After a four-year hiatus, the Northwest Branch of the Jefferson County Library in High Ridge brought back its Living History Day, which was held Aug. 4.
About 35 people attended the event, said Mindy Hudson, genealogy library associate.
“I knew (attendance) would probably be low because it was on a Thursday, but I was not disappointed,” she said.
The last time the library held the event was in 2018, when Jefferson County was celebrating its Bicentennial. Approximately 300 people attended the Living History Day that year, Hudson said.
She said she’s glad the event made a return.
“I think it is very important for us, first of all, to understand where we came from, the traditions of our history,” she said. “This whole area is so full of rich heritage, and it would be a shame for us to totally forget it. I want to pass it down to the younger generations.”
Hudson was dressed in Civil War period clothing.
“Having all the costumes was probably my favorite part,” she said.
The event started off with Ginger Brickey, senior genealogy clerk, who was dressed in a black gown and talked about Victorian mourning practices.
During that period, some people hired mourners to act upset at funerals, Brickey said.
“Because that was an expression of how much this person was loved,” she said.
The event also included sessions about German immigrants; Irish music; John H. Morse, a Jefferson County politician and businessman after whom Morse Mill is named; and Civil War soldier Capt. William Buxton, who was from the area now known as Catawissa.
Jim Flint-Smith of House Springs and his son, Jimmy Flint-Smith of Los Angeles, attended the event dressed as Union Civil War soldiers.
“Those who do not teach history or learn history are doomed to repeat it,” Jimmy said. “By doing these types of events, I think people get a more hands-on approach. It’s interesting because you see what tools and resources people had to work with at the time.”
Jimmy said the event covered a lot of local history.
“It’s part of where we came from, a lot of family heritage,” he said. “Everything is named after somebody, or at least has something to do with where you came from.”
Chelsey Mackenzie, 34, and her son, Reed Mackenzie, 6, both of High Ridge, stopped by the event.
“I have a history degree, so I am always intrigued by this stuff,” she said.
The two played a game of checkers on a rug made to look like a checkerboard.
Reed was not a fan of the board.
“It’s a little too big,” he said.
Hudson said she is not sure if the library will hold the event again next year or wait until 2024.