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Wirt County to celebrate Pioneer Day with crafts, demonstrations

Carlin’s Battery D files a cannon during last year’s Wirt County Pioneer Day in Elizabeth. (File Photo)

ELIZABETH — The 17th annual Wirt County Pioneer Day will be held Saturday in the courthouse square.

The Elizabeth Beauchamp Chapter Daughters of American Pioneers organizes the heritage event which will feature vendors, concessions, craft demonstrations, a Ladies Tea, Civil War re-enactments, music and other activities beginning at 9 a.m. and running through the day.

Crafters will demonstrate various heritage skills. Vendors will have homemade crafts and be serving lots of food. A Civil War street skirmish with cannons is part of the activities.

There will also be music, square dancing, children’s activities and the Pioneer Day quilt show. The Beauchamp-Newman Museum and Morgan-McClung House will be open for tours. Times for the Morgan-McClung House will be posted at the gate.

The Kanawha Hotel tours will not be held this year due to illness.

The Wirt County Courthouse Square in Elizabeth is the site of this year’s Wirt County Pioneer Day on Saturday. (File Photo)

A new addition to this year’s event will be horse and carriage rides by Rocky Point Farm from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Another new feature will be a Pumpkin Contest with a $15 prize to winners in each category per age division. The categories are Decorated Pumpkins and or Cut/Carved Pumpkins with a junior division (up to 18 years) and a senior division (ages 19 and older). Entries will be judged on overall appearance, originality and creativity. No artificial pumpkins and one entry per person.

The winner of the Pioneer Schools in 1800s essay contest will be crowned at 9 a.m. The winner is fifth-grade student Destiny Hupp. She will be awarded a $50 prize and will reign over the day’s activities.

For the Quilt Show, participants can enter six categories: machine quilted, hand quilted, antique, miscellaneous and hand or machine appliqued. Entries will be received in the courthouse lobby 9-9:30 a.m. Saturday.

After Pioneer Day is completed, the Wirt County Civil War encampment and battle re-enactment will continue on Sunday. The Civil War Camp will open at 9 a.m. Sunday and the battle will be at 2 p.m. at Viller’s Field on W.Va. 5 at Elizabeth.

Participating will be Carlin’s Artillery Battery D from Parkersburg and Wirt County’s local infantry units, 19th VA Calvary Co. A and 17th VA Calvary Co. F.

Visitors will be able to take a tour of the Morgan-McClung house, sharing the history behind Wirt County’s first doctor, on Saturday during Wirt County Pioneer Day. (File Photo)

Saturday’s schedule includes:

* 9 a.m.: Vendor booths and craft demonstrations open; Crowning of 2019 Wirt County Pioneer Day Princess; Bounce Houses and Carnival Games open; Civil War Campsite opens; Beauchamp-Newman Museum tour

* 10 a.m.: Farmers and Charmers Square Dancers; Children’s Games; Civil War Ladies Tea

* 10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Horse and Carriage Rides

* Noon: Live music

* 3 p.m.: Civil War Skirmish

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