1211 W. Eureka Urbana, Illinois 61801
Visiting different festivals throughout the spring and summer
and fall has always been a special treat for us in the past years.
This past summer, we were to experience a different type of
festival, different than anything we had ever been to in the past.
We attended the Douglas County Historical Steam Festival at Arcola,
video production of the festival which will be available on the
market this summer.
From the moment the production crew stepped onto the show
grounds, color, sound, aroma and handshakes engulfed us. The
reputation that this show had gained was the determining factor in
going to the time and expense of recording its sights and sounds
for future posterity. One only had to be on the show grounds for a
short time to realize why the show had gained such a reputation.
Bustling activity all around us indicated that if we were going to
shoot this three day festival we had better waste no time because
this show was ‘on the move.’
During this festival approximately three hundred and forty
people were involved in one way or another. The nucleus was the
1873 Historical Jacob R. Moore home. It is the only time of the
year that the historical mansion is open to the public. Significant
to mention is the fact that Jacob R. Moore’s grandfather
crossed the Delaware with George Washington on Christmas Eve. With
our cameras rolling in the Moore Mansion, capturing the rare
Victorian furnishings and interior styling, we eventually worked
our way once again to the show grounds to film the many activities
that were continually going on. Activities included plowing, wheat
threshing, lime crushing, saw milling, potato plowing, draft horse
demonstrations, blacksmithing, and country music performances,
etc.
The numerous antique, arts, crafts, dealers exhibited quality
items in their booths that made buying a real pleasure for even the
most discriminating collector. Good homemade food, ice cream, and
plenty of shade made relaxing between activities a comfortable
pleasure. The rarity of the equipment at this festival, coupled
with the 1873 Historical Moore Mansion, and the warmth and
cooperation of the many exhibitors made filming this event a real
treat for us as well as all who will view this production in the
years to come. The festival will be held July 11, 12, 13 in 1986
and we have enclosed some photographs of last year’s show which
we hope you will enjoy.
