Published: July 04, 2009 07:28 pm      

History comes alive in Tazewell

TAZEWELL, Va. — Like taking a step back in time, southern hospitality, artistry and history converged Saturday to form an enjoyable time at Historic Crab Orchard Museum and Pioneer Park in Tazewell. Several group activities as well as on-going crafts demonstrations filled the rustic setting with a wood-smoke atmosphere filled with fellowship and fun.

“My kids started volunteering here when they were 10 or 11 years old, and my oldest daughter is 21 now, so I guess I’ve been volunteering here for about 12 years,” Cheryl Kerr said as she skillfully weaved a wicker basket. She bought the ribs of the basket, but said when she makes them herself, she makes them out of oak.

“My daughter, Laura Kerr, has been conducting tours here for other children since she was about 11 years old,” Kerr said. “She just graduated from Bluefield College this spring. She will be attending William & Mary in the fall, majoring in history. Laura sang the ‘National Anthem’ here this morning.”

While wood smoke fires from the blacksmith shop and beneath the apple butter kettle filled the air with a rustic aroma, the legendary Shelby Jewell and the Bluegrass Kinsmen as well as Bluestone filled the air with auditory delights.

“We started playing here for the Independence Day celebration in 1976 and have been back every year but one since then,” Jewell said. In response to a question as to what happened on the off year, Jewell replied: “They asked someone else that year.”

“The kids are going to do a little battle this year,” Ellis Cole, commander of Cole’s Militia said as he prepared some carved wooden rifle replicas for the arrival of the troops in the “Kids’ Militia Muster.”

“Last year, we did a little close order drill with the kids, but this year, the kids are going to do a little battle reenactment,” Cole, a Crab Orchard volunteer said.

Vendors offering everything from the world’s best barbecue to mighty good cakes and sweets lined a portion of the perimeter of Pioneer Park. Terry Long, admissions counselor/instructor at Southwest Community College was staffing the SVCC booth, and was personally decked out in a patriotic American flag stylized baseball cap and American flag stylized shirt.

“We have several of my wife’s family members staying with us this weekend, and when I walked out on the porch this morning, they saluted me,” Long said.

Eric and Melinda Cunningham of Tazewell strolled through the exhibits, arm and arm. “We used to come here quite a bit, but we haven’t been here in a while,” Eric Cunningham said. Eric is a tractor-trailer driver and was home for the weekend.

“Me and my dad used to come here when I was a kid,” he said.

“It’s interesting to see all the demonstrations of how people used to do things,” Melinda Cunningham said.

After the brief interruption, the couple linked arms again, smiled and continued their stroll back in time. It was a pleasant afternoon in Tazewell County.

– Contact Bill Archer at barcher@bdtonline.com