2006 GCHS Pioneer Homeplace Open House

I had seen - and posted - this picture of Samuel leading a tour of elementary students through Pioneer Homeplace, but didn't fully appreciate what it was until I was invited by him to attend their Fall Open House Nov 21, 2006.

Entry to the Pioneer Homeplace is from the north end of the parking lot at Gibson County High School in Dyer. These young ladies in period costume greeted us and pointed the way to the 1876 homeplace just across the crick.

1876 - This must be the place - and the time!

Samuel is on the bridge over the creek while I wait with his father for him to show us around.

Our first stop was at one of the outbuildings behind the large dog-trot cabin. Here the boys were operating a home blacksmith shop and fashioning tools out of iron. Joe and Natalee Reed look on as Samuel and friend work on the anvil.

Next stop was the  woodworking shop located inside the log structure. There was an impressive collection of tools, and the kids knew how to use them too.

Nearby was the corncrib (at left), a farm wagon, and the chicken house. The front "overhang" on the corn crib allowed a wagon to be driven underneath and the corn to be tossed up and over the wall into the crib. Outside is a whetstone and a corn sheller.

Samuel gave us a demonstration of the corn sheller just outside the corn crib.

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