Scutching Like the Old Days

STORY BY Patrick J. McCloskey

PHOTOS BY Kelsey Maline

The village of Stahlstown, Pennsylvania, is a quaint little place divided by PA-711, and the community is roughly halfway between Donegal and Ligonier, home of the famous French and Indian War fort. Things are relatively quiet in Stahlstown until the Flax Scutching Festival begins in mid-September when the weather begins to cool and the leaves start to change into their brilliant hues. The festival is all about the process of “scutching,” an ancient way of preparing the flax plant for use in making fine linens, tablecloths, and clothing. The process dates to 1300 bce in Palestine and continued to be used through the years, making its way into our ancestral roots in this country. The women of Stahlstown adhere to the detailed process that is almost the same as it was centuries ago.

It begins with the planting of flax in the spring. Flax traditionally grows to about 2 feet in height and is harvested by pulling the plant out by the roots where most of the hearty fiber is stored. After the plant is dried, the seeds are removed in a process called “rippling”; then the outer part of the stalk is removed (“retting”) to expose the wanted fibers. The stalks are then beaten with a wooden tool to break up the fibers. “Scutching” is the process of taking those fibers and scraping them clean of the stalk until the fibers are smooth. “Hackling” follows; it’s an extension of the scutching process to remove any further impurities from the fibers. The debris-free fibers then are run through a steel comb to produce the fibers that will be used in weaving linen cloth. This tradition has been in the families of the Ligonier Valley community since colonization, and that history is celebrated in the annual festival.

Along with demonstrations of the process by the women of the village, an entire program of events celebrates the history of the Laurel Highlands. A Civil War encampment is among the highlights. Aside from music and scheduled church services, the scutching demonstrations are ongoing, and the residents of Stahlstown are more than happy to entertain any questions from festival-goers about the process or the history of the Stahlstown area. Finished linen goods are available for purchase, and visitors will be impressed by the quality and expertise of weaving the flax into fine pieces of linen. Tablecloths and other linens, as well as shirts, jackets, and other pieces, are all on display from various artisans, and when one views the process of scutching, watching how tedious it is to weave the flax into cloth, the finished products are truly remarkable.

The festival has been held since 1907 when the community began a social gathering around the flax harvest and the production of fine linen goods. Food and entertainment were included along with the actual scutching process. Aside from the years of World War II, the festival has been an annual celebration. The folks of Stahlstown wear period-appropriate clothing during the festival, and other demonstrations take place showing life in the area around the 18th century. Collectors display antique farm equipment, local vendors provide food and drink, and area musicians play for the crowd’s entertainment. This year, the Western swing music of the Martin Sisters Swing Band will be featured on Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m.

Events such as the Flax Scutching Festival are something special in small-town America. They give us the opportunity to see history come to life and to learn how early colonists lived. If you find yourself in the Laurel Highlands during September, remember to add the Scutching Festival to your list of things to do. See what life was like in the 1700s in the Ligonier Valley and see a process that stands the test of time.

For details on the 2022 event, visit the Festival’s Facebook page: @stahlstownflaxscutching