Dixie, Miss Dotty, and Jim Bryant at WJBB on Tuesday morning

Everyone is talking about Heritage Day, even on the radio, on the airwaves!  Jim Bryant is a true friend of the William Harris Homestead and will be an important part of Heritage Day…200th Grand Jubilee. He will be portraying Frederick Douglas, as we present a day of 18th and 19th century history at the Homestead.

For our out of town visitors, the Holiday Inn Express on Hwy 316,  is holding a few rooms for WHH for Friday, October 5 and Saturday, October 6.

This year, The William Harris Homestead decided to try its hand at producing a dye garden…and the results are starting to come in! Last week volunteers harvested over thirty ounces of plant material to use to demonstrate the dyeing process at Heritage Day…200th Grand Jubilee on October 6. The zinnias, coreopsis, and dyers chamomile will all produce yellows, while the purple basil will yield a blueish purple dye.

Come check out our homegrown dyes, learn more about the process, and see our “From Fiber to Fabric” exhibit on October 6 from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. at Heritage Day!

Mark your calendars now! You don’t want to miss the Grand Jubilee!

We are busy working on a project to clean and restore all of the old tools in the Antique Tool Shed at WHH. Many of these farm tools and machines have been lovingly donated by Harris descendants, who cherished the memories of loved ones who had used so many of these implements for their livelihood. Butch Dover, Farm Manager, also contributed many “found” treasures from the farmland and saw their value for the future. We continue with this project throughout the week! Thanks to Kevin Hooper, Jane Harrison, Judy Hardegree, Janet Avant, Dotty Zazworsky, and Dixie Gallups.

It’s construction week at The William Harris Homestead! We are completing two major projects at the Pavilion this week. The first is installing weatherproof vinyl curtains. Now you can rent The William Harris Homestead into the fall and winter months without fear of cold temperatures or rain!

Our second project is creating a stone patio in front of the Pavilion. The stone patio will be perfect for enjoying the musical entertainment (or doing a little jig!) at Heritage Day and at other events. We can’t wait to see you boogie on down to The William Harris Homestead to check out our exciting new additions!

We had a great turnout for a lovely winter day at the Homestead. We featured Clarissa Lynch, a 19th century food historian and cook, who cooked “meagre” soup, roast pork and a real fruit cake over an “open pit” fire to show cooking techniques from the 1800’s. Clarissa has a magnetic personality and everyone enjoyed the know-how and stories from Clarissa and her heritage. She has a great cookbook, too! She will be at the Homestead for a spring menu on Saturday, April 7. You don’t want to miss Clarissa!

We provided cotton from our cotton patch and other natural woodsy items for impromptu ornament makings. Cotton boll angels, corn husk angels, and a variety of pinecone wreaths will be adorning many a Christmas tree in the nearby communities. We were lucky to have some awesome volunteers from Russell Middle School—Ella Ramsell, with her sister, Chloe, and Samantha Robinson—who helped with this project and received Beta Club Service hours at the Homestead.

Doc was busy in the blacksmith shop with his Christmas Elf-apprentices, making wrought iron creations over the hot forge at the shop. Doc and his helpers are a highlight at the Homestead…their good cheer and historic education delight all ages!

Hank Gallups and Robert Dinwiddie were on hand to talk and demonstrate 18th century times…making a natural timeline of living at the William Harris Homestead on December 16, 2017…two hundred years later. Lanier Wheeler is our butter churning expert and is a favorite of us all. He will be on hand for April and for Heritage Day. Join the Lanier Fan Club!

Lois and Mike Foerster were busy with weaving in the log house, dressed in period handmade clothing by Lois, our textile expert. She teaches knitting, spinning, weaving, tatting classes at the Homestead…always in high demand. We are lucky to have such a great couple as supporters of our mission at the Homestead.

Dixie and Butch, Judy, Janet, Jane, Donna Sue and Dotty rounded out the Victorian Christmas at the Homestead. And always, we love Bo, the Wonder Horse…wonder where he is now…!

We also love our traditional sheep…”Sheep in Heavenly Peace” to wish everyone a wonderful and magical Christmas at home and at the William Harris Homestead!