MT. VERNON (WSIL) -- There's a way you can help keep history alive and cool off with a sweet treat.
The Jefferson County Historical Village is holding its annual old-fashioned ice cream social. This year, the event will be a drive-thru to keep up with social distancing.
Visitors will get their choice between vanilla or chocolate ice cream, toppings, a cookie and water for a $5 donation.
Funds raised from the ice cream social will go toward keeping the historical village going from utility bills to upkeep on the buildings that were once part of every day lives for the county's early settlers.
Those include a jail dating back to 1820, a log church that's still used for weddings and services, a one-room school house, doctor's office, general store, functioning blacksmith shop and more.
Log jail and white one-room school house
Linda Duncan, event organizer, says a historical village like this is needed in the community, so the younger generation can learn how their ancestors once lived.Â
"If the pioneers ate it, they had to kill it. If they wanted to wear it then they had to weave it, and it was just a whole different world," she explains. "They need to know there was a lot of hardship in the early days and they've got it pretty good right now."
In addition to the historical village, there's also a museum and library on the grounds.
The museum has rotating exhibits. Currently one is a collection of radios from the early 1900's and the other on various townships in Jefferson County.
The library is a place where those in Jefferson County can learn more about their family with plenty of genealogy resources.
Currently, visitors are not allowed inside the historical village's buildings due to COVID-19. However, visitors can do a self-guided walking tour on their smartphone by going to .
The ice cream social is being held on August 8th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
More information can be found here
Jefferson County Historical Village:
1411 N 27th Street
Mount Vernon, Illinois
(618) 246-0033.
