Members of the city of Portage took their annual trip back in time on Saturday afternoon at the Portage Historical Festival, which is hosted each year by the Portage Community Historical Society at Countryside Park. Alton Goin Museum, which is filled with the city’s history, including nearly every PHS Yearbook, and the historic Trager House were toured by attendees throughout the day.
“We kind of try to keep things in an old time mode to teach people how things were,” society board member Lois Mollick said.
The 25th annual festival featured many of the yearly staples of the event. There was a little something for everyone with musical entertainment, a fishing derby, games for children, good food, elephant ears, lemonade and the Winamac Old Car Club. The fest intertwines elements of a typical summer festival with its unique historical roots. One of the goals of the event is to make citizens aware of Portage’s history.
“Somebody said to me, ‘Portage doesn’t have any history,’” Mollick said. “Well, maybe it hasn’t been a city very long, but the land has been here and there were people here in the 1800s. Farmers were here and Indians were here. There is a history here.”
Two of the most popular contests also returned to the event this year as pie-eating and watermelon-eating showdowns were held. “Abe Lincoln” made an appearance and hosted his Spelling Bee. Various vending booths were set up around the park. The musical entertainment included Wolffgang, a group of Hobart High School students and graduates. The Good Time Cloggers also performed, as Scott Conner, who makes and plays dulcimers.
There were a wide variety of vendors, re-enactors, antiques, historical artifacts and silent auction items as well. Hundreds of people attended the festival and enjoyed a beautiful summer day in the sun. Fifteen Winamac Old Cars were on display.
“The weather’s beautiful and people are coming in,” Mollick said. “We’ve got good food and good entertainment. What more could you want?”
Mollick, who is the only charter member of the Portage Historical Society still active, is getting ready to become inactive in the near future. She credits the work of other society board members, the cooperation of local businesses, the support of the community and help from the PHS Junior ROTC and the Boy Scout groups for helping allow the event to thrive for a quarter of a century.
“It’s a combined effort from everybody in the city,” she said.
F
or those that missed the event on Saturday, there is still an opportunity to visit Portage’s most historic location. The museum is open Friday and Saturday afternoons from 1:00-4:00, while the Trager House is open on Saturdays only. Click here to visit the Portage Community Historical Society website. Follow this link to like the society on its Facebook page.
Click here for a full photo gallery from Saturday's event!!!