It may be impossible to know what it was like to live in the 1800s, save for watching an episode of "Little House on the Prairie," but the Lee County Historical Society's Second Saturdays staff strives to re-enact the era as accurately as possible.
Since 2003, with open-fire cooked food, folk music performances, 19th-century homes and blacksmiths, the Lee County Historical Museum has transformed downtown Loachapoka into a scene from the past every second Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
"It's a lot of fun to hear the children in the log cabin rooms," said Jessie Summers, museum curator. "They look around and say, 'Where's the television?' And we have to stop and remember that they never knew a world without television. That's one thing we offer folks: a learning experience."
Children learn that they can obtain some basic products without buying them from a store by seeing how people in the past obtained them.
Growing up with advanced technology and marketing all around them, kids seem to think that clothes and food simply come from supermarkets and malls, said the staff members.
All of the antiques inside the museum were donated by local residents and friends.
Summers and other staff members use what they have to arrange things together, which is what Summers said she personally enjoys the most.
"I've been participating at the museum for 26 years." said Esther Marshall, spinner, weaver and instructor. "It isn't about having the crowds we have on Fair Day, but having enough people come out so that we can show off what we do. That's how this has grown."
People gathered in different spots throughout the fairgrounds, listening to the workers explain how to shape metals and how recently-shaven wool and other furs are made into thread and clothing.
Marshall said showing people the old way of doing things gives them different perspective.
"I love to wake up hearing the smithy because it makes me feel like I'm back in another time," said Jean O'Donnell, attendee. "You can close your eyes, and if there's not too much traffic, you really feel like you're back in the 1800s."
The next Second Saturday takes place Nov. 13.
"Leave your 21st century mind at the gate, and think about how life was like 160 years ago," Marshall said.
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