2018 Area Festivals

2018 Area Fall Festivals LINCOLN DAILY NEWS SEPT. 12, 2018 Page 69 The camp set up on the west side of the courthouse lawn brought home the stark reality of surgical procedures in the Civil War era. Around the hospital actors dressed in military garb shared with visitors how difficult it was to take care of wounded soldiers. Limbs were often amputated in the field, and bleeding was a big issue, as was infection, and the sheer shock and distress of the procedure on the patient often took the life no matter how hard ‘doctors’ tried. While this one display was sobering, the rest of the events around the courthouse lawn reflected the simpler lifestyle of the 1800’s. From the ones who were building campfires, carving wood items or tanning hides, to those who were sitting watch over their large kettles of applesauce - the demonstrations were very original looking with re-enactors dressing the part, using authentic hardware and actually doing the work! In the 1860’s life was tougher, but it was also simpler. For children learning meant writing out their lessons on slate boards, but it also meant sometimes having school outside. There were no computers, but children learned to make up games using what they had before them. They also learned to have face-to-face friends. Kids had chores, and didn’t give a second thought to taking care of animals, working in the garden or even in the fields after school. All of these things were reflected Saturday, and for some in attendance, the idea of living such a primitive lifestyle was quite astonishing. At Postville there were also some great fun activities, like the competitions that went on throughout the day. Among those was the Woman’s Firewood Split, the Log Rolling Contest, Egg Relay, Cross Cut Saw Competition, Amateur Railsplitting Contest and the Team Railsplitting Contest. Across the street and down the road a little bit, the Apple Peeling Contest also took place on Saturday in Postville Park. CONTINUE ...