Sep 30, 2005 By Jean Lohr For The 3 min read

PERRYOPOLIS – Excitement is in the air. The cool fall weather, the colorful leaves and the rolling hills all provide a beautiful backdrop for area events. Perryopolis Pioneer Days, which celebrates the town’s nearly 200-year history, will kick off, literally, with a dance from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30, at the pavilion in Sampey Park. Doors will open at 5 p.m. Music will be provided by Old Shoes.

“This is a real chance for people in the community to get together,” said Dan Coldren of the dance and the two busy days that follow.

The Perryopolis Area Heritage Society and the Frazier High School cross country team are sponsoring the third annual two-mile run. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. The run begins at 8:30 a.m. Saturday. Followed, rain or shine, by a parade at 11 a.m.

There will be marching bands, antique cars, Civil War era soldiers and lots of other surprises along the way.

“Visitors can come and see just what Perryopolis has to offer,” said Coldren, chairman of the event. “I think we put on a very good show.”

There will be a Civil War era encampment, war games both days, a military ball and 1860-style outdoor military church service.

This year, the two stages – one near Washington Gristmill, the other Fisher stage in Sampey Park – will be ablaze with talent and activity.

“There will be the old-time band known as ‘This, That and the Other,'” said Harry Fisher, vice president of the society and one of the organizers. “They are very good.”

Also performing throughout the two days will be the Manor Valley Buttonbox, Perryopolis Community Church Choir and Acoustic Shadows of the Blue and Gray.

The Crabtree Bottom Band and the Steel City Quartet are among those also scheduled to perform.

“There will be lots of crafts, lots of food, and lots of demonstrators,” Fisher said. “There will even be a fully operating old time saw mill.”

Shirley Baldwin, president of the Perry Area Heritage Society, agreed. “There is so much to do. The gristmill will be open both days. The kids will have their own area and the Boy Scouts will be camping out and making chili,” Baldwin said.

She said there will be a potter there, which is new for this event. There will be homemade bread and apple butter for tasting, a blacksmith for watching, and “more craft and food vendors than ever before.

Sunday from 8 a.m. to noon there will be a pancake breakfast in the Sampey Park pavilion. Another full day of activities follow. There is a small admission fee.

“I really want to thank my committees, all of them, for the wonderful things they’ve done to make this happen,” concluded Baldwin.

“Everyone really works to make this event special.” Coldren agreed. “It takes quite a number of people to make an event like this possible.”