One of Northern Indiana's Favorite Pioneer Festivals!

Saturday, September 7, 2019 9a - 5p EST
&
Sunday, September 8, 2019 10a - 4p EST
Home of Stone's Tavern Inn National Historic Site
and the Annual Stone's Trace Festival of Early American Settler and Pioneer Life and Crafts.
Home of the Stone's Trace Regulators & Midwest Muzzle Loading, Blackpowder Shooting Events
and the Annual Stone's Trace Regulators Rendezvous and Primitive Camp.
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Larry Werline Bio as Ulysses S Grant

Larry Werline has been portraying first-person General/President Grant for 20 years. During this time he has presented at museums, schools, libraries, reenactments, historical sites, symposiums, banquets and Civil War round tables. His favorite venue is the Illinois Old State Capitol where Grant got his start in the American Civil War. He performs there every summer as a part of Springfield’s “History Comes Alive” program along with the Abraham Lincoln Museum. His goal is to bring history to life for his audiences.
Larry has been a Civil War reenactor as Captain of a large Midwest Artillery Battery. He is also a member of the Sons of Union Veterans and the Springfield and Macoupin County Civil War Round Tables. Larry is retired from Oracle Corp. and lives in Chatham, IL with his wife, Rita.

Artisan Workshop Craft Schedule for 2019 

Join us at a Stone's Trace for a taste of the festival
 This year come and join us at a Living History Camp, get a view of the festival as we demonstrate period crafts complete with entertainment, food and drinks. Sample the delicious array of pioneer foods. This event is free to the Public.                        

Sunday, June 23, 9:00 Am to 3:00 Pm

Stone's Tavern was one of Noble County's first "commercial" structures. Built by the second white settler in Noble County, Richard Stone, the now restored Tavern was opened for travelers in 1839. The tavern was the center of activity for quilting bees, town meetings, post office, stagecoach stop, jury room, jail, dance hall and rest stop for the weary traveler or drover.

Due to it's huge size for the time it was built and it's location along the well traveled trail, it quickly became an early 1800's area landmark and, since 1984, it has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It is also listed in the Indiana State DNR Historic Register.

The building was operated as a tavern from 1839 until about the time of the Civil war when it was sold. At the time of the sale, both Ligonier, Indiana and Wolf Lake, Indiana were growing towns and each had a new hotel. The value of the tavern was lost and it was then used as a home and later as a barn.

The Stone's Trace Historical Society was founded in April, 1964. Mr. Graydon Blue, a local druggist, convinced the owner, Mrs. Mary Slagle, that he could save the original Stone's Tavern building. Mrs. Slagle donated the tavern and three acres of land to the Stone's Trace Historical Society.

When the grounds and Tavern were dedicated 
"to give the past a future" on July 26, 1966,
the 184 charter society members and hundreds from the area dressed in 1800's era costumes to attend the ceremony and basket dinner.
The first "official" Stone's Trace Pioneer Festival was held July 21 & 22, 1973.

Today the Tavern is open during the Summer on Sunday; June 23, 9A to 3P EST. It is open during the Annual Pioneer Festival which occurs the weekend after Labor Day and for Special Events. The Hearthside Dinner is served inside the Tavern, twice every year.
The Tavern is also open by appointment;
Call Janet Sweeney, 260.856.2666
or Jim Hossler, 574.529.3693.

Stone's Trace Regulators, a group interested in re-creating the pre-1840 Indiana black power era, was formed to carry on the tradition of remembering and reenacting early Indiana history and rendezvous events. Each year, at festival time, a trading village with primitive camp reenactors springs up at the south end of the festival grounds to give guests a glimpse of life prior to occupation by the settlers. Civil War reenactors, both Confederate and Union, set up their camps at the North end of the grounds. It is a special treat when they fire the cannon!