Published: October 06, 2008 09:57 am            

Heritage Fest offers window to the past

By TESA CULLI

tesa.culli@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — As young and old toured the grounds of the Jefferson County Historical Village this weekend, they were able to take a brief glimpse into the past as artisans demonstrated their skills such as weaving, blacksmithing and broom making during the annual Heritage Festival.

“This is our main event at the village,” festival coordinator Linda Duncan said. “We have about 20 artisans and craftspeople that come out to not only sell but demonstrate during the two days.”

Putting the festival together is a group effort taken on by the Jefferson County Historical Society, and Duncan said the volunteers begin making plans up to six months prior to the event.

“We have our crafters contacted by July and they have until August to let us know,” Duncan said. “One thing we do know, is that we need more volunteers.”

Duncan said as the members of the historical society get older, many are unable to put in the volunteer hours they have in the past.

“We really need younger blood, people who will continue the work here at the village in the years to come,” Duncan said. “None of the work is hard, but we need new ideas.”

The Jefferson County Historical Society will move from the Heritage Festival into a “major membership drive” and then will begin to work on a comprehensive plan for the village and museum.

        

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