pat Hahn/Daily Times)

BEAVER DAM - Saturday's ninth annual Old Time Gathering was billed as an opportunity for youths” and adults alike to learn about life in bygone days, and both the day's organizers and its participants deemed it a resounding success.

Held at the Dodge County Fairgrounds near Beaver Dam, the daylong free event drew an estimated 3,500 visitors.

“We had our largest crowd in years,” Dodge County 4-H Youth Development Agent Sally Schoenike said. “Everyone had a great time. It was a wonderful day for the entire family to learn about their heritage.”

Schoenike attributed the day's success to the efforts of the committee that organized the event, the cadre of exhibitors and Buckskinners, an enthusiastic group of volunteers, and groups that assist in sponsoring the day. “Without their hard work we couldn't offer a program like this. I appreciate everything they do to make this a fun and educational experience for families,” she said.

The gathering featured a collection of folk art displays and a Buckskinners encampment, as well as an educational petting zoo, vintage power equipment, new and antique cars, music, and a farmer's market.

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The youth building, headquarters for folk arts exhibits, housed everything from rosemaling (Scandinavian painting), scherenschnitte (paper cutting), and German folded stars to rug hooking, quilting, and trapping. Many displays offered passers-by an opportunity to try their hands at some of those activities.

Among the new exhibits this year were a collection of vintage toy trains, a display of native American arrowheads and tools, and a portrayal of military life during the War of 1812.

Jim Clark, Fox Lake, said in doing historical reenactments, he searched for just the right era before settling on the War of 1812. “There was so much Civil War enactment,” he said. “I wanted a unique time period, and I found it with the War of 1812.

Dressed in a uniform of that era, Clark talked about life in the 25th Infantry during that time period, using a collection of weapons, uniforms, and military accessories to tell the story.

Another new youth building activity was a pie-baking contest. Ten participants entered homemade two-crust fruit pies, with Bonnie Borden, Iron Ridge, taking top honors with a pear pie. Second went to Cora Moylan's apple pie, and third to Heidi Tunak's apple blackberry pie.

The Dodge County Antique Power Club provided tractor-powered “people-movers,” offering free rides to transport spectators from one area to another.

The club also set up a collection of vintage equipment ranging from corn shellers and washing machines to bale makers and tractors.

Another area housed a collection of new and antique cars provided by Ernie Von Schledorn and the Marsh Classic Car Club.

Visitors were transported back in time when they visited the Buckskinners encampment at the west end of the grounds. Dressed in period costume, many of the Buckskinners travel throughout the state, and sometimes out of state, on summer weekends. They become a close-knit “family,” most focusing on one aspect of life during that time.

Kenosha native Max Schram portrays an itinerant tinsmith. “I made a deal with my wife,” he explained. “I make the pie pans, and she bakes me a pie every weekend. How much better can it get than that?”

Other Buckskinners demonstrated activities including flint napping, cooking, fry bread, and tomahawk throwing, in addition to illustrating the types of tents and lodges in which the pioneer forefathers lived.

Old Time Gathering co-chairman Les Neuman, Beaver Dam, has been involved in the event since it started. He demonstrates blacksmithing, transforming simple pieces of metal into unique tools and accessories.

Neuman views the gathering as a way to teach others about a lost art he enjoys. “People asked a lot of questions today, and I and other Buckskinners really like to share our knowledge with them,” he said.

Neuman attributed some of the huge crowds at this year's gathering to near-ideal weather. “For seven out of the nine years we've held the gathering, we've had rain or cold weather. When the rain started to fall Friday evening we thought, ‘Here we go again,'” he said.

But the weather cleared before morning, and sunny mid-70 degree temperatures greeted exhibitors and spectators.

The Folklore Village Dancers and the Swingin' Beavers performed in the youth building, while the Fiddle Magic players entertained visitors near the Buckskinners encampment.

An educational petting zoo was a popular stop, especially for the younger crowd, with animals including rabbits, kittens, poultry, doves, and a miniature horse competing for attention.

In another area, Barbara Harvey displayed live and mounted birds of prey.

A farmers market offered an assortment of fresh locally grown produce, decorative items, and crafts.

Children scrambled to retrieve candy Buckskinners shot from a candy cannon every hour.

The event's sponsors included the Dodge County 4-H Leaders Association, Dodge County Home & Community Education, and Ernie Von Schledorn. Supporting organizations included the Dodge County Fair Association, Dodge County Antique Power Club, Dodgeland/HustisfordFFA, Ebert's Greenhouse Village, and Waldvogel's Farm Market.

As soon as the gates closed on this year's event, the committee organizing the program starts making plans for next year. “Mark your calendar for Sept. 27,” co-chairwoman Diane Neff said. “That's our tentative date for 2008.”