Old Dominion Cloggers dance at Oak Ridge’s Heritage Day Sept. 25

Heritage Day, Sept. 25

Oak Ridge Town Park, Linville Road, Oak Ridge

Photos by Patti Stokes and Annette Joyce, Northwest Observer

Girl Scout Troop 12475 provided old-timey games such as sack racing for children.

Robert Tilley & the Hard Times Band performed live music, with Old Dominion Cloggers providing some energetic clogging. Is that Oak Ridge Town Councilman George McClellan dressed as Uncle Sam??

Drills by Civil War re-enactors were a crowd pleaser.

Clare English of Oak Ridge scored a blue ribbon for her chocolate chip cookies in the cookie baking contest. Heritage Day Committee member Phyllis Anders demonstrates the making of corn husk dolls from dried corn husks.

Foothills Gem Mining, new to this year’s Heritage Day, was very popular with the kids. Elton Davenport prepares to fire a cannon similar to one used in the Civil War.

Northwest Greensboro resident Bill Eatmon (below), a U.S. Air Force veteran, and Oak Ridge resident Roger Howerton (left), a Korean War veteran, enjoyed visiting with folks who stopped by the tent set up for veterans.

A nod to the past and old-timey fun for kids of all ages! As Heritage Day Committee member Sandra Smith (who also serves as Oak Ridge’s town clerk) said after Heritage Day on Sept. 25, “We couldn’t have gotten a more beautiful day if we’d paid for it.” Sunshine, blue skies and gentle breezes definitely provided a beautiful backdrop for the fun-filled event, held at Oak Ridge’s “crown jewel,” Oak Ridge Town Park. The action-filled day, which gives a nod to the town’s rich history that is rooted in farming and a simpler way of life, was celebrated with old-timey games for children, Civil War re-enactors, Oak Ridge Fire Department’s demonstration of an antique fire engine, cannon firing, live music by Robert Tilley & the Hard Times Band, clogging, corn husk doll making, and much, much more. “I especially look forward to Heritage Day,” Smith said after the event. “As an Oak Ridge native, I love remembering where I grew up and get nostalgic thinking about childhood and when times were simpler — when everyone worked hard, played hard and, at the end of the day, came together as a community. “We had great participation this year from our civic organizations, churches, and many of the Town boards and committees as well as artisans, craftspeople, and vendors selling vintage items,” she added. Each year Smith and her fellow members of the Heritage Day Committee look to add new elements to improve the event. New this year was Foothills Gem Mining, the Greensboro Historical Museum’s vintage toys traveling trunk, Girl Scout Troop 12475 leading old-fashioned games, the Central Baptist Wind Ensemble performing patriotic music, and Morphies Family Farm offering pinto beans and corn bread. Besides Sandra Smith, other members of the Heritage Day Committee are: Phyllis Anders, Annette Joyce, Martha Pittman, Ashley Royal and Terry Lannon.