They call it the “Good Old Days” when our grandparents lived off the farm, and what they could not grow or make they did without. When I look at how they lived and hear their stories of times past, it makes me thankful of the age we now live in.
The Panhandle Pioneer Settlement has demonstrations throughout the year on how things were done in the past such as hog butchering, butter making, blacksmithing, candle making, basket weaving, quilting and more.
Hog Butchering
Learn how pioneers seasoned, smoked and prepared their food for survival and more. 8:00 am to 1:00 pm, January 15, 2011. (For a fee they will be serving lunch)
I love to go to the Pioneer Settlement with my two nieces. They get a kick out of play acting which of course gives me lots of photo opportunities. The old “Shiloh School House” (early 1800 two room structure) got their imagination running wild.
She is a stern teacher so you had better watch your “P’s” and “Q’s” or you will be in trouble. I had a couple of teachers like that when I was growing up.
The wall was painted and used as a chalk board. The boys made sure there was plenty of wood to keep the heater going in the winter.
This is the reading room. These girls love to read.
Here is an old steam engine. I would hate to keep it fed. As you can see by the lady standing beside it, it is very large.
Can you imagine the hardship of taking a journey in this covered wagon? It would be cold in the winter and hot in the summer. I’m sure the camp fires at night kept families close together. I’m glad we have the comforts of cars to travel in these days.
I think this is an old grinder. Can anyone tell me what kind?
The blacksmith shop is very interesting with all the things you can do with a piece of hot iron, hammer, and an anvil. The iron has to reach a temperature of 2300 degrees to be able to bend it into a horseshoe.
My neice would love to try her hand at making a horseshoe. The Settlement will be giving blacksmith classes in September and December. They will be shaping heated iron and steel with hand tools such as hammers, tongs, and chisels on an anvil. A date has not been set.
The cobbler shop is where people had their shoes repaired or remade because most could not afford new shoes. It usually included a small general store.
Bailey’s log Cabin was built around 1860. It is a 375 square foot round log building with deep front and back porches and roof over side steps.
