Life in the past

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Area families got a taste of living life in the past.  The Tippecanoe County Historical Association held "Family Day at the Park" at Fort Ouiatenon.

10-year-old Luke Truitt said he came to Fort Ouiatenon with his family and now knows the ins and outs of making nails, by hand.

"How hot the fire is. I didn't know it had to be so hot and that nails that are made by hand are stronger than machine made nails," said Truitt.

Truitt, his family and many others enjoyed candle making, beading and historic games.

Executive Director Kathy Atwell said the event happens every summer to show the public how people lived in the 1700s in this area.

"There have been people, not just the Native Americans along the Wabash, but Europeans living for hundreds of years in this area. We didn't just suddenly grow up to be Lafayette Indiana and West Lafayette. We grew from hard working people who made their own candles and chopped their own wood and built their own houses," said Atwell.

Atwell said there are two important reasons to share Fort Ouiatenon.

"Get out to the park and understand what wonderful parks we do have in our county. It's not just open ground, but it does give activities to children about the history of our region. We have a very, very rich history in our region," said Atwell.