A Season of Celebrations

Written By: Sandi Rogers, Cashiers Historical Society | Issue: June 2023

June is here and with the start of summer, CHS begins the first month of several events to celebrate – from a first-time wedding ceremony at the Hampton Schoolhouse to the Tolbert family reunion, add church and family picnics, the return of summer campers, and the continuation of three annual events.

The second annual Airing of the Quilts will be held June 9 through 11 from 10:00 A.M. until 4:00 P.M. Airing of the Quilts is a traditional rite of spring in the Appalachian Mountains. After the long winter, women would hang their quilts outside to freshen them up before storing them until next winter.

To honor that tradition, CHS will have on display quilts from area quilters, as well as quilts from the Appalachian Women’s Museum and the Mountain Valley Quilters who are responsible for the “Quilts of Valor” for Veterans and first responders.

This family-friendly event is fun for all ages. On Saturday, June 10, all can share in Appalachian crafts by making a bitty broom and a corn husk doll. A blacksmith will be on the grounds to demonstrate his talents and skill.

Each of the three days guests can paint their own barn square and try their hand at slow stitching. There will be a children’s table for crafts. There will be fresh bread and jam and jelly to buy. New this year will be a pie bar, with pies mainly baked by Greg McDonald, retired Executive and Pastry Chef at Lake Toxaway.

The 2023 Jan Wyatt symposium on June 15 is titled Talking Trout and will feature the history of fly fishing, with several respected speakers who will focus on fish species, healthy waterways, fisheries, and more. To continue the trout theme, there will be an ongoing exhibit at the Dowden Pavilion at CHS from June 14 through June 24. There will be a variety of informative posters and activities for both children and adults. Do you know how the Brown trout came to the U.S., or did you know trout are cannibals or more importantly what influence did a Nun living in the 1400s have to do with fishing? All these questions and more are answered.

The Mountain Heritage Lecture Series on Wednesday, June 28, from 11:00 A.M. – 12:30 P.M. at the Dowden Pavilion features Dr. Luke Manget. His book Ginseng Diggers: A History of Root and Herb Gathering in Appalachia recently received the Weatherford Award given by Berea College. His talk will explore the role that root digging and herb gathering played in local economics and how these practices influenced the way communities interacted with the land and each other.

Each of the three June events fulfills the Society’s commitment as a cultural center that encourages civic engagement and community partnerships by preserving traditions and creating meaningful experiences for all. The events are free, but donations are encouraged. Cashiers Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) organization.