Wirt County Pioneer Days celebrates America’s 250th with Abraham Lincoln, live music and a Civil War weekend
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ELIZABETH - The 23rd annual Wirt County Pioneer Days will honor America’s 250th anniversary Saturday at Courthouse Square in Elizabeth Saturday, plus a Civil War encampment and battle reenactment Sunday.
Hosted by the Elizabeth Beauchamp Chapter of the Daughters of American Pioneers, the weekend brings together history, music, crafts, food and family fun with festivities from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
The event opens with the Riding in Faith & Friends Horse Show Ministry, the national anthem sung by Erika Lockhart and a prayer by Lester Morgan. The opening program will also recognize eighth-grader Sophia Riley and fifth-grader Charlotte Theys, the winners of the Wirt County Middle School essay contest, with the theme “Founding Fathers of America.”
At 9:15 a.m., in honor of America’s semi-quincentennial, historical re-enactor Carl Swick of Philippi will take the stage as Abraham Lincoln, joined by his wife, Linda Swick, as Mary Todd Lincoln.
"Swick has portrayed Lincoln at events across the state for four years, won a lookalike contest in Lincoln’s birthplace of Hodgenville, Kentucky, and has attended the annual conference of the Association of Lincoln Presenters," according to a press release from the festival organizers. "Visitors can ask questions, take photos and hear stories from the President and First Lady."
Live music will be offered throughout the day on Saturday with performances scheduled on the WesBanco Lot Stage by Rustic Ridge at 10 a.m., Junction 144 at 11 a.m., Neon Moon at noon and Track 9 at 3 p.m.
People are encouraged to visit the Beauchamp-Newman Museum at 29 Beauchamp Drive in Elizabeth.
"If you haven’t been inside the Beauchamp-Newman Museum in a while, Pioneer Day is the perfect time to come back," the release said.
The museum is housed in the “Old Red Brick,” built around 1835 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It will be open for tours from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
"The Daughters of American Pioneers have spent recent years preserving the building and adding to its collections," the release said. "Among the newest exhibits is a World War II display featuring a hand-sewn Blue Star Service Banner donated by Reberta Hall and her family.
"The banner honors Will and Byrd Hall of Wirt County, whose four sons all served in the war."
Across the street, the Little Kanawha Hotel was built around 1800 by Manlove Beauchamp and is the oldest building still standing in Elizabeth. It will host “Ghosts in the Old Hotel” tours at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., with a musical presentation by Zach Butler at 11:30 a.m. Tickets are free at the door, and each tour is limited to 20 people.
Artisans will demonstrate blacksmithing, pottery, crochet, broom weaving, wool weaving and bagpipes, and there will be a fur display and antique engines throughout the festival. Cub Scout Pack 30 will be stirring apple butter. The Porchfluff Sutlery will host its Civil War Ladies Tea on the museum lawn.
Smokey Bear from the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources Forestry Division will be walking the grounds, and the Forestry Division will also have a working sawmill on display. The Glenville State University Pioneer mascot, Adalynn Cottrill, and Joe “Huckleberry” Lott of the TV show “Mountain Monsters” will also be there.
The Quilt Show runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the courthouse hallway. Quilts can be registered from 4-7 p.m. Friday, and ribbons will be awarded.
The Car Show runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Wirt County High School parking lot. Registration opens at 9 a.m., and trophies will be awarded.
Children can enjoy the bounce house and games on the museum lawn. The pumpkin, rock-painting and coloring page contests take registrations at 10 a.m. Judging is at noon, and prize money will be awarded. The Dow Ras Farms Petting Zoo will be in the Roberts lot from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Rocky Point Carriage Rides will circle the town streets.
More than 60 local crafters, bakers, food vendors and community groups will line the square all day, offering handmade pottery, woodwork, crochet, honey, baked goods and more.
"It’s a great chance to shop locally, support Wirt County craftsmen and pick up one-of-a-kind gifts ahead of the holidays," the press release said.
A full vendor list is available at wirtpioneers.com/schedule-&-vendor-list.
At 2 p.m. Saturday, Union and Confederate troops will stage a skirmish in the Roberts lot as a preview of Sunday’s re-enactment battle.
The 50/50 raffle drawing follows at 2:45 p.m. Tickets are $1 each or six for $5 at the courthouse photo booth, and proceeds support the Beauchamp-Newman Museum.
On Sunday, the action moves to the Route 5 field just past the intersection of West Virginia 5 and 14. Camps open at 9 a.m. so visitors can meet the Union and Confederate soldiers and see their uniforms, equipment, cannons and cavalry up close.
The battle begins at 2 p.m. Parking is plentiful, and people are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.
For the full schedule of events for the festival, people can visit wirtpioneers.com or follow Wirt County Pioneer Day on Facebook.