July 30, 2007

Echoes of a once bustling 19^th-century industrial community will stir again on Michigan's Garden Peninsula as Fayette Historic State Park hosts its 21^st annual Fayette Heritage Day on Saturday, Aug. 11, from noon to 5 p.m.  Fayette is located in Delta County, on the shore of Lake Michigan, between Escanaba and Manistique.

This annual living-history event - sponsored this year by the Friends of Fayette Historic Townsite - observes Fayette's rich social and industrial heritage through costumed interpretation, 19^th-century crafts, period music and a variety of the era's children's games and sporting competitions.  The afternoon starts at noon with folk singer-songwriter Carl Behrend, bringing to life stories and legends of the Great Lakes.  

"In this day and age of increasing costs and, especially, gas prices, Fayette Heritage Day offers families an inexpensive afternoon of enjoyment for children of all ages," said Brenda Laakso, site historian at Fayette Historic State Park.  "Visitors can experience Fayette through a full roster of musical performances, craft demonstrations, artists, children's games, food and fun.  It will be a 'Pure Michigan' afternoon, spent in one of our state's most unique historical settings."

Fayette Heritage Day's other musical offerings include Randi Chandler and the Village Artisans Youth Players of Garden, presenting a skit about school life at Fayette with vocal performances of 19^th-century songs.   Also featured is the "Lost Lake Effect Band" performing lively instrumentals, beautiful waltzes, vocals and a variety of traditional American, folk and bluegrass.

Throughout the day, visitors can observe skilled artisans at work, demonstrating blacksmithing, pottery-making, quilting and spin-weaving crafts.  View Fayette through the perspective of various artists like landscape, pastel and pen-and-ink sketches.  New this year, artists and crafters will be selling their wares.  Additional ongoing activities will include display of a 19^th-century Wherry boat and handcrafted boat cleats, two cedar strip Thompson rowboats, a 19^th-century lighting display, horse and wagon rides, a food tent sponsored by the Bay De Noc High School Booster Club and pie social. 

Children of all ages can enjoy watermelon eating and "seed spitting" contests, sack races, three-legged races, lawn croquet and 19^th-century reproduction toys.  Later, guests will be treated to old-time "base ball" fielded by Fayette Historic State Park's vintage team; the public is invited to participate.  Game play will follow 1880s rules, meaning players will use no gloves and a ball caught on the first bounce is an out!

Scheduled activities include:

• Noon:  an hour-long performance by folk singer-song writer Carl Behrend
  
  
• 1 p.m.:  a skit and 19^th-century songs performed by Randi Chandler and the Village Artisans Youth Players 
  
  
• 1:45 p.m.:  children's watermelon-eating and "seed spitting" contests, open to the public
  
  
• 2 p.m.:  vocal performance of 19^th-century songs by Randi Chandler   
  
  
• 3 p.m.:  performance by the "Lost Lake Effect Band"
  
  
• 4 p.m.:  raffle drawing for an original Paul Rose framed photograph of Fayette
   
• 4:30 p.m.:  "base ball - 1880s style!"

Fayette is one of the nation's premier examples of a 19^th-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, the department includes the Library of Michigan, the Mackinac Island State Park Commission, the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the Michigan Film Office.  To learn more, visit www.michigan.gov/hal.

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