HANDS-ON HISTORY EVENT TO TAKE PLACE SATURDAY

Children have a chance to learn hands-on history lessons Saturday at the Reynolds House, 623 N. Main.

Sponsored by the Historical Association of Greater Cape Girardeau, the event is part of the city's bicentennial celebration, said Doris Dace. She is coordinating the hands-on history event, which runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

"We will have stations around the grounds of the Reynolds House for children to use old-time tools," she explained.

Among the stations are a hand-cranked corn sheller, a coffee grinder, a cider press, a two-man crosscut saw, and other old, hand tools.

"We will also have a game of 9-pins, which is an ancient lawn bowling game, and croquet," Dace said.

Craftsmen will demonstrate skills like spinning and making arrowheads.

"We are going to have a demonstration of how to start a fire from a stick," she said.

The exhibits are planned for children in grades six and under. Youngsters should be accompanied by their parents.

"When we started planning we were interested in something for children," Dace said. "But even the parents of the elementary children may never had seen some of these tools."

She said that children will be encouraged to participate.

"In museums, you are not allowed to touch things," Dace said. "Here, we have geared ideas so the children can touch."

Participants will be dressed, for the most part, in old-fashioned costumes, some courtesy of Cape River Heritage Museum. Students of historic preservation at Southeast Missouri State University are also helping.

In case of rain, the event will be canceled.