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Prairie Days
kicks off to a full day of activities
By Bob Robinson
GREENVILLE – Darke County Parks’ annual Prairie Days kicked off Sept.
28 to sunshine, a slight breeze and the promise of warm weather for the
Saturday portion of the weekend event.
Promptly at 10 a.m. the 15-star flag was raised, GHS Wavaires Casey
Mortensen and Brooke Netzley sang the National Anthem and four pioneers
from the 1800’s fired rounds into the blue sky. Fifteen minutes later,
visitors were treated to an old-fashioned ribbon cutting at the just
completed Blacksmith Shop.
Visitors numbered in the hundreds early but Darke County Parks Director
Roger Van Frank predicted thousands by the end of the day.
“For those of you snickering, ask me about it at 5 o’clock,” he added.
Demonstrations and activities were in full swing, especially at the
kids’ tent. Phill Hollinger was stumping child and adult alike with his
games and challenges. Kids were making hats, twisting rope and more. Up
the trail at the encampments, pioneers were preparing meals for the day
and kids were helping to make maple syrup, apple butter and cider.
The Blacksmith Shop was a popular stopping point as Collin Jennings and
Ron Gross demonstrated the art of iron work. A short distance away, the
log cabin was alive with activity while the Civic Center was presenting
its melodrama on the stage behind. On the other side of the trail
school would shortly be in session while pie baking contestants found
out who had the best pies.
Capping the day would be a True Lies performance by Chris Supinger.
Van Frank said he was happier than a “pig in slop” as he talked about
firing up the Blacksmith forge the previous day at 2 p.m… and it worked!
“I just can’t thank all of you enough,” he said at the ribbon cutting.
Later he noted over 4,000 hours of volunteer labor were required to
finish the shop.
“It was just a pipe dream two years ago,” he said. “Then someone said
we needed a blacksmith shop. I knew what I needed,” Van Frank added. “I
needed my head examined.”
Darke County Parks Volunteer Coordinator Laura Schwieterman said there
were 275 volunteers involved in the two-day event. Naturalist Erica
Wentworth was the crafts coordinator. Van Frank noted it was a huge
coordinated effort to put Prairie Days together.
One visitor asked about the Log House… when was it built?
Van Frank said it took three years to build it; from 2003 to 2006.
A popular spot for those who misbehave was the community stockade
halfway between the shops and the encampments. Gideon Miller had just
finished “serving his time” and was released for good behavior. Was he
interested in serving some real time in a real stockade some day?
“Uh uh,” he said emphatically as he hung onto mommy.
Watch for a complete photo set coming soon at the CNO Community Events
Photo Gallery
Published courtesy
of The Early Bird
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