History takes center stage at West Overton DIY Weekend festival

History is often about living and breathing things.

For curators at a two-day DIY History Weekend festival at West Overton Village and adjoining Fort Allen Antique Farm Equipment Association grounds near Scottdale, it was just that as they showcased how life was experienced more than a century ago both at home and on the farm.

Festival-goers were able to tour vintage tractors and an authentic blacksmith shop and see how routine household chores such as clothes were washed in the late 1800s and in the early 2oth century.

“If we don’t show people how to use this stuff, we lose history. And we don’t want to lose our history,” said Wayne Kelley, of Ruffs Dale.

Kelley presided over a reconstructed blacksmith’s shop, where demonstrations showed how items were forged, including horseshoes, hooks, knives and an old-time fire starter device.

Jasper Way, 17, of Unity, a fledgling blacksmith, hammered out a handcrafted ring from an old coin.

“I originally took an interest in blacksmithing after I watched Forged in Fire with my father,” Way said.

Activities over the weekend included tours of century-old farm equipment and tractors on display at the organization’s 50-acre property in West Overton.

Zane Lape, president of the Fort Allen Antique Farm Equipment Association said his group’s message is simple.

“We want to show how it was done,” Lape said.

Other events included tractor pulls and a parade of farm equipment.

David Ludvik, 59, of Unity, had his own history on display though dozens of vintage John Deere model tractors. A former farmer, Ludvik started collecting scaled tractor models about 35 years ago and now has more than 900 scattered throughout his home.

“I want kids to see this stuff. Even older people. They see it and some say, look I remember farming with that tractor,” Ludvik said.

Across the field at West Overton Village, staff led demonstrations and hands-on activities, such as candle and soap making, churning butter and displays that involved how local residents did what many today consider the simple chore of laundry. A century ago, it was a more time consuming and labor intensive endeavour.

“We wanted to change the idea of just doing a demonstration, and we wanted people to be involved,” said West Overton Village co-Executive Director Aaron Hollis. “This makes it more immediate and a learning experience. And it’s more fun.”

The Graft family from Tarrs, made candles with Hollis, by repeatedly dipping wicks into vats of hot wax. The Hixson family from Dawson shook small samples of heavy cream to form butter.

“We try to do learning activities with the kids,” said Scott Graft as he watched his wife and four sons make candles. “My wife used to do this stuff with her dad, and we wanted to check this out and show our kids some old-fashioned memories.”