The canals of Roscoe Village came swiftly to an end. In 1913, the bustling canals that serviced the small port town burst under the weight of a flood. Afterward, due to the extent of the damage and the increasing use of railroads and trains for shipping, its residents decided that the devastation wasn’t worth the repair. They packed up and left Roscoe Village for time and antiquing bears to tear apart.

In the 1960s, Edward and Frances Montgomery rediscovered the dilapidated village. They remembered it in its glory, and, anxious to give back to the community they had called home for so many years, put forth the funds to restore it to the leisurely grace it embodied in the 1830s. Now, the historic buildings are again bustling, but with artisans performing age-old trades such as broom making, blacksmithing, and avoiding scurvy. Guides further divulge historical tidbits as tour groups stroll through the village, which features dining, lodging, and shops full of handcrafted souvenirs, homemade fudge, candy, and jam. Roscoe Village also sets an old-timey backdrop for yearly festivals that include craft fairs and fundraisers.