Laura Dean Bennett
Staff Writer
In addition to restoring and maintaining the historic sites of Huntersville – Pocahontas County’s first settlement – Huntersville Historic Traditions continues its efforts to bring history to life for the younger generation by educating them about the way our ancestors survived and thrived in the western Virginia wilderness.
For many years, HHT has invited local middle school and high school students to take part in “Education Day,” twice year – usually on or around West Virginia Day in June and on the Thursday before Huntersville Traditions Days.
Last Thursday, the sophomores from Pocahontas County High School took a field trip to Huntersville to learn a little bit about the county’s history.
They spent the day visiting the historic sites of Huntersville – the newly restored “clerk’s office” (the last remaining portion of Pocahontas County’s first courthouse), the Huntersville jail (the first jail in Pocahontas County) where Jim Buzzard told some old jailhouse tales. They then went to the Civil War cemetery where several Confederate soldiers are buried.
They also toured the historical museum – recently re-named the Mary Jo Fisher Huntersville Historical Museum – in memory of long time HHT trustee and member, Mary Jo Fisher, who passed away last year and is sorely missed by all.
The students finally gathered at the old Huntersville Schoolhouse where several demonstrators portrayed life as it was lived in the 18th and 19th centuries here on the Virginia frontier.
Bob Sheets was there to tell them about Pocahontas County’s history. He brought several artifacts from the archaeological dig at Ft. Warwick, where the remains of the pre-Revolutionary War fort in Green Bank are being excavated.
Cynthia Gurreri demonstrated calligraphy and how quill writing pens were made.
Joe Rose talked about local Civil War history.
Kathy Henry was in the quilt room explaining quilting techniques and showing locally handmade quilts which are always on display during Huntersville Traditions Days.
Debbie Rapp demonstrated wool carding and taught the students how wool becomes fiber for knitting and weaving.
Brenda Harmon taught the students how she makes her handmade brooms the way our Appalachian ancestors have done for centuries.
Barbara Croft demonstrated the art of pumpkin carving and Beth Guzikowski, who is an expert in the fast-disappearing art of caning, which, at one time, was an essential part of furniture making on the frontier.
