SHREVEPORT -- When Marty Young lights his blacksmith forge, he hopes the dancing flames can fire up the imagination of a passerby or event attendee.
Young, the director of the LSUS Pioneer Heritage Center, is one of about 70 living historians and volunteers who participate in the annual Pioneer Day.
This year’s 27th event will take place Oct. 12 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Pioneer Heritage Center, which consists of seven historic structures from the 19th century. Students of any age can attend for free with adult tickets costing $5.
At 52, Young is one of the youngest living historians participating.
Aside from providing a realistic step back in time for event goers, Young aims to influence the next generation of living historians who would want to pass on time-honored traditions.
“One of our main goals with this event is for all the different types of folklife groups to recruit new members,” Young said. “We want to expose people to the Pioneer Heritage Center, but we also want people, especially young people, to spark an interest in one of these activities being demonstrated.
“We want to do everything we can to preserve folklife, whether if it’s an art or craft.”
Pioneer Day attendees can flash back into the mid-and-late 1800s to see what life was like in Northwest Louisiana.
The Pioneer Heritage Center’s seven historic buildings include the Caspiana House, a dogtrot log cabin, a commissary (general store) and a doctor’s office. The Caspiana House is an antebellum cottage built in 1856 on the Hutchinson Plantation, which was located south of what is now Ellerbe Road near the banks of the Red River.
Each building is complete with artifacts and examples of how the area’s residents conducted daily life.
Pioneer Day is the only day of the year in which living historians breathe life into structures and recreate daily life from that era.
Live demonstrations include woodcarving, leatherworking, pine needle basket weaving, Dutch oven cooking, flint knapping, pottery throwing, sewing and stitchwork to name a few.
Elvin Shields, who grew up on Melrose Plantation in Natchitoches Parish, will be making twisted wire toys that have their origins in Africa.
Local organizations will be conducting talks on their areas of expertise, such as the Scottish Society of the Louisiana Highlands, Walter B. Jacobs Memorial Park (native plant and animals), Bossier Parish Libraries History Center (Caddo Native American tools) and the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum (Caddo pottery).
Some vendors will be selling their crafts and wares.
Sales are becoming ever more important to vendors as general inflation also increases costs for materials like wood, coal, metal, thread, cloth and other items used in their demonstrations.
For more information about Pioneer Day or ways to get involved with local folklife groups, contact Young at marty.young@lsus.edu.
