VERNON — The annual Sassafras Festival is being held in Jennings County this weekend, and while many different festivities will take place, the root of the celebration all can be found in the free tea offered to visitors.
The Sassafras tree was native to North America, but not known to the Europeans before the 16th Century. Native Americans had many names for the tree long before the French fur-trappers came to North America in the 1500s.
Native Americans taught the Europeans how to use the roots, the bark, the berries, flowers, the twigs and other parts of the trees.
There were many medicinal uses for the tree, and pats of the tree were also used to cure meat and flavor food. The wood was used to build furniture, make fences and even boats.
Early Hoosier families passed down the recipes of how to make Sassafras tea for generations to follow. The tea was used as a spring tonic believed to have many beneficial properties.
The Malcomb family was just one of the Jennings County farm families who made the Sassafras tree a part of their family heritage.
“Every spring, my mother sent us to the red Sassafras Tree to dig up the roots,” Louise Malcomb said. “We always had roots in the house and if we did run out, I knew where the right tree was.”
For over 60 years, the Sassafras Festival has honored the tradition of the Sassafras Tree in Indiana’s History.
Every year, hundreds of volunteers work all year long to prepare the Sassafras roots to make enough Sassafras tea to give a free cup to the many thousands of visitors to the festival .
This year’s festival ends today but, thanks to the work and devotion of so many, the Hoosier tradition will continue at next year’s event in Vernon.
