Wagon train begins trip out of and back into history
FARMINGTON – An increase in gas prices may have caused sparse participation in this year’s National Road Festival, according to some “pioneers” involved with the annual event. But one thing’s for certain, the weather cooperated for the 17 wagons and 38 horses that started their journey on Thursday from Grantsville, Md., and moved west into Somerset and Fayette counties.
Faye Augustine, trail manager for the 31st annual festival, said Friday that those taking part “didn’t know how to act” since it had rained for the last two years during the event.
“This is the best weekend we’ve had in a long time… we’re happy with everything,” said Augustine as the wagon train traveled into Jockey Hollow where they conducted a memorial service in remembrance of the late Walt Spears, former “master wagon master,” who died in 1998.
Elam Bender, train minister, performed the service that was attended by Spear’s wife who resides in Florida.
From there, Augustine said the wagon train moved on to A.J. McMullen Elementary School in the Uniontown School District, where students provided lunch before continuing its journey to the polo field at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and Spa, where the day ended on a much happier note, with the wedding of Hillary Hall to Wesley Clevenger, both of Johnstown.
Hall, 21, formerly of Markleysburg, became the bride of Clevenger, 51, in a traditional ceremony performed by Bender. Hall wore a primitive wedding gown designed by her mother as the two exchanged vows, although they were married earlier this year in Johnstown.
“The wagon train is my second family,” said Hall.
Augustine said she has known Hall and her family ever since Hall was a child when Hall’s grandfather was the festival’s chuck wagon cook until this year when he moved to Montana. “We’ve seen these kids grow up here,” Augustine added.
Aside from the wagon train participants, Augustine said the festival drew people from West Virginia and Washington, D.C., which opted to “hike the pike” instead.
As fans of “Little House on the Prairie,” Brianna Shimko, 7, and her sister, Jessie Shimko, 6, daughters of Christy and Brian Shimko of Uniontown, couldn’t wait to see the horses and wagons from the festival for the first time in person.
“It’s neat to see the wagon train and how they lived back then,” said Christy Shimko.
For the last 21 years, the wagon train has become a way of life for Charlie Zufall who enjoys the camaraderie with fellow “pioneers” Charlie Brothers and Don Burnsworth who have been involved for 10 years.
This was also the 26th year for the Girl Scouts of Southwestern Pennsylvania to participate with 11 troops from the Trilliun Council. The troops were on hand the past two days and two troops will be joining them today when the festival enters Hopwood via parade before continuing to downtown Uniontown for a brief Pike Fest Ceremony at Five Corners and a stop at the George C. Marshall Memorial for the reading of the proclamation.
The wagon train is expected to arrive at Mount Saint Macrina at 3:30 where they will eat and rest until Sunday when the festival concludes with an Interdenominational Church Service at 8:30 a.m. conducted by Bender and sisters from Mount Saint Macrina.