Historical society to celebrate the season with annual Harvest Festival
WAYNESBURG – The staff of the Greene County Historical Society has been sprucing up the buildings and grounds of its museum in preparation for next weekend’s 31st annual Harvest Festival. The festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 19 and 20 at the historic museum, located along Rolling Meadows Road.
Brenda Giles, administrator, said the popular festival will include several new additions this year. A new agriculture exhibit will be on display in the museum barn. In addition to plows and harrows, the exhibit features such oddities as a dog churn and a combination stepladder/ironing board.
Inside the museum, a case-full of unidentified photos will be on display. Anyone who has information about any of the photos can share it with the staff.
For the first time in many years, the basement of the building will be open for vendors to display their wares. The area has been cleaned and whitewashed, and it features a number of individual rooms.
As in past years, entertainment will take place in the barn and will include the Greene Academy Dulcimer Players, western line dancing, clog dancing and magician Elston Brown. Civil War re-enactments will take place both days, and frontier living history encampments will be set up. Local Indian expert Jean Zimmerman will demonstrate archeological techniques, and railroad enthusiast Jim Weinschenker will be on hand to start up the W & W engine. Also, pottery making, blacksmithing, and spinning will be demonstrated daily.
Shoppers can find one-of-a-kind handmade items, such as candles, woodcrafts, baskets, woolen items and hand-painted eggs.
A coal mine artifact exhibit owned by Brice Rush of Carmichaels also will be on display.
Former Greensboro resident, author and artist Mary Moline will sign her books and Norman Rockwell collectible dolls. All proceeds for these items will benefit the museum’s roof fund. Giles said the main building’s roof will have to be replaced soon in order to protect the thousands of artifacts housed there.
The museum’s gift shop will be open both days during the festival and features many new items and books.
The historical society is reprinting the classic photo book “Waynesburg Prosperous & Beautiful,” which is slated for release next month. Giles said anyone who pre-pays can reserve a copy of this limited edition for $26 each plus tax. This offer is available through Oct. 31, Giles said.
Cost of admission to the festival is $3 for adults and $2 for children.
For more information, call 724-627-3204.