The Mac-A-Cheek Foundation for the Humanities

A 501 (c) (3) non profit organization providing public programs at Piatt Castle

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The Mac-A-Cheek Foundation for the Humanities

A nonprofit organization providing public programs

P.O. Box 166, West Liberty, OH  43357 

937.465.2821  macochee@logan.net  www.piattcastles.org

2006 Calendar of Events

April 15       Victorian Easter Egg Roll at Mac-A-Cheek Castle (1 mile east of West Liberty)

                            $6.00 for children 5-15, $10.00 for adults (MFH members discount is $1.00)

Reservations are required for this program which lasts from 9:00 a.m. to noon.

Join us for a special tour followed by egg rolling games like those played on the White House lawn 125 years ago.  We’ll hold an Easter egg hunt then move on to Marie’s Candy in West Liberty for a candy molding demonstration and special Easter treat.

April 29         A Day for Knights at Mac-O-Chee Castle (2 miles east of West Liberty)

                            $6.00 for children 5-15, $10.00 for adults (MFH members discount is $1.00)

Reservations are required for this program which lasts from 9:00 a.m. to noon.

Compare the life of medieval knights and the romance of the legends of King Arthur to the daily life of 19th century American writers and artists.  This program includes demonstrations of knight’s armor and weaponry and limestone carving; puzzles and activities exploring medieval castles; an interactive drama,  The Shape of the Kingdom followed by The Keys to the Castle, an adventure through Mac-O-Chee, and selections from Mark Twain’s 1889 novel, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, performed by students from Urbana University.

June 10        Paint-Out:  The Art of Architecture at Mac-O-Chee (2 miles east of West Liberty)

Select this Saturday to relax and enjoy the lawn and landscape where artists from the Miami Valley Plein Air Belles of the Ohio Plein Air Society will be painting from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m...  There is no fee to watch or interact with the artists.  Regular tour fees for Mac-O-Chee apply.

July                   From the Ground Up:  Archaeology at Mac-A-Cheek (1 mile east of West Liberty)

Plans are underway to hold a second archaeological dig both in the form of a free public program and a fee-based field school in July.  Contact 937-465-2821 for more information.

July 9           Vintage Baseball Match at Mac-A-Cheek Castle (1 mile east of West Liberty)

There is no fee for this program which begins at 2:00 p.m. and is co-sponsored by the Logan County Historical Society  Cheer players in our match between the Champion City Reapers and the Cincinnati Buckeyes held in the back field, surrounded by corn fields.

July 23         Concert by the West Central Ohio Concert Band at Mac-A-Cheek Castle

                          (1 mile east of West Liberty, with rain location as The Holland Theatre in Bellefontaine)

There is no fee for this program which begins at 7:00 p.m. and is co-sponsored by the Bellefontaine Cultural Arts Council

October       Ghosts and Goblins:  Literature to Scare and Delight at Mac-O-Chee

14 & 21        $6.00 for children 5-15, $10.00 for adults (MFH members discount is $1.00)

This program begins at 4:30 p.m. and lasts until 6:00 p.m.  It is not recommended for children under the age of five.  Mac-O-Chee is located 2 miles east of West Liberty.

Discover the fun of Halloween traditions and how imagination can be sparked by a good story.  The program includes Victorian autumn games, stories and dramatic scenes, a scavenger hunt for literary treasures, a spooky cellar walk and a bonfire.

Nov. 25        Caroling in the Castle at Mac-A-Cheek (1 mile east of West Liberty)                

                    $10.00 per person, all ages, $9.00 for MFH members.

The concert includes admission to the Castle at 6:30 p.m. to see the seasonal exhibit:  Traditions Over Time.  Seating is limited and reservations are required for the 8th annual holiday concert by Schola Camera which begins at 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 2          Christmas Mornings at Mac-A-Cheek (1 mile east of West Liberty)          

9 & 16          $6.00 for children 5-15, $10.00 for adults (MFH members discount is $1.00)

Enjoy living history, storytelling, Victorian era games and hands-on activities as you discover how families celebrated the season in the past.  Reservations are required for these programs which last from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.  and include admission to the seasonal exhibit:  Traditions Over Time.  The programs each week are different, come to one or all.   

Dec. 2                 A Visit from Saint Nicholas                                          

Dec. 9                 Wassailing and Mummers’ Plays

Dec. 16             A Dickens Christmas Party

What else is the Mac-A-Cheek Foundation doing?

• We host high school and college internships and we are starting a new teen volunteer program for community service credits.  Please contact us for more information.

• With a grant from the Ohio Humanities Council, we are beginning the first phase of a research project on Family Farms in Central Ohio.  It will culminate in new exhibits on agriculture and horticulture once we have restored our 19th century barn, ornamental garden, and conservatory at Mac-A-Cheek in a four year project called From The Ground Up.

• In the next year, Piatt Castles will begin working with the State of Ohio on a project to restore, enhance and protect the ecology of the Mac-A-Cheek Creek.  This will result in new environmental programs sponsored by the MFH.

• We are working with the Ohio Native Ancestral Church of the South Wind, a Shawnee group, to create an outdoor exhibit interpreting the late 18th century village Mackachak.

Please contact us for more information and if you wish to become a member, volunteer, or purchase a paver to help restore the barn, garden and conservatory.