Historical Society takes visitors on trip to yesteryear with annual Extravaganza

Some hot and sticky weather didn’t prevent visitors from taking a walk through history Sunday afternoon at the Village of Yesteryear.

The Steele County Historical Society hosted the annual Extravaganza, bringing back activities, crafts, music, vendors and more, as rendezvous campers set up shop and shared the history of the 16th through mid-19th centuries, the time of trappers and traders.

Linda Dudley, of Austin, has been a guest at the annual Extravaganza in Owatonna over the years, but Sunday marked her first time attending as a rendezvous participant. At her tent, Dudley shared with kids and other attendees the joys and secrets of toys and games from centuries ago.

“Almost all the toys then were made from scraps or found objects — the leftovers,” she said, adding the most popular toy being the Jacob’s ladder, a folk toy consisting of blocks of wood held together by strings or ribbons. “One of the reasons it was popular then was it was one of the only toys that the Puritans allowed, but it was also a teaching tool.”

Dudley demonstrated how the toy can make every letter of the alphabet, as well as different ways one can make the ladder move. Today, the Jacob’s ladder can still be seen having been redefined as a sensory toy of “fidget,” often used to help relax and focus neurodivergent individuals.

Hatchet throwing also returned to the Extravaganza this year, once again a popular draw for attendees of all ages. The Whitehead family, who live near the Village of Yesteryear, never miss an Extravaganza weekend, and 13-year-old Zelda Whitenhead is quite proud of her accuracy with the hatchet over the years.

“I started bowling this last year, so I had to adjust my wrist,” she said, after throwing a few practice hatchets. “I also really like the music here, it’s always fun.”