Oswego museum to host tours of town barns on two Sundays

Have you ever noticed the barns tucked behind homes in residential areas in and around Oswego’s downtown? Curious about the structures? Find out all about them during “Oswego History Walk - Downtown Barns,” on Sundays, Sept. 19 and Oct. 3.

The Sept. 19 walk begins at noon, while the Oct. 3 walk starts at 2 p.m.

The walks will be led by Oswegoland Heritage Association board members Ted Clauser and Linda Heap Dean, assisted by the Oswegoland Park District’s Shawna Sullivan.

Many people think barns only can be found on the area’s farms. But town barns were once important to urban residents in the 19th and early 20th centuries before the advent of automobiles. Town barns housed family cows, horses and chickens, and even stored buggies and sleighs. Learn about the history of in-town barns while visiting the sites of several of the vintage structures still standing in and near Oswego’s historic downtown.

Preregistration with the Oswegoland Park District at $5 per person is required for the program, aimed at participants 16 and older, by referencing program number 21083 when calling 630-554-1010 or visiting oswegolandparkdistrict.org. Space is limited for the walk co-hosted by the Oswegoland Heritage Association and the park district. The walk will be held outdoors starting at the Little White School Museum, 72 Polk St., and participants should be able to comfortably walk for about one hour. The October walk will duplicate the September walk.

For more information, call the Little White School Museum at 630-554-2999, or send an email to info@littlewhiteschoolmuseum.org.