Tinker Swiss Cottage is excited to resume our Summer Lecture Series! Our first lecture of 2021 will be “Fred Machesney” presented by Mike Frederiksen.

The name Machesney is very familiar to those who live in the Northern Illinois region due to the Village of Machesney Park and the Machesney Park Mall. However, before there was a village and a mall, the name Machesney was synonymous with aviation. Join us as we explore Machesney’s life from barnstormer in Kewanee to the closure and conversion of his airport into a mall.

Mike Frederiksen graduated from Carleton University with a degree in psychology and history. Mike currently serves as the curator, collections manager, and education director for the Poplar Grove Vintage Wings and Wheels Museum. He is also a board member for the Rockford Historical Society and The Boone County Arts Council. Mike was a co-writer for “Images of America: Belvidere and Boone County,” (Arcadia Publishing, 2014).

Tickets are limited! Admission is $10/non-members, $5/members.

All events begin in the Barn. Face masks are not required for those vaccinated but are appreciated. For those unvaccinated, masks are still required.