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Founder’s Day
Written By: Mary Jane McCall | Issue: 2018/09 - September
Cashiers Historical Society hosts their 15th annual Founder’s Day Celebration on Thursday, September 27, this year. Now in its fifteenth year, the Historical Society hosts all third and fourth graders from Blue Ridge and Summit Charter Schools, as well as homeschoolers, for a celebration of the area’s roots, reflecting on life in the 19th century, and celebrating our rich cultural heritage and diverse natural beauty.
Music and dancing were central to the social life of early settlers, so the day will also include square dancing, taught by Mallory Carter of Brevard, with fiddle music supplied by her husband. Storytelling was another form of entertainment that our ancestors greatly enjoyed and students will be treated to traditional Appalachian tales, brought to life by nationally-celebrated storyteller Connie Regan-Blake. She will also teach the children a short sign language story.
Once again this year, Dr. Gary Wein will be taking the students through a nature walk on the nature trails surrounding the Zachary-Tolbert House, discussing the local flora and fauna, and being on the lookout for animal tracks to identify.
Students will also be able to see wolves firsthand, thanks to Mountain Wildlife Outreach, which will present an informative program on wolves.
Other activities scheduled are a tour of the Zachary-Tolbert House, games, crafts, a look at the heirloom garden with a story of the three sisters, and a few other surprises.
Students bring their lunches and the entire group enjoys a picnic on the beautiful grounds of the Zachary-Tolbert House.
Co-chairs Kathy Sanderson and Gloria Weir are coordinating this event for the third year and are enthusiastic about giving the students a fun day of learning what life was like for our early settlers.
Sandi Rogers, the Chairwoman of Education and Events for the Cashiers Historical Society, is once again lending a hand with the event, as she has for the last 15 years. Founder’s Day was her brainchild 15 years ago when she was a teacher at Blue Ridge School, and she has enjoyed seeing it grow into a sustainable event supported by many community volunteers.
