It's turning into a busy week at the Lucas County Historical Society! Scott McGee and crew arrived Monday to launch the paved trail that will connect our upper campus and the Bill Marner Blacksmith Shop. On Thursday evening, the Chariton Community Band with special guest Jon Hodkin, Britain's "Triking Tubador," will appear in concert on the museum patio at 7 p.m. for a "Peanut Day" concert.
Hodkin, who travels the highways and byways of Great Britain to perform benefit concerts with his beloved tuba in tow, is in Iowa for a two-month tour sponsored in large part by Chariton's Connecticut Yankee Pedaller. He arrived July 8 and, among other things, will participate in RAGBRAI.
The museum doors will open at 5:30 p.m. Thursday and all the buildings will be open for tours until 7 p.m., when the concert begins on the patio. We'll be distributing free peanuts fresh roasted in the vintage Piper's roaster during the event. All are welcome; admission's free; and it looks like the evening should be fairly cool on the shaded patio. There will be plenty of ice water, too.
The trail, funded in part with a matching grant from the South Central Iowa Community Foundation, solves a long-standing problem involving access to the blacksmith shop for those who have difficulty getting around. It also is a first step toward opening up the lower campus.
The new paved trail connects with existing sidewalk south of Puckerbrush School and swings behind the Pioneer Cabin, then down the gentle incline behind the barn.
A sharp right turn leads to the long stretch directly to the front door of the blacksmith shop. This part of the walkway passes through the former site of the Lenig Windmill, now flat on its back. The windmill will be re-erected later this year farther down the hill.
Looking south and east from the front porch of the blacksmith shop, you'll notice that we've also had the rather steep path that leads down from the patio --- formerly gravel --- paved, too. We figured that if we didn't do that, folks who didn't need the more gentle incline of the new trail would continue to use the original path anyway and would appreciate a decent surface.
We'd love to have you at the museum Thursday evening for the concert --- and to admire the new walkways, too. The museum also is open regular hours --- 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday --- and at any other time by appointment. Admission's free.
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