Living History Days planned in Bradley

BRADLEY – Volunteers at Leonard’s Mills in Bradley will bring an early lumbering village alive with a historical re-creation of authentic life of the times from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 2-3. Each day visitors will learn about lumbering in Maine’s past, as well as the other tasks that supported a village centered around a water-powered sash sawmill.

Encampments, settlers in the log cabin and folks in the sawyer’s house portray life in a variety of residences. Travel to and around the village will be in horse-drawn wagons and a bateau. Work of a typical lumbering village will include demonstrations by blacksmiths, woodworkers, a silversmith, a dyer, spinners, weavers, braiders, quilters and others.

In addition, “the doctor will be in,” and explain early American medical treatments.

Visitors may enjoy meeting horses, oxen and sheep. They may eat bean-hole beans, reflector oven biscuits and freshly pressed cider.

In conjunction with a program sponsored by Nickelodeon, Leonard’s Mills also will celebrate Worldwide Day of Play. Many period play activities will be available throughout the village, so that families may expand their opportunities for physical and healthy play. Board games, games of grace, horseshoes and wooden toys will be available.

Across the wooden covered bridge, visitors will move to a later period of American history to meet re-enactors of the 20th Maine, a Civil War regiment.

Near the parking lot another shift in time period occurs when visitors view the Lombard Restoration Project. Although the Lombard log hauler is dismantled and being rebuilt, the Lombard building contains information and photos of and about the giant of early 20th century logging operations.

To obtain more information, call 582-2871 and leave a message. A volunteer will return the call.