Harvesting history
WAYNESBURG – For the past 37 years, the Greene County Historical Society and Museum has hosted a celebration of the fall harvest. And this coming weekend, this rich local tradition will proudly continue. The celebration known as the Harvest Festival will be held Friday and Saturday at the museum from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days and will once again feature a wide array of crafts and entertainment, food and snacks, history encampments and war skirmishes, and historical demonstrations and exhibits.
Museum Administrator Bernice Fox said this year’s event will be quite busy.
“We have an incredibly full schedule this year,” she said. “There will be plenty of things happening in the museum barn and all across the grounds. Those who attend the festival will certainly find their share of family fun as well as local history.”
The festival will feature many demonstrations and exhibits throughout the weekend.
Archaeological excavation tools, the W&W narrow gauge steam locomotive and various old-time gas engines will be on display, and blacksmiths will demonstrate their unique skills.
Also, a special coal mining exhibit will be on display in the museum. Local coal historians Bryce and Linda Rush of Carmichaels will be on hand to talk about the exhibit, which will offer a wide variety of artifacts depicting the history of coal in Greene County.
George Blystone of the famous Jacobs Birdhouse Company will also be in the exhibit area to explain the history of the company. And there will also be a printing demonstration in the Museum Print Shop utilizing equipment from the 1800’s.
Also present at the festival will be The Warrior Trail Association, which will provide information and updates about the trail; and Lippencott Alpacas, which will have various animals on display and will have many items for sale.
Pet lovers will also be encouraged to visit with the Humane Society of Greene County during the festival. In addition to having some animals available for adoption, the shelter will be selling raffle tickets for a Steeler basket and will be selling other Steelers’ pet items, All proceeds will be used to benefit the shelter.
The Harvest Festival will once again feature many local artisans demonstrating and selling their wares throughout the museum grounds. The variety of traditional crafts will include wooden furniture and toys, handmade soaps and candles, handwoven rugs, cedar birdhouses, seasonal and gift items, and much more.
Several companies, including Wagner’s Sugar Camp of Somerset, will also be on hand making candy and maple syrup and other tasty treats.
Once again, history will come alive at the festival through encampments and reenactments during the weekend, including the local 140th PA. Volunteers, which will host a Civil War living history encampment and conduct authentic skirmishes both days.
Other living history presentations will be conducted on both days at various times by the 1st Virginia Regiment, a French and Indian War reenactment group. There will also be a Native American living history camp.
Live entertainment will also be featured both days at the festival. Musical performers scheduled to appear include Autumn Laskody, Bill Veresko, the Greene Academy Dulcimer Players, James “Fuzzy” Randolph, Ambassadors for Christ and the band “Mud Between the Logs.”
Children will be entertained by “Pete and the Magic Machine” as well as puppeteers, face painting and other activities all throughout the weekend.
Festival goers will not have to enjoy the activities on an empty stomach. For the hungry visitors, soup beans and cornbread, cabbage rolls and noodles, and fresh grilled sandwiches will be available, as well as snacks including fresh apple cider and delicious baked goods.
Admission is $5 for adults and free for children ages 12 and under that are accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Fox said she hopes the Harvest Festival is well attended, as it serves as one of the museum’s biggest fundraisers for the year. All of the proceeds raised from the festival and the museum’s other fundraising events are used to pay for the museum’s operating expenses.
“The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission has been gracious enough to give us a grant and we are also grateful for the county commissioners because they match the PHMC’s grant,” she said. “Without their support, and without the money raised from fundraisers such as the Harvest Festival, the museum would not be able to stay open.”
Fox said there are two more fundraisers scheduled to benefit the museum that will be held in the near future.
A quilt show will be held at the museum Oct. 29 through Nov. 1. This first-time event is a joint project between the Greene County Tourist Promotion Agency and the Historical Society. It will feature a variety of quilts from different time periods. Some quilts will be available for purchase and there will be raffles, various textile-related vendors, craftsmen, refreshments, etc.
There will be a soft opening on Oct. 29 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at which people can browse the quilts on display; no vendors or food will be available. The full festivities begin Friday. Hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday Cost of admission is a $2 donation to the Tourist Promotion Agency. For more info, call 724-627-8687.
The museum will also host its annual Christmas Open House Nov. 20-22.
For more information on the 38th annual Harvest Festival or for directions to the museum, contact the Greene County Historical Society and Museum at 724-627-3204.