Festival gives glimpse into the past and celebrates timber heritage
When Ethel Maize served up generous portions of fresh venison stew, cooked over an open fire, at the 14th annual Forest Heritage Festival, Oct. 16 and 17, it was not as a typical food vendor. Maize, along with her husband, Jamie, and four sons, is part of the Ball and Arrow (B&A) primitive weapons club, and she has found a new hobby.Just six years ago, she was not much of a camper or outdoors person, so when the couple’s neighbor encouraged them to join a B&A campout weekend, she was doubtful. However, as the young mother experienced the camaraderie and joy of stepping back in time, she found herself hooked.
“My husband didn’t believe I’d really do it,” she exclaimed, laughing at the memory. “But now, my family does this about eight or nine times a year, including three or so demonstrations like this one. The rest are family campouts at the 30 acres owned by the B&A Club.” The couple’s children, CJ, 14, Timmy, 13, Matt, 12, and Jacob, 7, get a lot out of the experience. “They love doing this. They’ve learned a lot about history This is what we do for fun. It gets them away from the Game Boys, the computers, and the video games, and lets them get out and get dirty – and just be boys.”
Inside her tent at the festival, the air was surprisingly warm, in spite of the frigid temperatures outside.
Helping Maize was Trevor Welch, a 13-year-old who also enjoys the B&A club events. He demonstrated starting a fire with flint to wide-eyed students and helped serve soup and bread.
Maize explained her reason for participating in the annual Forest Heritage Festival event. “Basically, what I do here is talk about early Ohio, in the 1800s, when the fur trappers were coming through. I talk about how they cleared out the animals, and then how, in the 1900s, the animals began to be reintroduced. I especially talk to the school kids during the day. We discuss what living was like in the early 1800s. I do a lot of outdoor cooking, usually with wild game.” Maize also takes part in a local spinning guild, and enjoys teaching visitors about clothing of the time period. “I do this because I love talking to the school kids.”
For Tom Garabrandt, of New Philadelphia, the expression on the children’s faces as they enjoy his miniature train ride is a big part of the reason he participates in the festival each year. “I’ve been at this festival at least 10 to 12 times. All the profits go to the Children’s Miracle Network.” The Forest Heritage Festival is a major fundraiser for the network, part of Akron Children’s Hospital. “I just love trains. I built that train myself. The engine is a replica of the old steam locomotive. I had a dream about it one night in my sleep, and I just woke up and built it. I like to see the kids have fun,” Garabrandt explained. “I don’t charge anybody. If they don’t have money, they can still ride.”
Visitors to the festival also enjoyed a children’s craft tent, and the ever-popular Farm Bureau’s COSI on Wheels. There were all types of forestry-related exhibits, with one of the favorites being the Hank Peters Lumberjack Show, where the hearty lumberjacks delighted viewers as they tumbled each other into frigid waters during log competitions.
A fiddling contest, barbecue, artisan and craft displays added to the fun. Events, including the traditional Friday raffle and the auction of fine homemade Amish furniture, quilts, and gift items on Saturday afternoon raised much-needed funds for the children’s charity. More than $99,000 was raised locally in 2008 alone. The Forest Heritage Festival is co-sponsored by the New Philadelphia Wal-Mart and members of the East Central Ohio Loggers Chapter.