Laura Dean Bennett
Staff Writer
For many years, residents and visitors alike have looked forward to the first weekend of October when a little old-fashioned festival – Huntersville Traditions Days – welcomes everyone to step back in time.
The little village of Huntersville will hearken back to its glory days when, even before we became West Virginia, it was the first county seat of Pocahontas County.
Huntersville Historical Traditions is a non-profit organization formed to preserve, restore, educate and promote the awareness of the history of Huntersville.
Huntersville Traditions Days is their way of offering the public a chance to see the results of the organization’s work while enjoying a unique, old- fashioned fair.
Through the tireless efforts of HHT president Tim Wade and the Huntersville Historical Traditions team of volunteers, several historical sites in Huntersville have been restored and opened to the public.
Twice a year, Pocahontas County students are hosted by HHT at the historical sites during field trips which give them the opportunity to learn about the rich history of the county.
And once a year, the team brings several hundred visitors to Huntersville to enjoy a taste of what life was like in the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries on the frontier of Western Virginia.
This year, Huntersville Traditions Days will be held Friday, October 4, and Saturday, October 5.
On Friday night, 4 to 6 p.m., a pork loin supper with all the fixins – catered by Rayetta’s Lunchbox – will be served at the old Huntersville schoolhouse on Schoolhouse Lane.
There is no charge for the meal, although donations will be gratefully accepted.
Following supper, the festivities continue with an old-fashioned cakewalk and pie auction (with cakes and pies donated by some of the county’s best-known bakers), with music performed by the Bing Brothers and Jake Krack from 7 to 9 p.m.
The evening will conclude with a Ghost Walk tour of Huntersville’s historic sites, leaving from the schoolhouse at 9:15 p.m.
On Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., there will be demonstrations of old-time crafts and skills such as blacksmithing, apple cider making, broom making, a quilt show, pumpkin carving and more.
Throughout the day there will be guided tours of the schoolhouse, the old jail, the restored clerk’s office and the historical museum.
The Order of the Confederate Rose will conduct a memorial ceremony at the Civil War cemetery.
Renowned white oak basket weaver and heritage apple expert Clyde Jenkins will be happy to talk about the history of our heritage apples and identify any apples you bring to him.
In the schoolhouse, Joyce Mullens portrays the “school marm” and shares stories of the good ol’ days.
In the old jail (Pocahontas County’s first jailhouse) and the Huntersville Historical Traditions Museum, guests will be entertained with stories from history by knowledgeable volunteers.
There’s no need to worry about how to get around to all the historical sites, or back and forth from the parking area.
Visitors will enjoy riding in old-fashioned style in both a horse drawn wagon and a wagon pulled by a tractor, which will carry them from the parking area to all the festival locations and back again throughout the day.
Guests may partake of homemade “vittles” including beans cooked over an open fire served with fresh cornbread, pork sandwiches, coffee and, of course, lots of homemade apple cider.
Old-time mountain music will be performed all day by local bands including Mud Hole Control, The Viney Mountain Boys, the Hefner family and the Stony Mountain Bluegrass band.
The Appalachia Cloggers and their famous caller, Lou Maiuri, will be joined by Juanita Fireball and the Continental Drifters, who will provide music for the dancers.
Pocahontas County has long been known for its salt risen bread and some of the best cornbread to be found this side, or maybe, any side of the Allegheny Mountains.
Here’s a chance for local bakers to prove themselves.
The public is invited to take part in the Huntersville Traditions Days bread contests.
There’s a salt risen bread contest and a cornbread contest, each offering a $100 first prize and a $75 second prize. For further information about bread contest rules and how to enter, contact Jean McClure at 304-799-4486.
There is no charge to attend events on Friday evening or Saturday.
“We just want everyone to come and enjoy themselves here among the historic sites of Huntersville,” Tim Wade explained.
“It’s a lot of work, but we look forward to doing it. It’s a real labor of love.”
“We really appreciate the friendship of the people of Pocahontas County and the visitors who come to Huntersville Traditions Days every year.
“We couldn’t do this without their support,” he added.
The festival is held on the grounds of the old Huntersville School on Schoolhouse Lane in Huntersville and on several sites in the surrounding area.
Look for this writer. I’ll be there on Friday evening and all-day Saturday.
As a proud member of Huntersville Historical Traditions, I’ll be wearing period dress, enjoying time with old friends and making new friends, too.
