Prairie Days…
The Pioneers
who Tamed Darke County
By Bob Robinson
“You’re not going to take a picture to send to China so they can copy
and sell it here in Ohio, are you?”
“Well, uh, no… but I do intend to put it on the Internet.”
He grinned and said, “that’s okay… I was just fooling with you.” He
held the carving up close so I could get a shot.
“Does that happen a lot?”
He shrugged his shoulders, then said that once in the past a photo was
taken of one of his carvings… it appeared on the market months later, a
plastic mold replica that sold for $10.
His canes, all hand carved with various woods and insets of copper or
other metals, can’t compete. They range from $20 to as much as $60 or
$70, depending on the wood and the amount and type of metal used in the
cane. The carvings ranged from simple to intricate designs.
Watching him work was interesting, as was seeing some of the other
artists and craftsmen at the recent Prairie Days at Shawnee Prairie.
Darke County – past and present – is a fascinating adventure for
visitor and transplant alike… even a native if he or she is open to it.
While many communities in rural Ohio offer festivals, and most
celebrate American heritage with parades and other forms of
recognition, few can compare with the variety and number of events that
can be found right here at home.
A couple weeks ago, the key unlocking the weekend padlock attached to
my ankle and computer magically appeared and I took the opportunity to
go to Prairie Days. I’d finished grading papers and, needless to say,
had no teaching assignments. It was a Saturday.
The visitor parking area was full, so I was directed to the “overflow”
lot. It was approaching capacity as well. I parked and looked at the
line of people across the highway waiting for a GTS Bus… I didn’t think
it was too tough a walk from the Triangle to the park, so I decided to
hoof it.
Not too smart. I was tired before I finally got there… but it was worth
the effort.
Teen Scribe Naiesha Thobe has already written an excellent overview of
Prairie Days (link below), so I won’t bore you with the same details. I
simply enjoyed walking around, talking to friends and acquaintances and
snapping pictures of people and activities that caught my eye.
One of my favorites was the young mother who tried to talk her daughter
into spending a few minutes in the stockade used to punish evil doers
in the 18th century. She declined, so Mom showed her how it was done…
The lady’s expression was priceless. I’m afraid she didn’t do a good
job of convincing her daughter to give it a try.
I ran into Roger Van Frank, Jim Buchy and a few others enjoying the
event… some were part of the festivities, some were visiting. A local
Greenville city official who often tells me he can’t figure out who he
is any more was portraying an early pioneer in a small encampment near
the spot where apple butter and candles were being made.
He has portrayed many historical figures over the years… then switches
to his city role between events. I’ve told him he could be “me” if he
wished… he declined. Can’t understand why.
I saw a number of local high school students volunteering to help with
the various activities from apple butter “cooking” to hat making. There
were also younger students helping out in various places, including the
park’s pioneer house. The GHS Key Club had volunteers at the annual
event. Those working this year included Rebecca Braun, Anna Braun,
Alexis Minnich, Scott Wirrig and Natasha Swank.
Be sure to check out Naiesha’s article and photos… and if you didn’t
make it this year, you should put it on your calendar for next year. We
are all recipients of the efforts of pioneers who tamed Darke County
more than two centuries ago… you might enjoy finding out some of the
ways in which they did it.
To read Welcome to the Prairie, By Naiesha Thobe, Teen Scribe, click here
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