It is not just &ldquo\;dirty laundry&rdquo
\; that is tackled by the Colony washer women in the Bishop Hill Heritage
Acting Troupe&rsquo\;s skit. Conversation centers around who made the dirt
y laundry\, latest gossip\, Colony news\, and personal problems of those a
ssigned to the Colony laundry shed. The Acting Troupe&rsquo\;s skit gives
the audience an insight as to what everyday life was like in the Swedish c
ommunal settlement of Bishop Hill\, from 1846-1861. While the &ldquo\;dirt
y laundry&rdquo\; is being sorted\, scrub-boards attacked\, and news of th
e day discussed\, you will be left with an appreciation of communal days i
n the Bishop Hill Colony.
\;
The Bishop Hill Colony began i
n Sweden when a group of religious dissenters dreamed of creating a utopia
where they could live in harmony with their beliefs\, free from the dogma
of the established church. In 1846\, Erik Janson and his followers\, sail
ed from Sweden to New York\, made their way to Chicago and walked the last
160 miles to Bishop Hill. They established a communal Colony on the prair
ie that grew in numbers and prospered\, even though the Colony suffered a
major loss when Erik Janson was killed in 1850. In the 15 year history of
this religious collective\, over a thousand immigrants journeyed from Swed
en to join the Colony. The Bishop Hill Colony was one of the most signific
ant forces in the later immigration of millions of Swedes. The Colony is s
till evident today in the form of historic buildings and artifacts as well
as in its 130 residents\, many of whom are descendants of the original se
ttlers. Today Bishop Hill is a state historic site and a national historic
landmark.
\;
The Bishop Hill Heritage Association (BHHA) s
eeks to appreciate and preserve the rich history of the Bishop Hill Coloni
sts and the town they built. \; In the summer of 1961\, the abandoned
Colony Bakery/Brewery building was demolished by the village of Bishop Hil
l. This was the catalyst that led to the formation of the Bishop Hill Heri
tage Association. \; In 1962\, a small group of descendants met and re
solved to preserve their Swedish heritage and ensure that no more colony b
uildings would be lost. BHHA was organized to preserve and protect the rem
aining buildings associated with the Bishop Hill Colony (1846-1861).
2021 Global Gathering World Tour is sponsored by The Bettendorf Public Library Foundation\, Quad City Bank &\; Trust\, Morgan Stanley\, HNI Co rporation\, Bettendorf Rotary and Twin State. \;
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