ZOAR, Ohio – Visitors to Zoar Village July 7-8 can see how work was performed without benefit of modern conveniences. Costumed volunteer interpreters will be stationed in each of the village’s 10 museum buildings, giving visitors a glimpse of daily life in this former religious communal society.
Sheep to shawl.
On Saturday only, the Canton Weavers and Spinners Guild will give a “sheep to shawl” demonstration.
These experts will show the entire process of turning wool fleece fresh off the sheep into a woven shawl. Raffle tickets for the shawl will be sold.
On both days, the blacksmith and tinsmith will show metal-working techniques in their shops. Woodworkers will demonstrate a two-man saw and split firewood. Decorative “chip-carving” can also be seen.
Old-style food.
Zoar bread and cookies will be made at the communal Zoar bakery. The German-style kitchen garden will provide vegetables for soup making in the kestle-ofen (kettle oven) in the Number One House Kitchen.
Traditional “women’s work” will be demonstrated. Volunteers at the laundry will show old-style clothes washing methods, including ironing with “sad irons.”
Other activities.
Butter and cheesemaking will take place in the dairy, using ways familiar to the Zoar Separatists. Other domestic activities will include spinning, quilting, dyeing and sewing.
Hours for the demonstrations are Saturday and Sunday 1-5 p.m. The site will open at 9:30 a.m. Saturday and noon on Sunday.
Admission is $5 for adults and $1.25 for children 6-12. Ohio Historical Society members are admitted free.
How to get there. Zoar Village is located three miles southeast of Exit 93 of Interstate 77 on state Route 212, south of Canton.
For more information call 800-874-4336.
STAY INFORMED. SIGN UP!
Up-to-date agriculture news in your inbox!
