Rain didn’t stop Apple Butter Days
Sean Stevenson, right, of Green with his son Gabriel, 4, and Erik Sweebe of Alliance wait out the rain at Apple Butter Days.
Raindrops kept falling on their heads, but thanks to a covered fire pit and some extra canopies, apple butter making went on as scheduled. Missing were the usual customers that usually make the apple butter a sellout.
Fortunately, there are still two weekends in October when the Gnadenhutten Historical Museum will be open, and apple butter will be available for sale before they close for the season. The hours are Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1-5 p.m.
The rain didn’t stop the reenactors gathered at the site.
“We’re here to support the museum,” Erik Sweebe of Alliance said as he and fellow reenactor Sean Stevenson of Green sat under a canvas tarp in pouring rain. “This is part of the experience. We try to do a true reenactment of what everyday folk went through, and if it rained, it rained. We just live through it too.”
The reenactors stay onsite day and night.
“We do all our cooking here and everything, so we try to get a little idea of what it was like for everyone back in the time,” Sweebe said.
Some visitors think they are only cooking for demonstration, but they eat everything they make. Some of their meals are as simple as eggs; other times they break out a Dutch oven to cook.
Both men have been reenacting their entire lives, and now Stevenson’s son Gabriel, 4, is learning the activity.
“He loves going camping,” Stevenson said. “He likes to see everyone.”
Reenactors are a close-knit group.
“We have all gained some pretty good friendships in the rendezvous groups. A lot of them become like family to us,” Sweebe said. “Most of the events we go to are the same time every year, the same locations, and it’s the same people, so every time we go, it’s like a family reunion.”
Joining the family at Apple Butter Days was a first-time reenactor, Emanuel Zook, 18, of Cortland. Members of Zook’s family have taken over the apple butter making chores as their gift to the museum for the past six years.
While some of the family members had parked their recreational vehicles nearby, Zook was staying in his new period-correct canvas tent. He first learned about rendezvousing in a magazine on muzzleloading. Then when the family began making the apple butter, he met and became friends with some of the reenactors at Apple Butter Days.
It took several years before Zook saved enough to get the basic equipment he needed, like the tent, a cot, some pots and pans, and period-correct clothing. He’s still saving for some more of the equipment he needs, and he’s encouraging his brother and others to get involved.
“It’s a whole lot of fun. I wish everything was more like this. It brings back the old times,” Zook said. “And I always read books about it and wish I was in that time period, but at least I can be in it a little bit here.”
Zook set up camp on Wednesday evening and planned to pack up on Sunday. He still hopes to get a rainfly for his tent and some other items like lanterns that will make camp life easier. At the event he’s already picked up some tips on reenacting and made new friends.
“I was told if you really want to get into it and if you like to travel a lot, you can find a rendezvous every weekend,” Zook said. “I’m kind of busy at work, so I don’t know how much I’ll be doing.”
Gnadenhutten Historical Society President Andy McMillen, in his first year of service, found the event beneficial as he and the members of the society strive to enhance the activities provided at the Gnadenhutten Historical Museum.
“So even though it’s been less than I would like attendance wise, it’s been a good experience in terms of just kind of getting grounded and getting ideas of what we can do in the future,” McMillen said.
Watch for information and updates at the organization’s Facebook page at Gnadenhutten Historical Museum and Site.
Twin City Fall Festival results announced
The wet weather did not stop the Twin City Fall Festival held Saturday, Oct. 14. Free pumpkins were given out to children, and many vendors set up shop on Third Street in Uhrichsville for the day.
A new restaurant, 3LP Smokehouse, which is planning to open Nov. 1 for lunch and dinner, gave out samples of its food during the event. The restaurant will be operated by Lori and Patrick Barbee, owners of the Three Lil Piggies food truck. The new restaurant is located in the building that previously held My Burger Joint.
The festival contest results are as follows:
—Fruit pies: Angie Robinson, first place, and Allison Shaw, second place.
—Cream pies: Angie Robinson, first place, and Christina Rennicker, second place.
—Cookies: Allison Shaw, first place, and Christina Rennicker, second place.
—Overall baking: Christina Rennicker.
—Chili: Malissa Fawcett, first place, and Floyd Rennicker, second place.
—Spicy chili: Kari Hunt, first place, and Angie Robison, second place.
—People’s Choice chili: Floyd Rennicker.
Coloring contest first-place winners were Max Patton, Sawyer Shaffer and Aubree Potts. Second-place winners were Benjamin Shaffer, Austin Boyd and Alaina Abbuhl.