Sunday, September 20, 2015

Saturday morning fun for young and older


We had a great turn-out on a perfect fall Saturday morning for the Lucas County Historical Society's annual Harvest Festival --- so thanks to everyone who helped to make that possible on what has to be September's busiest weekend around here.

The annual flight breakfast at the Chariton Airport started at 8 a.m. and I think we benefited from that, since many families stopped at the museum after spending time out there. Several of our exhibitors and organizers also are involved in the vintage tractor club, so some of them missed that organization's fall ride to the Clarke County line and back in order to help out. And it was a big day in Russell, too --- fall festival events and a barbecue competition.

If you're heading this way today, the Sacred Heart Fall Festival begins with a bake sale at 10:30 a.m. followed by dinner from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and an auction thereafter --- all in the Parish Hall. Then, Chariton Valley Players will present a matinee performance of "Arsenic and Old Lace" at Johnson Auditorium at 2 p.m. and the annual Chariton Cemetery Heritage Tour starts at 4 p.m. Plenty to do! 

Terry Sue Cox (top) specializes in flower pot people --- and she had plenty of creative help Saturday morning at the museum.


Mary Jo Fisher's face-painting operation in Otterbein Church proved to be the most popular attraction for kids. She began painting faces at 10 a.m. and painted without a break until well after noon, when the festival officially closed. 


That's a lot of faces!


Danielle Van Ryswyk, who headed out after the festival to join the tractor ride, was back on the Stephens House south lawn with a calf and a pony --- I know of some kids who really wanted to take that pony home.


Chariton Boy Scouts were on hand to demonstrate how rope is made.


We pulled a vintage corn-sheller out of the Swanson gallery to show youngsters how that once was done (those who wished to were given a carefully supervised opportunity to turn the handle and see how well they fared).


Jerry Book was situated on the front porch of the Blacksmith Shop, demonstrating how the venerable art of smithing worked.


His small-scale replica cannon was planted firmly nearby and at 11 a.m. and noon, he fired it off --- causing booms guaranteed to awaken anyone in the neighborhood who might still have been trying to nap.


Our seven museum buildings were open for tours and we served coffee cake and hot cider in the Pioneer Barn thoughout the morning, then after our guests had gone home served up pork loin sandwiches (thanks Kathleen), baked beans (thanks Kay) and a big assortment of salads and desserts to the volunteers who keep the Historical Society moving forward during the year. It was just a great day.

The museum will be open regular hours --- 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday --- through Oct. 3 --- then we'll cut back to off-season hours with the office open Tuesdays and tours by appointment only.

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