‘Down Home Day’ set for April 22
Published 8:56 pm Thursday, April 20, 2023
Chris Turner shows young visitors of the Southampton Heritage Village and Agriculture & Forestry Museum how to pump water the old-fashioned way. People will have a variety of opportunities Saturday, April 22, to experience the old-fashioned way of doing things at the village and museum’s Down Home Day. (Photo submitted by Anne Wood Bryant)
The Down Home Day event on Saturday, April 22, will afford visitors of the Southampton Heritage Village and Agriculture & Forestry Museum a chance to see antique cars and trucks, like this old Crosley pickup truck. (Photo submitted by Anne Wood Bryant)
Travis Covington talks with Boy Scout 17 troop members about the art of blacksmithing. Visitors will be able to learn about blacksmithing and much more on Saturday, April 22, at the Southampton Heritage Village and Agriculture & Forestry Museum’s Down Home Day event. (Photo submitted by Anne Wood Bryant)
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The Southampton Heritage Village and Agriculture & Forestry Museum is featuring its annual family oriented “Down Home Day—Y’all Come!” event on Saturday, April 22, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. The museum is located at 26135 Heritage Lane in Courtland.
A village and museum news release noted that there are separate admission fees for adults and school-age children. Preschoolers are admitted for free.
The nearby Museum of Southampton History will also be open, as well as the Rebecca Vaughan House from noon-2 p.m.
Just like the good ol’ days “down home,” the fun activities planned for the day include something for all members of the family, offering a chance to enjoy life at a slower pace.
Special exhibits include a collection of old hand tools for hands-on activities.
Twenty-five model trains will be running on three levels.
Music will be performed by well-known local musicians Jimmy Ricks and his “Shiloh Grass” band, Kay Weaver and also Drew Dunn in the village’s little country church.
Kids are free to “milk” Mattie the plastic cow.
The 1920s sawmill will be active, sawing pine logs. While the restored grist mill is grinding meal during the day, several ladies will be frying cornbread — made with some of the freshly ground meal — for visitors to sample. Cornbread used to be an everyday staple. Now visitors can see how meal is made from corn.
The steam engine will run periodically and blow smoke rings.
Kids always enjoy the scavenger hunt that will be provided.
A very old, restored printing press will be working as well. Young visitors can make a “hands-on” bookmark bearing the museum’s logo.
A local blacksmithing guild will be exhibiting its skills in the blacksmith shop, along with broom making and flintknapping.
A petting zoo will feature gentle farm animals for visitors of all ages.
Antique cars and tractors will be on-site.
When visitors get hungry, hot dogs, snacks and soft drinks will be available for sale.
In addition to all the special activities, visitors are welcome to tour the Southampton Heritage Village and Agriculture & Forestry Museum and all of its outbuildings, including a country store, one-room school, country dwelling, doctor’s office, old post office, two outhouses, old kitchen, barbershop and little country church.
For more information, contact Lynda Updike at 757-654-6785 or at updikes@earthlink.net.
