How hard could it be?
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WHAT: Pioneer Days
WHERE: Historic Lyme Village on Rte. 4 between Rtes. 113 and 20
WHEN: 10 a.m. Sept. 6-7
COST: $5 for adults, $3 for children ages 6-12
INFO: 419-669-8693 or lymevillage.com
For all intents and purposes, Historic Lyme Village’s annual Pioneer Days event, which takes place Sept. 6 and 7 in Bellevue, is a craft show. However, these wares are from the 18th and 19th century, and their purposes are more functional than decorative.
“We’re having it because we want our village to come alive and for people to see these different crafters, to see what life was like and to experience what life was like,” said Historic Lyme Village Chairman Donna Warner. “The thing with our crafters – basket weaver, blacksmith, broom maker, quilter and spinner – is they will all be demonstrating their crafts and can answer questions about their trades.
“In the past we’ve had some people who said they didn’t realize how much hard work there was in living in the past and how many things you had to make yourself. Whether it’s the games you play or everything you do, you have to make it.”
Perhaps the centerpiece of Pioneer Days are the Seneca Muzzleloaders, who offer visitors a glimpse into pre-1840 camp life, and the revolutionary war militia drilling Colonel Crawford Company from Bucyrus. The latter group will be playing Indian double ball, as well as showing off candle-dipping and hammer-dulcimer music within their camp.
During the event, people will be able to tour the John Wright Mansion (each tour is $2 per adult with children 12 and under free when accompanied by an adult). Those tours are conducted by the Victorian Guild.
They will also be able to get something to eat with the Carriage House Cafe’s specialties, Rick’s Homemade Ice Cream, and The Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War’s fried bread. Also, Beeker’s General Store from Pemberville will be taking over the general store, where they’ll offer nostalgic gifts and candies.
“We’ll also have a kids hands-on activities tent where they will be doing some tin-tapping and some quill pen writing,” Warner said. “We’ll get out the checkers made up of cut up corn cobs. And we have frontier logs where the kids can build cabins with them. We’ll have the kids working with the old washboard and wooden ringer wash machine from the Civil War camp. And they enjoy seeing Abraham Lincoln. He’ll be here and so will Stonewall Jackson.”
Considering that the mission of Historic Lyme Village is to preserve the lifestyle of early 19th century Northwestern Ohio, Warner said the Pioneer Days event is something special.
“What we notice is there are a lot of parents and grandparents that bring their children out and show them what life was like for the (ancestors),” Warner said.
“So they get an appreciation what it was like to live in the 1700s and 1800s.”
She added, “It’s just neat to see families out here. It’s kind of refreshing.”