Although the landscape still looks like Winter, plans are afoot for an exciting Spring at Hopkins County Historical Park in Sulphur Springs. Utilizing the few dry days during January, Historical Society volunteers have worked to keep up with the routine mowing, trimming and cleaning of the grounds. “And we are in process of putting a new porch on the Smith-Gregg House”, stated Rick Wilson. “That’s been needed for a few months now, and we will have it ready for the first Spring visitors to the Park. One of the opening events will be the annual Dutch Oven Cooking Class set for Saturday April 25. This is for people who have a little knowledge about the craft or beginners who want to learn. We supply everything, and during the class, the teams will turn out a three-course meal in Dutch ovens. There’s only a small fee to register for the class. So, the students get their feet wet, and that whets their appetite for more cooking ‘on the ground’, a skill that nourished our pioneer ancestors as they settled this country. Dozens of Hopkins County’s best outdoor cooks got their start by taking this class!”
Carlie noted that the Atkins House building has become home to a restored loom for weaving, and the new addition will hopefully be ready to display demonstrations of weaving by Fall 2020. “This type of loom was necessary for pioneer housewives to create cloth for sewing clothing for their families”.
Rick continued “the Winniford House, a new multi-purpose building in the park, has been a wonderful addition to what is offered for our visitors. This modern facility allows us to host meetings and parties with spacious kitchen and restrooms, while they enjoy touring the more primitive sections of the Park. This building, and the addition of the Boy Scout Council’s ‘Liberty Circle’ are projects selected and approved for completion by our Board of Directors and officers. The dozen buildings in the Park may be primitive representations of early Hopkins County, but we keep moving towards some modern additions which bring additional interest to the Park and Museum. We want this pocket of history to remain accessible for families for a long time!”
However, volunteers are needed to share the workload, especially in the mowing and landscaping season. You are asked to find out about Heritage Park and Museum and the Historical Society which maintains it, and find a share that you’d like to contribute. It might be weedeating, flowerbeds, helping with the indoor displays, or even demonstrating a craft that you are good at. Many of the volunteers are senior citizens, and younger workers are welcome too. There’s something for almost every individual or group to do, and at the end of the day, it’s enjoyable and satisfying work, too. Phone 903-885-2387 or drop by the Park and Museum at 416 North Jackson Street between 10am and 2pm Tuesday through Friday. And phone 903-885-2387 if you’d like to book a wedding, reception, party, family reunion, class trip or other group visit at the Park!”
