DONIPHAN — The “good old days” are just around the corner, that is, the corner of 200 Franklin Street in Doniphan. That’s the location of the Pioneer Heritage Homestead, which will be the site of the fourth annual Heritage Days celebration in Doniphan, Sept. 23-24.
Julie Braschler, Current River Heritage Museum curator and tourism director, has put together a program of activities which she hopes will intrigue and inspire.
“I hope some of the things we are doing this year will be so interesting, people will want to come back and experience them again and again,” she says.
Friday’s activities will start with a performance by the Doniphan High School Band and Choir.
Throughout the day on Friday, many local artisans will be at the site to teach and answer questions.
Most of the demonstrations are taking place during school hours, so that students can visit the site and get a better sense of what life was like when their grandparents and/or greatgrandparents were youngsters.
The Daughters of the American Revolution teach students about secret code messaging, quill writing and using sealing wax, and then let them learn by doing.
Through hands-on demonstrations students will learn how the earliest settlers made their own candles, ropes, and corn husk dolls and how honey is harvested.
Cathy Wyatt will demonstrate how lye soap was made and used for laundry, and “Arrowhead Fred,” a very gifted flintmapper, will show how stones were chiseled into crude arrowheads, used for hunting and sometimes self defense.
In addition, traditional blacksmithing will be demonstrated, and Sherman Redus will transform his truck into a makeshift sawmill, using a strap and a blade.
The US forest service will send a representative to educate as to how railroad ties were split.
Richie Dement and his mini mule, Pedro, will be available throughout the day and into the evening, delighting audiences with his antics.
A community barn dance will kick off the evening’s festivities at 5:30 p.m., featuring live music by Borderline.
Brenda and Don Yarbro will perform a waltz and give a line dancing lesson.
“Jack and Heather Jones have graciously agreed to build our dance floor and provide lighting for the barn dance. We appreciate that so much,” says Braschler.
“We would like for those attending the barn dance to come dressed in period clothing, if possible. We are hoping to have a contest for the best-dressed couple,” she adds.
Braschler will share her thoughts on 19th century school days in the Plunk Community, and Pat Johnson of the Eddie Mae Herron Center/Museum in Pocahontas, Ark., will speak about segregation in the school systems, and how such practices impacted both the black and white communities.
The Doniphan FFA will bring livestock, and students will have the opportunity to visit the barn and pet the animals. They will also learn about how paddleboats are operated.
Quilting will be demonstrated by the local LOLLOL (little old ladies laughing out loud) group. There will also be presentations by the Riverside Art Guild and Jack (Skip) Johnson, marshal artist.
Demonstrations will continue on Saturday, beginning at 9:30 a.m., with pioneer music.
Butter churning, early American woodworking and all aspects of gigmaking will be explained and explored.
Kathleen Boswell, with the Missouri Humanities, will present “Sincerely yours, Laura Ingalls Wilder,” at 11 a.m.
While these things are taking place, the Ripley County Ministerial Alliance will build a brush arbor, and there will be an old-fashioned nondenominational worship service at 12:30 p.m. The Gideons organization will provide Bibles for the service.
“We are really excited about this addition to Heritage Days. This is a very important local tradition because many of the churches in existence today owe their beginning to an old-fashioned brush arbor,” says Braschler.
Braschler credits local sponsors for making Heritage Days possible.
“We want to thank Countryside Chevrolet for providing funding for the mule wagon rides throughout both days,” says Braschler. The wagon rides are provided by the Stroop family.
Other sponsors include United Country American Realty, Matt Michel, who is a write-in candidate for the November election for Ripley County Prosecutor, D&D Tire, Al Harper of Railroad Square Properties, St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, Three Rivers Advisory Board, Missouri Humanities, and the Ripley County Historical Society.