Eagle Rock Elementary held its third annual Heritage Day on October 19.  The purpose of Heritage Day is to educate the students about life in Botetourt County in the past.  Teachers and members of the community participate each year.  This year there were eight learning stations.  Travis Woodson brought his work horse and demonstrated, using a hand plow, how horses were used to plow and prepare fields for planting.  John Riddle demonstrated the art of blacksmithing and the importance of tool making in the communities of the past.  Tonya Boggess and Norma Hall demonstrated clothes washing using wash boards and tubs.  The students hung the clothes to dry on a clothes line using clothes pins.  Mike Lee taught the students about the music of the past and demonstrated instruments such as the mandolin and banjo.  Rachel Thomas explained the art of quilting and how quilts were both beautiful and practical.  All students participated in the painting of a Barn Quilt Square. Diane Buchanan taught the student about tanning.  The steps of tanning a hide were demonstrated.  The students were able to touch various animal hides throughout the demonstration. Cynthia Harris explained to the students how butter was made in the past using an authentic butter churn.  Tamara Teaff was the school mistress of a one-room school.  The students learned about the teacher’s expectations in a mixed grade learning environment.

Captions

Photo 1   Cynthia Harris making butter.

Photo 4   John Riddle demonstrating the art of the blacksmith

Photo 3   Diane Buchanan explaining the process of tanning hides.

Photo 5   Rachel Thomas painting a barn quilt.