Throwback Saturday? Annual Hayden festival lets visitors rediscover past

An event to celebrate the pioneer heritage of early Jennings County settlers is planned for Saturday.

The Hayden Historical Museum, 6715 W. County Road 20S, will host Pioneer Days from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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Demonstrations and exhibits planned include:

  • Two-man crosscut sawing
  • Corn shelling
  • Candle making
  • Miniature broom making
  • Wood carving
  • Weaving with a loom
  • Rope making
  • Dutch-oven cooking
  • Spinning wheel work
  • Full-size tepee lodge
  • First-person pioneer fur trapper

Boy Scout Troop 518 will have a Daisy BB-gun shooting gallery set up for anyone to use for target practice, and Accuracy Unlimited will be conducting an archery contest. Some members of the Fish Creek Long Rifle Club will be on hand to demonstrate muzzleloader shooting and the skill of knife and tomahawk throwing, the museum’s news release said.

Juvonda Jones and Martha Burriss of Hoosier Heartland Alpacas will spin some of the fiber they get from their herd of alpacas. An apothecary tent will be set up to give people an idea of the types of old-fashion medicines and cures available during pioneer days.

Hayden Historical Museum will host a pie-baking contest. Fruit pies will be graded on appearance and taste. The top three winners will be announced and their pies will be sold during an auction. Slices of the other pies will be available for a free-will donation. Proceeds benefit the project to restore the home of former Gov. Edgar Whitcomb — who died Feb. 4, 2016 — to the way it looked in December 1943.

The Scattertack Band will be performing authentic pioneer music in the pavilion from 10 a.m. until noon. Beginning at 1 p.m., several bluegrass and gospel bands will provide musical entertainment. Some of the bands scheduled include Pete and Jessie, Infinity, Hallelujah Hillbillies, Liberty Hill, Hoosier Hills, High Sierra and Friends of Bluegrass. The Spencer Township Volunteer Fire Department will serve barbecue chicken dinners as a fundraiser at the new firehouse.

Hayden Historical Museum’s buildings, including the Sullivan Blacksmith Shop, the 1947 Sinclair gas station and A Place Called Yesterday, will be open.

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What: Hayden Pioneer Days

When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday

Where: Hayden Historical Museum, 6715 W. County Road 20S in Jennings County

Cost: Free, but fees for food, drinks at concession stand.

Schedule of events

9 a.m. – Grounds open for exhibits/demonstrations. Hayden Historical Museum, 1947 Sinclair gas station, A Place Called Yesterday and Sullivan Blacksmith Shop open until 5 p.m.

9-11 a.m.: Fruit pie entries accepted in the museum for the pie-baking contest.

10 a.m.: Scattertack Band concert on pavilion stage.

11 a.m.: Judging for pie-baking contest begins.

11:45 a.m.: Auction for top three winners from pie baking contest, in the pavilion. Slices from the other pie entries available while supplies lasts in exchange for a free-will donation.

Noon: Barbecue chicken dinners available until 7 p.m., or while supplies last, at the new Spencer Township Volunteer Fire Department firehouse.

1 p.m.: Bluegrass and gospel music entertainment on pavilion stage.

5 p.m.: Museum grounds and buildings (except pavilion) closed.

For more information: Call 812-592-8445 or send an email to [email protected].

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The ninth annual Luke Elsner Memorial 5K Walk/Run will be held Saturday morning prior to the start of Hayden Pioneer Days

Registration begins at 7 a.m. Saturday at Hayden Elementary School and the race begins at 8 a.m.

For more information about the event, call Amber Elsner at 812-569-9725 or Courtney Maschino at 812-346-6571.

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