History to repeat itself at Bullskin Township Heritage Days
History will repeat itself at this year’s 16th annual Bullskin Township Heritage Days following the addition of a second day.
The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 18-19 on the grounds of the Bullskin Township Historical Society’s log cabin and Mount Vernon Iron Furnace located along Mounts Creek.
Admission is free, along with parking at the Bullskin Township Fairgrounds upper parking lot, or by a five minute walk on the Iron Furnace trail.
Shuttle service also will be provided.
Kim Brown, historical society president, said members agreed to extend the event another day without knowing what the weather holds, while looking back at previous years when it was first held for two days in June at the Bullskin Township Fairgrounds.
“In October the last couple of years we got snow,” said Brown. “We wanted two days to try to get more people interested in coming and to try and expand.”
According to Brown, heritage days will feature an abundance of demonstrating artists, crafts, live entertainment, activities, historic displays, an art show, antique sale and talks on the 33-foot Mount Vernon Iron Furnace built in 1801 by Isaac Meason. “It’s reminiscent of the times,” said Brown.
New this year is the civil war band, “Shadows of the Blue & Gray,” along with several event sponsors that Brown said help offset the costs of various contests.
Food and drinks will also be available with the menu to include pulled pork sandwiches, hot dogs, bean soup, chili, fried dough, mountain pies and popcorn. Additionally, homemade pies will be featured on Saturday and apple dumplings on Sunday.
Tickets can also be purchased to win an Amish-made porch swing or painted blanket chest with afghan and welcome sign.
Past winners from the beautiful baby contest will also return.
Children and adults can enter a writing contest on Fayette County history.
Rules and applications for the contests can be found on the historical society’s website at www.bullskintownshiphistoricalsociety.org.
Heritage Days kicks off Saturday at 11 a.m. with a welcome from Brown and a flag-raising ceremony by Boy Scout Troop 101. Clohe’ Dillon will sing the national anthem.
At 11:15 a.m. the winners of the adult and children’s writing, photo and art contest will be announced.
Talks on the iron furnace will be held at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. by local historian and society member Jim Whetsel.
The Travelin’ Road Show, a country, bluegrass, gospel and old time music band, will play at noon featuring Scott Leichliter and Terry Hall.
Shadows of the Blue and Gray will perform at 2 and 4 p.m. with Taney Basinger performing at 3 p.m.
Kid’s activities start at 3:15 p.m. with a Bullskin bull run and painter’s patriotic parade.
Boy Scout Troop 101 will conduct closing ceremonies at 5 p.m.
Sunday’s events start at 11 a.m. with Brown’s welcome, the boy scout flag raising ceremony and Dillon singing the national anthem.
Contest winners will be announced at 11:15 a.m. with Whetsel giving furnace talks at 11:30 a.m., 2 and 3:30 p.m.
At noon Chestnut Ridge Gospel band will perform followed at 1 p.m. by Eric Harvey (old time country).
Circuit Riding preacher the Reverend Terry Guiste of Wooddale Bible Brethren Church will make a visit at 1:30 p.m.
At 2:30 p.m. Chestnut Ridge Gospel Band will perform with Harvey at 4 p.m.
Past winners of the Bullskin Beautiful Babies contest will be introduced at 4:30 p.m. followed by the announcement of this year’s winner.
Festivities wrap up at 5 p.m. with a closing ceremony by Boy Scout Troop 101.