Appalchian Heritage Day 2005

Third annual Appalachian Heritage Day to be held Oct. 13, 2005.

CONTACT: Gregg Busch, sociology instructor, 304-424-8253.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Basket weaving, candle making, clogging, blacksmithing, Appalachian games and West Virginia authors will be featured during the third annual Appalachian Heritage Day being held Oct. 13, at West Virginia University at Parkersburg.

A salute to the area's Appalachian culture, the day will include demonstrations, displays, discussions and performances. The 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. festivities are free and open to the public.

Activities are planned on the campus front lawn and in the college's multi-purpose room. In addition, various displays will be set up around campus. Demonstrations will include candle making, soap making, basket making, spinning, weaving, blacksmithing, quilting, apple butter making, and traditional Appalachian music. Representatives of several social service organizations will be present in the college's multi-purpose room.

Discussions are planned on such topics as the Underground Railroad, presented by Henry Burke; African American history in Appalachian; Sumner School, and the history of Wood County.

From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., there will be traditional games on the front lawn. Included will be horseshoes, skillet throwing, sack races and a pie eating contest. The day will conclude with a 7 p.m. bonfire featuring ghost stories by local author and Ghost Tour founder Susan Sheppard.

The Appalachian celebration is made possible by funding through the college's social justice committee. The day is coordinated by students in a sociology course entitled "Sociology of Appalachia and Rural Life" taught by sociology instructor Gregg Busch. Additional information may be obtained by contacting Busch at the college.

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For additional information, contact:
Connie Dziagwa
WVU Parkersburg
Executive Director
Institutional Advancement
(304-424-8203)