Attendees crowded in front of the Wirt County Courthouse for the annual Pioneer Day Festival on Saturday afternoon. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

ELIZABETH — The Wirt County Pioneer Day festival returned this weekend, bringing history to life in downtown Elizabeth with live demonstrations, horse-drawn carriages and traditional crafts honoring settlers.

Hosted by the Elizabeth Beauchamp Chapter of the Daughters of American Pioneers, the event celebrated its 22nd year and the organization’s 75th anniversary with exhibits highlighting the skills and stories that shaped frontier life in West Virginia.

“This started back in 2003,” chapter Regent Carole Menefee said. “We began it in conjunction with the historical society, but when they dropped out the following year, we just kept going. We’ve been doing it ever since.”

Pioneer Day is meant to be both fun and educational, Menefee said.

“I hope that people enjoy themselves, that’s the most important thing,” she said. “But I also hope they learn some of the old skills, like blacksmithing, things that could get lost if we don’t pass them on to future generations.”

Emberly Kerby feeds pigs from Dowras Farms at the Wirt County Pioneer Day Festival. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

Inside the Wirt County Museum, visitors viewed family heirlooms, textiles, tools and photographs that tell the story of the region’s earliest residents. Linda Sams and Gloria Batten, trustees of the museum, said the day helps bring attention to the importance of preservation.

“It’s the only thing we do like this, besides the Fireman’s Parade once a year,” Sams said. “People come through the museum and read the tags and say, ‘That was my third great-grandparents,’ or, ‘That was donated by my family.’ It’s so cool to see those connections.”

Batten said the museum itself has deep roots in the community.

“The museum is owned by the Daughters of American Pioneers,” she said. “The original group was founded in the late 1800s by a man who believed women should take care of history. There used to be chapters all across the United States, now there are only two left, ours here in Wirt County and one in Wood County with the Henry Logan Museum.”

This year’s celebration also recognized the chapter’s 75th anniversary. Members reflected on the organization’s long history of stewardship.

From left, Raymond Kelley and Amy Knicely work on clay projects during the Wirt County Pioneer Day Festival. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

“This lady’s grandfather-in-law actually helped the Daughters of American Pioneers acquire the property that became this museum,” Batten said with pride.”It’s part of our legacy and a reminder of how much local families have done to preserve this history.”

Menefee said that legacy remains at the heart of the Pioneer Day mission.

“This is about preservation,” she said. “It’s about keeping our traditions alive and making sure the next generation knows where we came from.”

Gwen Sour can be reached at gsour@newsandsentinel.com.

Rob Pitts, a blacksmith, forges a hinge Saturday at the Wirt County Pioneer Day Festival. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

The River Valley Dulcimer Club performed Saturday afternoon at the Wirt County Pioneer Day Festival. (Photo by Gwen Sour)