(Lewis, Iowa) – An historic site near Lewis will host a Pioneer Skills Festival on May 3rd. Officials with the Cass County Conservation Board say if you’ve ever wondered how the pioneers made their own rope or dipped their own candles, or pondered using your hand at spinning wool, you should come to the Hitchcock Pioneer Skills Festival on Saturday, May 3rd, at the Hitchcock House, which is a National Historic Landmark built in 1856, and which features a secret room that hid persons escaping slavery via the Underground Railroad.

The Hitchcock House can be found six-miles south of Atlantic and 1.5-miles west of Lewis. The festivities will begin at 1:00 p.m. and end at 4:00 p.m. You will have an opportunity to visit the historic Hitchcock House and see many of the skills and crafts that people of the late 1800’s used in daily living. You could begin your visit with a tour of the Hitchcock House. This two-story home features thick sandstone walls, window seats, native hard wood trim. The secret room is located in the basement where there is also a stone fireplace where the freedom seekers could cook food and keep warm. It is said that the famous John Brown preached around this fireplace.

Hitchcock House. (photo from Hitchcock House Facebook page.)

Once you’ve toured the home, head over to the barn, where the hub of the festival activities will take place. In the barn, you’ll observe skills and crafts of the past, and can try your hand at a few of them. There will be rope making, candle dipping, tin punching, and woodcarvings.

The festival will be held rain or shine. Families are encouraged to come and share the day together as they might have in the 1800’s. There is a $5 fee/adult for a tour of the Hitchcock House. All activities in the barn are free of charge; donations to the Hitchcock House will be accepted.