May 30, 2007 By Jackie Beranek 5 min read

BULLSKIN TWP. – Members of the Bullskin Township Historical Society are getting ready for the 10th annual Heritage and Community Days to be held Saturday and Sunday at the Bullskin Fairgrounds on Route 982 in Wooddale. Historical Society President Jean Bowman said this year’s event, as always, is free to the public and will be held from 11 a.m. until dark both days. She said that the Bullskin Lions Club annual Strawberry Festival would be held on Saturday beginning at 4 p.m. in Exhibit Building II.

An antique tractor display has been added to this year’s lineup and annual favorites such as the annual car show, the big semi-truck display and tractor-drawn hayrides to the Mount Vernon Iron Furnace will return.

Bowman said the historical society committee has agreed to place a cover over the hay wagon this year to help protect visitors in case of rain.

She said last year the sky opened up and a lot of people got wet so the committee decided to cover the wagon. Bowman said cookies and punch will be available at the stone cabin next to the Iron Furnace in addition to historical items on display such as books and pictures.”

This year’s welcome booth will be housed in Exhibit Building I, where area crafters will be stationed. Bowman said this year there will be a welcome booth on each end of the building.

“In the years past, we only had it on one end of the building, but we decided to change that this year so that visitors are welcomed at both ends of the building,” she said. “Information on the area will be available in addition to historical society mugs and paperweights that will be for sale,” said Bowman.

Bowman said she is hoping that jewelry, made of iron ore, also will be available. She said the historical society formed a committee to create the jewelry fashions.

The Store Front Market Place and General Store that annually offers old-fashioned candy, apples and oranges will be located in the same building in addition to various crafters. Bowman said the Laurel Art Club will be on hand again this year with a display and some of their artwork will be for sale.

“We will also have an antiques display this year,” Bowman continued. “Another new thing this year is Granny’s Loft that will be like a flea market but with nice things.”

Visitors also can have their blood pressure taken at the health services booth, according to Bowman. Dr. Albert Saloom will be on hand to pass out health information pamphlets and to give out other samples to adults. Bowman said anyone signing up at the booth would be eligible for a drawing to receive a free blood pressure kit.

“Each year we give away some piece of medical equipment,” said Bowman. “On Sunday, we will pull out one of the signup slips from the box and that person will get the kit.”

Saturday’s events will begin with opening ceremonies with the Bullskin Boy Scouts at 11 a.m., followed by announcement of the winner of the children’s coloring contest. Bowman said children from Bullskin Elementary School participated in the contest.

The semi-truck show will be held all day Saturday, and at 11:30 a.m. Kortney Jean and Stampede will perform on the outside stage. At 1 p.m., illusionist Trickster Troy will take the stage, followed by an all-ages karaoke contest at 1:30 p.m. The karaoke winners will be announced at 5:30 p.m. and monetary prizes will be awarded.

Bowman said truck show winners also will be announced at 5:30 p.m. and prizes will be awarded. The Stonee Ridge Band will take the stage at 6:30 p.m. and the karaoke winners will perform.

The Sunday schedule begins at 11 a.m. with a car, truck and motorcycle show. At noon, the oldies band, the Del-Sols, will perform, and at 1 p.m. the annual garden tractor pull will be held in the arena.

Bowman said at 2 p.m. the children’s pedal-pull contest will begin and at 3 p.m. winners will be announced. Winners of the Laurel Art Club also will be announced at the same time and prizes will be awarded.

Judy Shearer will lead the “singspiration” at 5 p.m. accompanied by Beverley Quinn. The Richters will perform at the community vesper service at 6 p.m. and the Rev. Terry Guiste, executive director of the Connellsville Area Ministerial Association, will serve as the circuit rider preacher.

This year’s children’s area will be held inside Exhibit Building II, Bowman said. She also said that the Bullskin Township Historical Society was established in 1996 and its purpose and mission is to restore and preserve the heritage and history of the township for future generations.

Bowman said, “One of our current projects is the stabilization and restoration of the historic Mount Vernon Iron Furnace located along Mounts Creek in Wooddale.”

The township was formed in March 1784 and at that time included Saltlick, Connellsville, Springfield and a part of Stewart townships.

For more information, visit online at www.bullskintownshiphistoricalsociety.org

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