Harrison County Parks and Recreation began its second session of the 2016-17 Enrichment Schedule as Life in Appalachia opened up on November 28.  With a full schedule, the program, which lasts until December 22, teaches kids in the area what life was like before the days of cell phones, iPads and video games. For Director Mike Book, it brings a lot of childhood memories of stories passed down to him.

 

“This is one of my favorite enrichments we do because it allows me to pass down some of the stories told to me by my parents and grandparents when I was the age of kids that visit the facility during scheduled field days,” said Book. “The impression it left on me on how the times in the early 1900s were simpler however the work was a lot harder and entertainment was left to the imagination.”

 

And while the daily enrichment program is reserved for classes to attend during the week, we are offering the public to come and take a first-hand glimpse as to what we offer during the program.  The free Family Weekend is scheduled for Saturday, December 10 and Sunday, December 11 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

“We always try to schedule a day where the family members can actually see what the kids tell them after their visit to the Recreation Complex,” said Book. “We have two days of fun activities for the family to participate in as well as story-telling, arts and crafts and even entertainment.”

 

Some of the entertainment includes a group of musicians that play instruments like the dulcimer while we have a dancing group of cloggers that will perform a routine similar to the early dances of the 1900s. And, of course, the event is free of charge to the public.

 

“We had a successful weekend with our Medieval Times program as over 250 people attended the event and we hope to eclipse that number. I hope that parents and grandparents will come and see our rendition of what life was in that era and to compare stories that were passed down to them as well,” added Book. 

 

During the Appalachia period, families did not live in the city and work options were few. Farmers and coal miners were two primary jobs and the labor was intense. Mining during that era would never meet the safety requirements posted today and farming did not have the luxury of gas powered vehicles to plow the land or to collect hay or other crops.

 

“The kids we teach today really have no clue as to the work involved in the 1900s.  Cattle and horses were the engines to help with the work on the land or in the mines. There would be families coming together to help shuck corn, chop wood or shovel coal. Manual labor was very hard on the families,” said Book.

 

Again, the event is the weekend of December 10 and 11 and admission is free of charge. The Harrison County Recreation Complex is located on route 19 south approximately ¼ mile past Rosebud Plaza in Clarksburg. For more information, please contact HCPR at 304-423-7800.