Historic village provides glimpse of pioneer life in early America
By John Chambers
Twenty-year-old Dmitry Astapkovich traveled from St. Petersburg, Russia, to Terre Haute so he could experience American culture and improve his English.
Among the many places he visited was Fowler Park's rustic Pioneer Village, with its 14 log cabins, a gristmill and covered bridge. The cabins are showcased in a scenic, 1840s-era village beside a lake.
Astapkovich was one of 11 Russians visiting the community as part of an exchange program between Indiana State University and St. Petersburg State University of Aerospace Instrumentation.
ISU faculty member Jerry Cockrell decided to take the visitors to the Pioneer Village because "I thought it would be a good, cultural activity," he said. "It's an example of early America."
Cockrell was familiar with the village, where he and his family used to participate with the Village Folk, a volunteer group that re-enacts everyday pioneer life.
Cockrell, an early American history buff, describes the Pioneer Village as "a gem."
Natalia Voloshina, a Russian faculty member, found the Pioneer Village "very impressive and interesting."
Russia had log cabins, as well, but in a different style, she said. Because it was so cold in Russia, people lived on the second floor, while farm animals used the ground floor of a cabin.
Pioneer Village is the site of several popular events, including Pioneer Days the first weekend in October, a Christmas Walk in early December and a pancake breakfast in February.
Some years, Pioneer Days has drawn about 10,000 people, while last year, the Christmas Walk drew about 8,000.
Also in October, the park hosts a Mini-Pioneer Days in which all Vigo County School Corp. fourth-graders have an opportunity to learn how pioneers lived.
Why is it such a popular destination? "People like to step back in time and see how their ancestors did things," said Darlene Norman, assistant superintendent of the Vigo County Park and Recreation Department.
The village also is frequently used as a setting for weddings, reunions and other special occasions.
Most of the cabins are historic, dating back to the early and mid-1800s. They have been taken down from their original sites and re-built at the park.
The village continues to grow, with a new blacksmith shop under construction, Norman said. Keith Ruble, parks superintendent, is hewing the logs for it. Ruble has spearheaded the development of the Pioneer Village.
During Pioneer Days, people can see cookies baked over an open hearth, log hewing, candle dipping, sheep shearing and much more. People enjoy sampling the food prepared the pioneer way, Norman said.
While the village does draw tourists from many places, the primary purpose is educational, Norman said.
If the parks department had the funds, it would like to hire full-time staff for the village to make it even more of a tourism draw. "It would be wonderful to help bring money into the county if we could do more with it," Norman said.
Pioneer Village is in Fowler Park, which is set on more than 400 acres in southern Vigo County. It includes a wilderness area, four lakes, a campground, picnic shelters, playgrounds and four miles of trails.
Fowler Lake has a boat-launching ramp and a swimming beach, while the park's wilderness area includes several fishing ponds and two lakes.
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Tribune-Star/Bob Poynter |
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FOWLER FAST FACTS
-- Fowler Park, which includes the Pioneer Village, is 1 mile east of U.S. 41 on Oregon Church Road, about 7 miles south of Interstate 70.
Upcoming events at Pioneer Village
-- Pioneer Days, Oct. 1 and 2.
-- The Christmas Walk, Dec. 2 and 3.
-- A pancake breakfast is conducted the third weekend in February to showcase the maple syrup that is tapped from trees in Prairie Creek Park.
-- The Pioneer Village is open each weekend during the summer.
-- Every third weekend, the Fowler Village Folk demonstrate everyday life in an early 1800s log village. Village Folk will be there Saturday and Sunday and Sept. 17 and 18. Times are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, and the gift shop is open. There is no admission.
-- Every second weekend, members of the Wabash Valley Blacksmith Association hone their skills at the village.
-- Every summer weekend, except the third weekend of the month, Ruth Dalton, a paid staff member, takes on the role of a pioneer. She has a pioneer tea the first weekend of the month in the Woods Cabin.
-- For more information on the park or Pioneer Village, contact the Vigo County Park and Recreation Department at (812)462-3392.