LSUS center to stage Pioneer Day Oct. 12 09/30/02

Have you ever seen a Master Blacksmith work his craft, or a stone arrowhead being made? What about the fashions of the Victorian period?

All this, along with quilters, storytellers, living historians and much more can be seen at the LSUS Pioneer Heritage Center’s Sixth Annual Pioneer Day Saturday, Oct. 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

The Pioneer Heritage Center is not “history under glass.” It’s six plantation structures provide insight into the intimate home life of the settlers and the natural environment in which they struggled to survive. The center interprets the unique culture and social history of Northwest Louisiana from the 1830s to the end of the 19th Century.

The center’s structures include Thrasher House, a log dogtrot, and Caspiana House, the main house from Caspiana Plantation. Both houses are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Other structures are a detached kitchen, a log single-pen blacksmith shop, a doctor’s office and a commissary. A seventh structure, a small period church acquired by the center last spring, will be ready for visitors soon.

The center is located on the northeast corner of the LSUS campus on Youree Drive south of Bert Kouns Industrial Loop. For more information contact Marty Young, the center’s assistant director, at 318-797-5339.

Demonstrators and Living Historians

Ark-La-Tex Gem & Mineral Society (Chipalottas)
Demonstrate ancient and modern Flint arrowhead and stone knife making

Jan Pettiet (Yesterday’s Lady)
Costumed interpreter, display and presentation of historical clothing

Glen Pettiet (Living Historian in character of Jubal Pearson)
Demonstrate pioneering skills with full campsite set-up; 1840s Texas Ranger

Michael L. Baker (Master Farrier/Blacksmith)
General blacksmithing

The Redshanks (Scottish Group)
Historical Scottish camp set-up; Scottish music - bagpipes, fiddle, singing; Scottish livestock

Bill Atteridge ( Civil & Korean War Naval Museum)
Display of hand-made model ships

North Louisiana Woodcarvers Association
General woodcarving skills

West’s Battery
1860s artillery drill demonstration with cannon fired every hour

Martha Anderson
Storyteller

Gail Fleetwood
Soap making