Demonstrations, entertainment featured at Hanover Festival
By Mark C. Johnson Journal correspondent | Posted: Sunday, August 26, 2007
HANOVER, Iowa -- A new blacksmith shop restoration, various demonstrations, an ice cream social, musical entertainment and more will be featured at the 11th annual Hanover Festival and Ice Cream Social today at Hanover Village. The village is located at the intersection of C-65 and M-27, southwest of Alta, Iowa.
The celebration, hosted by the Hanover Historical Society, is an afternoon of activities with various food items for sale. Gates open at noon and the musical entertainment also starts at noon and runs through 7 p.m.
"The blacksmith shop is our newest restoration project and a blacksmith will be smithing," said Lois Radke, spokeswoman for the Hanover Historical Society. She noted that earlier this year the historical society received two grants to help with the restoration of the blacksmith shop which was constructed around 1900. The society received a $5,000 grant from the Buena Vista County Foundation and a $525 grant from the Cherokee County Legacy Foundation.
The general store, with original furnishings, takes visitors back to the early 1900s. "New displays at the general store this year include a doll collection and a collection of old-time food preservation items. The second floor focuses on unique historical furniture," Radke added.
The Pioneer Barn, which opened last year, features live animals and antique livestock items. The machine shed, mill house, wash house, the 1930s village home and the barber shop will be all open for viewing.
Corn shelling and woodcarving will be demonstrated Sunday, along with rope making, spinning and pressing apples into cider. Antique tractors, farm machinery, and cars will be on display. A steam engine will be powering demonstrations all afternoon. Children's activities include games and a petting zoo.
Returning guests this year will be Paul Messerschmidt with his costumed Parade of Geese and returning musical groups are Karl and the Country Dutchmen and Malek's Fishermen for listening and dancing. They specialize with German, Czech and Old World music.
Hanover was a small thriving community in the late 1800s and was known as one of the richest small settlements in the state at that time. It had a general store, which was built in 1890, plus a blacksmith shop, ice house, creamery, barbershop, feed store and post office. The village died out throughout the years to where all that was left was the general store, which closed in 1968. Hanover was added to the Iowa Map in 2005.
Admission is $7.50 per person while children 14 and under are admitted free. Parking is free and available across from the general store or in the nearby St. John Lutheran Church parking lot. A handicapped-accessible shuttle bus will run between the church parking lot and the store all afternoon. Visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs. Tents will provide shelter, rain or shine. For more information, call (712) 434-5410.
The celebration, hosted by the Hanover Historical Society, is an afternoon of activities with various food items for sale. Gates open at noon and the musical entertainment also starts at noon and runs through 7 p.m.
"The blacksmith shop is our newest restoration project and a blacksmith will be smithing," said Lois Radke, spokeswoman for the Hanover Historical Society. She noted that earlier this year the historical society received two grants to help with the restoration of the blacksmith shop which was constructed around 1900. The society received a $5,000 grant from the Buena Vista County Foundation and a $525 grant from the Cherokee County Legacy Foundation.
The general store, with original furnishings, takes visitors back to the early 1900s. "New displays at the general store this year include a doll collection and a collection of old-time food preservation items. The second floor focuses on unique historical furniture," Radke added.
The Pioneer Barn, which opened last year, features live animals and antique livestock items. The machine shed, mill house, wash house, the 1930s village home and the barber shop will be all open for viewing.
Corn shelling and woodcarving will be demonstrated Sunday, along with rope making, spinning and pressing apples into cider. Antique tractors, farm machinery, and cars will be on display. A steam engine will be powering demonstrations all afternoon. Children's activities include games and a petting zoo.
Returning guests this year will be Paul Messerschmidt with his costumed Parade of Geese and returning musical groups are Karl and the Country Dutchmen and Malek's Fishermen for listening and dancing. They specialize with German, Czech and Old World music.
Hanover was a small thriving community in the late 1800s and was known as one of the richest small settlements in the state at that time. It had a general store, which was built in 1890, plus a blacksmith shop, ice house, creamery, barbershop, feed store and post office. The village died out throughout the years to where all that was left was the general store, which closed in 1968. Hanover was added to the Iowa Map in 2005.
Admission is $7.50 per person while children 14 and under are admitted free. Parking is free and available across from the general store or in the nearby St. John Lutheran Church parking lot. A handicapped-accessible shuttle bus will run between the church parking lot and the store all afternoon. Visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs. Tents will provide shelter, rain or shine. For more information, call (712) 434-5410.
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