The volunteers at Macktown Living History can tell you: The excitement of knowing the history of the building, thinking of what was and what will be. Then the reality sets in.
First, the history:This building started life as a utilitarian structure in Pecatonic (now Macktown). Built by Stephen Mack, it originally housed Stevens furniture shop, a granary, a dwelling and a schoolroom. Education was always important to Stephen Mack. He wanted his children to have an education even though there was no formal school. So, as his children became school age, he built a building next to his new home and created a school for them. In this schoolroom education was offered to all children regardless of race, paid for by Mack. After a fire he rebuilt it "at great expense" to himself.
After the decline of Macktown, the building was moved across the river to Rockton, where it stood on the corner of Franklin and Center Streets until it was no longer needed. The general feeling was to demolish it, but what would become of that part of history? Who wanted to or would be able to tear it down piece by piece? A few willing men and one woman stepped forward, people shook their heads. In four months the job was accomplished.
Next, the reality:
The historic building had to be dismantled down to its "bones". Work began in May 2007, with volunteers working several days a week stripping away the modern layers and getting down to the 1830's era structure. It was a lot of hard work, determination and sweat. But day by day, hammer in hand, the volunteers made progress. The majority of them would not ever see 60 again (or 70), and they were less than 8 in number. Now THAT was fantastic!
Toward the end was the reward. Seeing the structure of the building, which had not seen daylight for over 150 years. And serendipity - there was Stephen Mack's name written on a timber! Little items were found in the debris reflecting  those who lived in the building. Many lives had touched this building, happiness and tears were in her bones.
In Stephen Mack's letters to his family, he made mention that he had a school and that it had caught fire from the stove. Evidence of this fire was found in boards used as dirt catchers under the planking on the 2nd story floor. Charred siding was evidently put to use where it could be utilitarian and not seen.
The post and beam construction was taken down by a historian after the framework had been documented and numbered. It will then be taken to be cleaned and a preservative applied. After that it will be stored until financing is available to rebuild it on the original site in Macktown. The estimated cost for dismantling the school, storing and treating the frame is $25,000.
 Architect Michael Dixon is working on the first phase of plans to rebuild it. Dixon has experience working on buildings on the National Historic Registry.
That building will rise again on its original site, snuggling up to the Mack house and the wind will echo the voices of those who lived and died there. The Sycamore tree that stands sentinel spreads its branches over the lush garden and people will again visit and laugh.
The Winnebago Coun ty Forest Preserve District, which owns the land on which Macktown and the trading post once sat, and the Macktown Living History Education Center have undertaken plans to restore Macktown to its 1830 - 1846 historic condition.
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Email macktown@charter.net