Rocky Mount will present its “Spirit of the Harvest” event Saturday, Oct. 18, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“Spirit of the Harvest” is Rocky Mount’s annual event celebrating the harvest season of the Cobb Family and the other early settlers of Tennessee. In addition to Living History tours of the Cobb home, there will be a number of demonstrations and craft classes related to the fall season and storytelling and music.
Demonstrations include hearthside cooking, apple butter making, and apple cider pressing. Historic salt-making demonstrations by Jim Bordwine of Saltville, VA will be featured this year. Jim Bordwine has been demonstrating traditional saltmaking for over 10 years. The European settlers first came to the Saltville area around 1750 and started the salt industry soon after discovering the huge body of salt under their feet. Before refrigeration, salt was of the utmost importance for the preservation of food.
During the Civil War Saltville was producing salt for all the Southern States. In 1864 alone they sold one hundred million dollars’ worth of salt, even with two battles fought in the valley that year. Salt is still being produced in Saltville today.
Admission is $5 per person age five and up; members of the Rocky Mount Historical Association get free admission.
Craft classes of cornshuck dolls and candle dipping will be offered for an additional $2 per craft.
In addition to the crafts and demonstrations, members of the Jonesborough Storytellers Guild will tell historic and family friendly stories. Students of the Appalachian Music Teachers Association will perform old-time music from 1:30 to 3 p.m.
Rocky Mount Museum is a “living history” museum, which uses first-person interpretation to portray people living in 1791. Rocky Mount is open for tours Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. Living History tours and the facility are available by reservation at any time, including Sundays and Mondays for school and other groups, with advance reservations. For more information, call 538-7396 or visit our website at www.rockymountmuseum.com.