By Wayne Towner
Special to The Times
BELPRE - The Belpre Historical Society will hold its fourth annual Heritage Day at the Museum from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 16 at the Farmers' Castle Museum Education Center at 509 Ridge St.
Admission is by donation.
The one-day event began four years ago as a way for the organization to bring people into the Farmers' Castle Museum Education Center after local schools started a new year.
"We just thought it was something we could do as an activity in the autumn," said society president Nancy Sams.
The organization's other activities include its annual dinner and Tartan Day in the spring and participation in the yearly Belpre Woman's Club Tour of Homes around the Christmas season.
Heritage Day will focus on teaching people about the heritage of the Mid-Ohio Valley.
"We want to use the day as a way of remembering our heritage in a special way," Sams said.
The day will begin with a flag raising ceremony by the Sons of Union Veterans Fearing Camp and the Belpre American Legion Post 495, remarks from Belpre Mayor Mike Lorentz and a welcome from the historical society.
The event will feature demonstrations and exhibits including beekeeping and honey products, chair caining, blacksmithing, tinsmithing, candle making, yarn spinning, weaving and quilting and Appalachian culture. Local historian and author Henry Burke will discuss the Underground Railroad in Southeastern Ohio.
Along with all of the demonstrations and crafters, light refreshments will also be available.
Sams said some additions to this year's Heritage Day will be the Pioneer Antique Tractor and Power Association, storytellers from Belpre Farmers Library and staff from the Campus Martius Museum in Marietta with hands-on activities. The Ohio and Little Kanawha Railroad History Group may also be participating, she said.
- For information or variety of membership options, call (740) 423-7588 or (740) 423-7382.
