Hooray! The Colony School roof project has been completed!

Here are QC Roof Doctors putting the finishing touches on the bell tower, part of the roof project at the Old Colony School. Thank you QC Roof Doctors, Mother Nature and the Raymond Ericson Family for their generous memorial contribution, allowing the Bishop Hill Old Settlers’ Association to put a new roof on our 1861 Old Colony School.

With a bit of scraping and touch-up painting to the tower, this roof project is now complete!

Dance around the Midsommar Maypole on Saturday, June 23rd at the Colony School.

The race is on! 

Will the schoolhouse roof be finished by Saturday for Midsommar? 

Put your money on this strong, steadfast crew from QC Roof Doctors. 

These men are amazing! 

I took my phone with me this morning when I went out to water my garden. Before the sun broke the tree line, the temp was 85 degrees; it felt even hotter. After working for an hour, I was too hot to continue. To my amazement, I saw that across the road a team of a dozen workers had begun to remove the old roof of the Colony School. I grabbed my phone from my pocket to capture the start of the project. I saw an error message on the screen. Apparently, my phone overheated in my pocket and turned itself off!  It was THAT HOT.

The workers continued throughout the day under the cruelest weather conditions. In well-choreographed moves, men removed the shingles as others followed them laying all the elements of the new roof. By 4 pm the west side was done. Hopefully, the balance will be finished in time for our Midsommar celebration on Saturday. Thank you Roof Doctors!

The Bishop Hill Old Settlers are committed to maintaining this building as a meeting house for the community and our visitors. It is available for rent for all occasions. Use the contact form at right to request a date. Hold your next event in this unforgettable setting.

Join the fun at Midsommar

Each Midsommar friends and visitors gather in Bishop Hill's village park for music and fellowship. Late in the afternoon a maypole is adorned with greenery and studded with flowers. A procession of revelers then delivers the decorated pole to the east lawn of the schoolhouse. The celebration continues to traditional tunes as the crowd dances around this symbol of the summer solstice.

This beautiful pageant is an enduring link to our Swedish culture and Bishop Hill’s colorful past. Please join us for this event. All are welcome.

Midsommar Schedule

Main Stage performances in the park

11 am - Black Hawk Pipes & Drums

1 pm - Kewanee Community Band/Chorus

 2 pm - Big River Reeltime Band    

3 pm - Nordland Band

 4 pm - The Maypole dressing begins.

A procession to the Colony School will be followed by dancing.

 7 pm - Barn Dance at the Colony School with The Ragged Robin Band. All dances called and taught by veteran caller Ms. Gail Hintze. 

No experience needed. Admission is $5 per person.