Spirits high at Days of the Pioneer festival
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Josh Richardson is a Civil War-era soldier. — Crystal Huskey
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Chris Long makes pioneer-era clothing by hand — Crystal Huskey
According to Museum of Appalachia office manager Jan Marshall, attendance was slightly down at this year’s Days of the Pioneer festival, but spirits were high.
“It was a very good one,” she said. “Lots of people were happy.”
She attributes Hurricane Florence as one of the factors in the lower attendance. Still, those that came really enjoyed it, according to Marshall.
“It was plenty warm!” she added.
Luckily, there was plenty of ice cream on hand to combat that problem.
The high temperature reached 93 degrees by 2 p.m., leaving the last three hours nearly unbearable in the sun. The booths were all shaded, but around a dozen period-actors wandered the fields with multiple layers on, including chemises, thick socks, petticoats for the women and wool blazers for the men.
“We started doing this just for education’s sake,” said guest Allyn Richardson, dressed to the hilt in Civil-war era clothing. “But now we do it for fun, too.”
She travels with her husband, Josh, who dresses as a Civil War-era soldier.
The event is the brainchild of Virginia-based Jill Peterson, and this year was the seventh year she — and a team of close to 300 — has put it on.
“I was very concerned about the weather,” she said, thinking it could possibly be rained out. Instead, the heat may have been a factor for some in making it an early day.
“Normally, they stay until the bitter end!” she laughed. “But I talked to all my vendors Saturday night and I was thrilled. A lot of them said they had the best show they’ve ever had. I personally had the best show I ever had!”
Most of the guests are out-of-towners, she said, and many are experienced collectors. Primitives, which include American items from the 1600s-1800s, were the only types of antiques on sale.
“Primitives are a growing niche,” said Peterson.
She has been collecting antiques since was 16, and, now in her 50s, is just as passionate about them as she ever was. “But I’m just a tiny part of a huge bunch of people that makes this the successful event that it is,” she said.