MOSNIEE, Wis. (WSAW) – The Log Jam Festival is a weekend event that introduces people to the way of life in the late 1800s. One of the events is the Living History Encampment.
Terri Harteau has been running her camp at Log Jam for eight years. These camps are designed to recreate life in the 19th century.
“I weave, and this particular type of loom is used to make belts or braids,” said Harteau, who is from Stratford.
Each camp has its own unique theme. Harteau offers clothing for both men and women.
“Clothes weren’t plentiful back then, and buttons were very expensive. There were no zippers or Velcro or most of the ways we fasten clothes today,” Harteau said.
One couple even made the trip from Minnesota.
“I’m a hunter and trapper, retired voyageur, and my wife came to live with me when she was 18. She was a German immigrant. So they gave up the voyageur business and went into hunting and trapping,” said Lyle Marquis of Chaska, Minnesota.
Marquis said he loves educating people about his passion.
“In the summer we did a little farming. In the winter we hunted and trapped animals, and every two or three years we moved to a new place. We hunted the animals,” Marquis said.
The event started with only 10 locations and is now in its 18th year with 35 camps.
“It’s like building a village on the river. So everyone has their own role. They’re basically judges. We go through everything to see what kind of people want to come, if they want to be there, how they fit in and how they fit into what we’re trying to do here,” said Al Erickson, coordinator of the Log Jam Festival.
Admission to the event is free to try out the various activities, including the opportunity to ride in a 28-foot Voyager canoe, a replica of the canoes used on the Wisconsin River and Fox River in the 19th century.
Click here to view the schedule and other events.
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