Head out to Clayville Historic Site, just 20 minutes from Springfield on Route 97, for the Fall Festival on Saturday, Sept. 19, and Sunday, Sept. 20. Watch a Civil War reenactment and shoot off a cannon, just two of the many activities planned. Tour the oldest brick structure in Sangamon County, the Broadwell Inn, which has been fully restored with period furniture.
Moses Broadwell, a New Jersey Revolutionary War veteran, received a government land deal, came to Illinois and bought 2,149 acres for $1.25 an acre in 1819. The Inn and Tavern was built in 1824 and became a stagecoach stop between Beardstown, where barges came to bring supplies, and Springfield. The Inn was 35 miles from Beardstown and 20 from Springfield, making it the ideal overnight stopping point for travelers. Also on the property is the 1817 Batterton log cabin, a small cabin that housed a family of nine. It was moved to the Clayville site and over the years other buildings were moved to create an historic site — a school, a barn and a blacksmith shop.
The festival, which runs from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. each day, offers a glimpse into life during the 1800s with blacksmith and tinsmith demonstrations, corn milling, candle making and various displays including a Civil War surgeon’s equipment and old farm implements.
Children’s activities include a magic show, music and horseback rides. Taft’s food concessions, desserts and drinks will be available for purchase. The festival entrance is free; some activities have a fee.
To shoot off a cannon requires a $50 fee and a signed waiver. The Civil War battle will be reenacting the Union vs. the Confederates with artillery cannons, calvary on horseback and infantry on the ground. This will take place at 2 p.m. each day.
Josh Pryer, president of the Pleasant Plains Historical Society, says, “We operate Clayville with donations, festival income and rentals for weddings and other events. Volunteers do everything.”
Pryer spends hours fixing broken items, making rustic benches, smoothing out rock drives and more. His wife, Michelle, is the event coordinator.
Moses Broadwell was a Whig (as was Lincoln before becoming a Republican). Henry Clay was the head of the Whig Party; thus, Broadwell named the area Clayville. Lincoln was Broadwell’s lawyer and would have visited the Inn.
Clayville has a long history and has faced ruin several times. In the 1960s, Dr. Emmett Pearson was instrumental in bringing the site back to life. Later, Dave Bourland took over the site, which offered a country restaurant. The upkeep became too much; the site was abandoned for close to 17 years. In 2009, once again facing destruction, it was rescued. Today, festivals are back, the site is being well-maintained and a piece of history offers a look at our past.
For a list of the festival times and activities visit the Clayville Facebook page.
Clayville hosts many events throughout the year – Trick or Treat, Christmas with Santa, a Chuckwagon in the spring, and others.
