Harrison-Bruce Historical Village at John A. Logan College

05/28/2026

The Prairie Church Museum at the Harrison-Bruce Historical Village is making progress!

05/12/2026

We extend our sincerest condolences on the passing of Marilyn DeTomasi, a devoted docent at Harrison-Bruce Historical Village, whose vast historical expertise and enthusiasm greatly enriched our institution. Her kindness and radiant smile will be deeply remembered.

View Marilyn Kay DeTomasi's obituary, send flowers and sign the guestbook.

05/04/2026

HBV Fifth Annual Quilt Show will host a quilt block contest. Contact us for more information.

04/24/2026

Third and Fourth graders from Saint Andrew School visited Purdy School on Tuesday.

04/22/2026

What a wonderful presentation on growing, harvesting, and preparing flax to be spun into fiber and made into clothing and textiles. Tom and Joanna Blodgett educated a group Saturday at the JALC HBV Mees Centre on “Linen’s Journey…From Flax Seed to Fabric.”

04/16/2026

FLAX EVENT THIS SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 1 PM

Reminder . . . this coming Saturday (April 18) at 1 PM in the Mees Community Centre, in the heart of the Village on the JALC campus, Tom and Joanne Blodgett--nationally recognized flax experts--will conduct an informal workshop on all things flax.

The Blodgetts will cover the history (ancient and modern) of humans using flax, its place in our region's history, and its current uses. They'll also explain how to grow it in our climate and bring it to harvest. And they'll demonstrate the multiple steps necessary to harvest, process, and spin and weave this fiber. They'll bring with them all the tools necessary and give everyone an opportunity to try them out!

Black Sheep Fiber Guild and Jackson County Historical Society are co-sponsors of their presentation. Admission is free and all are welcome. The Village will be open for tours between 11 am and 1 pm that day; docents will be on hand.

Hope to see you there!

04/15/2026

04/11/2026

04/07/2026

It has been some little while since our Village has “grown” a whole new building, so we are celebrating the ground-breaking of the Prairie Museum this Friday (April 10) at 10 a.m. The Prairie Museum’s exterior will resemble a nineteenth-century church one might have come across anywhere in southern Illinois. The interior will provide space for cultural, historical, and art exhibits and seating for small group events.

Join us this Friday morning to celebrate the new arrival! After the ground-breaking, the Village staff and volunteers will host in the Mees Community Centre a reception and a pop-up art exhibit of rarely seen works from the JALC art collection.

Volunteer docents will staff the historic buildings throughout the Village to provide tours for all of our visitors.