MOMCC Spring Conference
March 6-8, 2008 Early Industry
Hosted by: Lake County Parks Buckley Homestead
Sponsored by: Lake Heritage Parks Foundation
Radisson Hotel at StarPlaza
800 East 81st Ave, MerrillvilleIN46410
Telephone: 219-769-6311 Fax: 219-769-1462
Reservations: 888-201-1718
Conference rates are $65.00 per night, flat rate (up to 4 per room). Mention MOMCC for the conference rate. Reservation deadline is Feb. 6, 2008. After Feb. 6, rates will nearly double.
Located at the intersection of I-65 & US30 the Radisson is attached to the popular Merrillville Star Plaza Theatre. The hotel is located just 30 minutes from Chicago, providing a central location for your next Chicago area hotel stay, meeting, conference or weekend getaway. The hotel offers an indoor and outdoor pool, spas, two restaurants, arcade, a fitness room and Starbucks coffee.
Buckley Homestead County Park, Living History Farm - Directions: From US 30 take I-65 south, exit Rt. 2, west toward Lowell. 4 miles find Buckley Homestead sign, follow it left1/4 mile to parking lot.
Deep River County Park – Directions: From I-65 take US30 east to Randolph St., then left (north) to first stop sign (Old Lincoln Highway). Turn right (east) onto Old Lincoln Highway, then 1 mile to the park, just 1 block past the fire station.
Albanese Candy Factory - Directions: From I-65 take US30 east 4 miles. Factory is on the right (south).
Fair Oaks Dairy - Directions: From US30 take I-65 south to exit 220, go west on SR14 to 600 E, turn south into Dairy
Buckley Homestead
Is a living history farm with three areas of interpretation: 1910s farm, 1900 one-room schoolhouse, and 1850s pioneer farm. The 1750s WoodlandIndianVillage is open on special weekends. Other features include a gift shop, herb garden, native plant bed, labyrinth, and picnic area. The observatory is open one Saturday evening each month.
Lake County Indiana is known for industry - early dairy operations, truck farms, railroads, steel mills and oil refineries. The sand dunes along Lake Michigan are world-renowned.
View some of these areas during the Thursday workshops.
All conference sessions will be held at the Radisson Hotel. Workshop locations vary, and directions will be available at the hotel. The Friday evening dinner-dance will be at the Radisson Hotel.
Located at the intersection of I-65 and US 30 are many restaurants for your dining pleasure. Shopping malls abound in the same area. 4 miles east of the Radisson is the Albanese Candy Factory, a "tasty" place to visit. 27 miles south is the mega dairy, Fair Oaks Dairy.
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Thursday March 6, 2008
All Day Workshops & Tours 9:00am-4:00pm
Tour to BarkerMansion & LighthouseMuseum
Tour - Ghost Hunting
Pewter Spoon Making
Rug Hooking
Oxen Training
Half-Day Workshops 9:00am-noon
China Painting
Spenserian Writing
Half-Day Workshops 1:00-4:00pm
China Painting
Spenserian Writing
Entertainment Showcase
Local Sites to Tour on your own
BuckleyHomesteadCountyPark
Deep RiverCountyPark
Albanese Candy Factory
Fair Oaks Dairy
Supper on your own
Many restaurants near the hotel
Mi Ranchito in Lowell
CornerstoneMansion in Lowell
First Timer’s Reception & Auction
At Radisson Hotel
7:00 First Timer’s Meet and Greet
8:00 Live Auction
Don’t miss this unique, lively entertainment nor miss your opportunity to purchase amazing items – some never-seen-before at MOMCC auctions.
Friday March 7, 2008 at Radisson Hotel
Breakfast on your own
Welcoming Remarks8:00-8:15am
Sessions8:30-9:45am
Paper Marbling as Hands-on Activity
From Moon & Stars to Jello
Steelmakers and Steeltowns
History Hitting the Road
Break & Resource Groups9:45-10:45
Period Clothing
Leadership
Material Culture
Sessions10:45-noon
Ghost Hunting
Spenserian Writing
All Aboard - Land Grant Railroads
Academic Standards & School Tours
Lunch / Keynote Speakernoon-1:30pm
Break & Resource Groups1:30-2:30pm
Agriculture
Interpretation
Artisans
Sessions2:30-3:45pm
The Circus is Coming
Tintypes
Calumet Beginnings
Just Kidding Around, Youth Volunteers
Break & Resource Groups3:45-4:45pm
Music
Gardens & Landscapes
Foodways
Dinner and Dance
6:00 – 10:00pm at Radisson Hotel
1940s WWII USO Show with pre-meal Spam treat, MPs on guard, your photo taken, and war bonds to purchase. Music is by String of Pearls.
** Come dressed in 1940s attire or your favorite time period. Prizes will be awarded in various, sundry categories….
Saturday March 8, 2008 at Radisson Hotel
Breakfast on your own
Sessions8:30-9:45am
History of Rug Hooking
History of Fly Fishing
Ice Cutting Industry
Wylie House–Putting Resources toWork
Break9:45-10:15
Sessions10:15-11:30
Buzz About Beekeeping
Porcelain Art
Archeology- Collier Lodge
Ethics
Closing Remarks11:30-noon
Thursday March 6
All Day Workshops & Tours 9:00-4:00pm
Tour -BarkerMansion& LighthouseMuseum
Drive through the internationally known dunes south of Lake Michigan enroute to the BarkerMansion, built by one of the founding fathers of the rail car industry. Notice the innovative vacuuming system in the house. Tour the 1858 Michigan City Lighthouse and climb the tower into the lantern room.
Location: Van leaves the Radisson at 8:30am
Cost: $25.00
Lunch: on own at Shoreline Brewery, $10-15
Maximum: 13
Tour – Ghost Hunting
Actually see and hear real ghost evidence at about 20 sites in Lake and PorterCounty. Bring your camera and try to capture your own ghost evidence.
Location: Bus leaves the Radisson at 8:30 am
Cost: $50.00
Lunch: on own at haunted Bar & Grill, $10-15
Presenter: Mike McDowell, Indiana Ghost Trackers; Chaos Haunted and Historical Tours
Minimum: 20 Maximum: 46
Pewter Spoon Casting and Finishing
Cast a lead-free pewter spoon using original 18th and 19th century bronze spoon molds. Hand finish one or more spoons during the day. Learn about styles and dates of pewter spoons. Each participant will make two spoons and receive a tool kit. Additional items will be for sale at a reasonable price. Wear long sleeves, long pants, and leather shoes.
Location: Buckley Homestead Maintenance Barn
Cost: $30.00
Lunch: provided
Presenter: Terry Sheridan, spoon enthusiast
Maximum: 10
Rug Hooking
Learn the basics of rug hooking by making a 6½” x 8” flower mat. Linen with design, wool strips, felt backing and hook provided; hooking frame loaned; bring scissors, notebook and pencil.
Location: Radisson Hotel
Cost: $55.00
Lunch: provided
Presenter: Jeane Kolberg, Buckley Homestead volunteer
Maximum: 12
Oxen Training
Learn the principles of driving oxen: where to start, training staff, hitching basics, troublesome teams, training your own vs. buying a trained team….
Location: Buckley Homestead 1910 farm
Cost: $60.00
Lunch: provided
Presenters: Tillers International staff
Maximum: 12
Half Day Workshops 9:00am – noon
China Painting
China painting is one of the oldest art forms. Paint a replica turn-of-the-century brooch – no painting experience needed. Pick up your finished brooch in the vendors room on Friday.
Location: HobartPark Dept., their van leaves the Radisson at 8:30am
Cost: $50.00
Presenter: Marilyn Langbehn ,International Porcelain Art Teacher
Maximum: 15 per class
Spenserian Writing
Spenserian Script was the most graceful and attractive form of penmanship in 19th century America. Learn the same style of handwriting exercises practiced over a century ago during the Golden Age of Penmanship, including tricks of the trade for the use of this style.
Location: Radisson Hotel
Cost: $45.00
Presenter: Michael Sull, Master Penman, Director Saga Workshop Program
Maximum: 20 per class
Half Day Workshops 1:00-4:00pm
China Painting
(repeat of morning workshop)
HobartPark Dept. van leaves the Radisson at 12:30pm.
Spenserian Writing
(Repeat of morning workshop – repeat students may learn a more ornamental style.)
Entertainment Showcase
Are you looking for fresh, quality entertainment for your historic site? Come listen as nationally known and proven musicians, storytellers, and entertainers demonstrate their talents in 10-minute increments. Interview each presenter for possible bookings at your next event.
Location: Radisson Hotel
Cost: $10.00 (“cover charge” to cover the cost of the room)
Emcee: Chris Gordy
Maximum: 75
Local Sites to Tour on your own
BuckleyHomesteadCountyPark
The living history farm features a 1910s farm, one room school, and pioneer farm. On Thursday, March 6 workshops will be offered on site (see workshop listings) and staff at each area will be available to answer in-depth, behind-the-scenes questions – or find the answers for you.
Directions: See map on page 1
Hours: Thursday 9:00-4:00
Cost: none
Deep RiverCountyPark
The historic gristmill site will be doing school tours for the maple syrup time. Observe tree tapping outdoors, processing of syrup in the sugar shack, see grades of syrup and purchase pure maple syrup in the Gift Shop. Saturday the site will be open for general public with even more activities.
Directions: See map on page 1
Hours: Thursday 9:30-2:00, school tours; Saturday 10:00-4:00 general public
Cost: none
Albanese Candy Factory
Gummy candy is their specialty, but chocolate is a close second. Watch candy being made, taste samples, and purchase a large variety of candy. Albanese donated candy for this and last fall’s conferences.
Directions: See map on page 1
Hours: Mon-Sat 9am-8pm, Sun 10am-6pm
Cost: only what you purchase
Fair Oaks Dairy
The Dairy offers interactive and informative opportunities to experience modern mega-dairy farming and production, including farm tours and cheese and ice cream retail store.
Directions: See map on page 1
Hours: Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun. 10am-5pm
Cost: $10.00 adult, $7.00 children
Thursday evening
Supper on your own.
7:00pm First Timer’s Meet and Greet at Radisson Hotel – All first-time MOMCC attendees are invited, along with those wishing to meet the new members.
8:00pm Live Auction at Radisson Hotel – Don’t miss the evening excitement!
Friday March 7, 2008
Conference sessions, meetings, and dinner-dance at Radisson Hotel.
Breakfast on your own. A fresh breakfast buffet is served in the Radisson’s Star Café for $10.95 plus tax and tip, or visit the Radisson’s Starbucks or other local restaurants.
8:00-8:15amWelcome Remarks
8:30-9:45amConcurrent Sessions
Paper Marbling as Hands-on Activity
Paper marbling has been done through the centuries. Learn the cultural and historic precedence of paper marbling, the historic materials and techniques of producing marbled paper and how it fits into today’s historic sites.
Presenter: John C. Bielik, instructor, itinerant artisan, and historic trades interpreter
From Moon and Stars to Jell-O: Aspics (Aspects) of Gelatin Dishes
Shimmery, wiggly jellies have been popular dishes for centuries. Exotic recipes, molds and serving dishes made them food only for the wealthy. The introduction of Jell-O in 1897 democratized an elitist food and exemplified the emergence of the advertising industry which resulted in the creation of “America’s Most Famous Dessert.”
Presenters: Lynne Belluscio, Executive Director of LeRoy Historical Society, home of the Jell-O Gallery and Past President of ALHFAM; Christopher “Kit” Cusick, Living History Society of Minnesota, treasurer and “self admitted aspic junkie”
Steelmakers and Steeltowns
Steelmaking has had a major influence on northwest Indiana. Hear the history of the steelmaking industry and its relationship to local historic sites.
Presenter: Steve McShane, Archivist, Calumet Regional Archives, IndianaUniversity Northwest
History Hitting the Road
Outreach hands-on educational programs reach a wider audience at a variety of venues and can provide additional revenues and visitation. “History Hitting the Road” is a successful multi-state program – learn of its development, enhancement, implementation and benefits.
Presenter: Dean Hardman, program specialist of Heritage Programs, Jackson’s Mill Historic Area
9:45-9:55BREAK
9:55-10:45Resource Groups
Meet with your favorite resource group to discuss topics of interest: Period Clothing, Leadership, Material Culture.
10:45 – noonConcurrent Sessions
Ghost Hunting
Learn how to interpret ghosts at your site and share ghost stories and evidence of ghosts.
Presenter: Mike McDowell, Indiana Ghost Trackers, Chairperson of PorterCounty Historical Society
Spenserian Writing
America’s foremost penman and teacher in the art of Spenserian Script will teach about the history and techniques of vintage American penmanship and engrossing.
Presenter: Michael Sull, Master Penman, Director Saga Workshop Program
All Aboard – Land Grant Railroads
Hear an in depth discussion on the influence of Land Grant Railroads on population and agriculture in the Midwest during the 19th and 20th centuries. Or, how the railroad that ran the wrong way settled the West.
Presenter: John Childs, 38-year employee Illinois Central, now the CN, and Southern Pacific Railroads
Academic Standards and School Tours
A guide to help historic sites meet the academic standards required by the schools – an explanation of the academic standards, what teachers want and what schools look for when booking a field trip for their students.
Presenters: Christine Lira and Alicia Madeka, National Board Certified Teachers
Noon – 1:30pmLunch & Keynote Speaker
Using Music in a Historical Context: A Few Samples
Nationally-know musicians and folklorists Chris Vallillo and Buck Halker will talk about several projects they are involved with using historical music and discuss ways similar projects can be used in a museum context. Both have recently been involved with the Smithsonian Institutions traveling exhibition on roots music, New Harmonies, and the Heritage Music CD series from the Illinois Humanities Council. Listen for a demonstration song or two.
1:30 –1:40BREAK
1:40-2:30Resource Groups
Meet with your favorite resource group to discuss topics of interest: Agriculture, Interpretation, Artisans.
2:30 – 3:45Concurrent Sessions
The Circus is Coming
Ladies and gentlemen! Come hear the Ringmaster tell about circuses throughout the Midwest and their importance as entertainment and influence on daily life in the 1800s & 1900s.
Presenter: John Fugate, Head Special Project, International Circus Hall of Fame, Peru, IN
Tintypes
What is a tintype? Why was it popular? How does it fit into my site? Learn how to identify different forms of image-making. If time and facilities available, see the process of making a tintype.
Presenter: R.T. Hartsaw, practitioner of historic wet plate tintype photography
Calumet Beginnings: Regional History from the Ground Up
Glaciers, wave action and other forces of nature formed much of the land in the Midwest and ultimately influenced how we live on the land. Learn about the CalumetRiver area formation and how it can help you interpret your area.
Presenter: Ken Schoon, Associate Dean IU Northwest
Just Kidding Around: Youth Volunteers
Youth volunteers can add another dimension to the interpretation on your site. Learn how to recruit, train, and supervise young volunteers; how to develop a youth program; and how to run training sessions to give youth a sense of mastery.
Presenters: Jo Ruggiero, Junior Supervision and Training, Naper Settlement; Eve Hushek, Museum Educator, Naper Settlement
3:45-3:55BREAK
3:55-4:45Resource Groups
Meet with your favorite resource group to discuss topics of interest: Music, Gardens & Landscapes, Foodways.
6:00 – 10:00DINNER & DANCE
1940s WWII USO, featuring:
- Pre-meal Spam treat
- Aspic delights
- MPs on duty
- Photos taken
- War bonds to purchase
- Strings of Pearl music
Dress in 1940s or favorite time period attire; vote for your favorites in several categories.
Saturday March 8, 2008
Conference sessions at Radisson Hotel.
Breakfast on your own. A fresh breakfast buffet is served in the Radisson’s Star Café for $10.95 plus tax and tip, or visit the Radisson’s Starbucks or other local restaurants.
8:30 – 9:45Concurrent Sessions
History of Rug Hooking
Hear an overview of the ancient art of rug hooking, how it started, and what materials were used. Learn how it is practiced today, how to choose a pattern and backing material, types of wool to use, and where to find them.
Presenter: Jeane Kolberg, Buckley volunteer
History of Fly Fishing
Hear about this sport: the history, different rods, fly tying, how to cast in five easy steps, and last but not least, the relaxation factor.
Presenter: Jeff Langbehn, Director, Solid Waste, Northwest IN
Ice Cutting Industry
Learn about the ice cutting industry and the tools that were used. Also learn how to do an ice cutting program without a frozen lake.
Presenters: Anne Zimmerman, director Lake of Red Cedars Museum; Rick Musselman, Education Supervisor, Carriage Hill MetroPark Farm
Wylie House – Putting Resources to Work
Wylie House has reached out to the educational community of IndianaUniversity, Bloomington and area high schools. Programs were developed to support their teaching and research goals. Most successful have been the sustained collaborations with area high school, IU interns and volunteers from a variety of departments.
Presenter: Bridget Edwards, PhD, Curator of Education, WylieHouseMuseum
9:45-10:15BREAK
10:15-11:30Concurrent Sessions
Buzz About Beekeeping
This session will cover beekeeping from the 18th-20th century, starting with the importance of the honey bee. There will be a display of beekeeping artifacts and time for questions and discussion.
Presenter: Terry Sargent, historic agriculture enthusiast
Porcelain Art
China painting: the history, the how, who, and why. See and learn how it was and still is a booming industry.
Presenter: Marilyn Langbehn, International Porcelain Art Teacher
Archeology – Collier Lodge
The 5-year old dig at the Collier Lodge on the Kankakee River is producing tens of thousands of artifacts from nearly 8,000 years ago to present. Learn archeology techniques and what these artifacts tell us about how people used this area in the past.
Presenters: Dr. Mark Schurr, head of anthropology, University of Notre Dame; John Hodson, KankakeeValley Historical Society
Ethics – What are they? Why have them? Who cares?
Ethical behavior is difficult to define but easy to critique. Museum staff and board have been held to high standards, theoretically, for years. Learn definitions that indicate the nuances of “ethics” and professional behavior, the differences between personal ethics and professional ethics, and the reasons why museums and professional organizations invest time and energy into writing, implementing and administering such standards. Time will be provided to write your own ethics statement.