Fun Fact #117 Time to TInker

 Fun Fact #117

Time to Tinker

In1865,  Robert Tinker came to Rockford after concluding his tour of Europe in order to build his home on a limestone bluff overlooking the Kent creek. It also happened to be near a local curiosity of his: an Indian burial mound dating back to 1300 AD. He lived there for many years growing his family. Then the railroad bought his wife's house for use as a train stop. Seeing an opportunity, Mr. Tinker turned his Victorian Swiss home into an attraction for passengers passing through. Later his family gave the Cottage to the Rockford Park District who turned it into a museum in 1943. However it is said his Ghost and those of his family still haunt the grounds, seemingly still trying to make the place a tourist attraction. 

    In the modern day, the home is now a Museum and Gardens, which is devoted to local history as well. Its honestly really cool even featuring an early Woodward Waterwheel Governor. Additionally, the grounds are also periodically home to the Illinois Paranormal conference (it was last year on Nov. 1st but not this year). This is due to the fact that nearby Belvidere has the largest population of  Wiccens (a religion based around witchcraft) in the world and are usually joined by ghosthunters and tarot card readers --among various other groups. 

Thanks for reding and please have a Fang-Tastic Day!