The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.


Ride'em Cowgirl

by Dessa Rodeffer - Quill Publisher

Enjoying her first ride on a pony in Oquawka is two-year-old Eliana Gnann of Wever, Iowa, daughter of Jesse and Janelle Gnann during Heritage Trail Days this past weekend. Her dad holds her hand to assure a safe ride.

Many activites were going on assuring all ages a good time with beautiful weather and turning of colors enhancing the trails of Henderson County.

The ponies were set up for riding at the Oquawka park and museum on Schuyler Street with a host of other things going on as well.

West Central's Art teacher Cherry Simmons was giving free face paintings which kept her busy all day Saturday and brought lots of pleasure to kids. Below Cherry face paints Denise Hathaway, 12 of Henderson, KY.

Debbie Sells, President of the Ladies Eagles Auxiliary, said they have sold over 300 Mighty Mississippi Flood Survivor T-shirts which help finance meals for many during flood disasters. They were also busy Saturday selling funnel cakes, and fried snickers and bottled water and other items. Helping her were Ann Davies, Judy Olson, Helen Crandall, Dixie Boughton, Phyllis Mortimer and Ben Sells, Eagle Club Trustee. They are raising money for the Oquawka Toy Drive and Debbie said with displaced flood victims, they expect to see more need for toys for area kids. They are having a 50-60 sock hop to raise funds on October 4th and will be having Steak Night on October 11th.

Ed Melvin of Monmouth, formerly of rural Biggsville is using fresh clam shells to demonstrate button cutting, an art along the river from 1870 to 1950. Like Oquawka, many small river towns from Rock Island to Keokuk manufactured buttons in this manner. Ed was taught the trade by Gene Frank one summer.

Jane Weir stops from her usual busy Saturday during Heritage Trails for a photo with young Matt Graves, 8, of Oneida who says he loves the cider. His mom and grandma and cousins make it a yearly trip to the fruit farm. There were many activities going on outside and many displays out and inside her adjacent antique barn.