Visitors to the Burtner House in Harrison can learn to churn butter, weave wool and cook over an open fire — all while eating shortcake and ice cream — during the annual Strawberry Festival.

None of this would be possible, however, without a sturdy stock of volunteers.

”There’s so much work,” said Patty Jones, vice president of the Burtner House Restoration Society. The group maintains the three-story stone farmhouse — one of the five oldest homes in Allegheny County. “A lot of our people are older, and it’s a lot.”

The Strawberry Festival has long been one of two major fundraisers by the society. This year, they plan to add a third — a Honey Bee Festival in July.

The proceeds help to pay for upkeep and event preparation.

The Strawberry Festival fundraiser is in its 47th year. More than 800 people flocked to last year’s event, prior to which organizers spent weeks primping the estate and its grounds to get it ready.

Society secretary Pam Seguin said the board still needs volunteers. In addition to tours, festival activities will include artists, food vendors, basket raffles, crafts and honey extracting demonstrations.

A core group of people lend a hand to cut grass and clean inside the house, but the society needs at least 20 volunteers to handle the crowds, give tours, make food, help with artisan booths and answer questions. They also have to clean and slice 60 pounds of fresh fruit to prepare for the demand for shortcakes.

“The day of the festival, I was collecting money at the food booth. I sat down and didn’t move the whole day,” Jones said. “It was one after the other.

“My entire days leading up to the festival, I’m putting on a dozen different hats. It’s all worth it when it’s done, but it’s a struggle to get enough help.”

In 2022, the Strawberry Festival brought in the largest profit in its history with $10,000. Harvest Fair proceeds were similar.

But the money goes right back out to pay for an ongoing list of maintenance at the site.

This year, the priority is to have the attic windows replaced and a railing installed along a pathway near the cemetery.

Cost estimates were not yet available, but Jones said work to the house is always priced more than repairs at home.

“The windows have to be done so they are historically correct,” she said.

In recent years, the society saved money on work to repair a set of stairs after a group of volunteers stepped up.

“Even then, we have to pay for the materials which are expensive, but we try to check off what we can with the help we get,” Jones said.

This year’s Strawberry Festival will be Saturday, June 17.

Civil War reenactors will dress in period garb for their demonstrations, as will tour guides.

The homestead was built in 1821 by Phillip Burtner and lived in by his descendants until the 1960s.

“I think it’s just fun to see how people used to live,” Seguin said. “They didn’t have it easy. They worked hard. And we are able to see local history right here.”

A top hat-wearing Abe Lincoln impersonator will be available for photos.

“A lot of people are interested in history these days so it’s nice that something like this is local,” Jones said.

“You don’t have to go the whole way to Philadelphia for a peek at years gone by. The festival puts you back in time.”

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