Pioneer day is tomorrow

EPHRATA - People can travel in time Saturday at the Grant County Historical Museum & Village's Pioneer Day.

The event begins at 10 a.m. and runs until 5 p.m. and features historical demonstrations in simulated pioneer buildings throughout the day.

Grant County Historical Museum Director Pat Witham said the day's events give children an opportunity to participate in activities designed to make them feel as if they are living in the past.

The Grant County Sheriff's posse stages mock shoot-outs and bank robberies about every half hour, as well as horse races.

"They can go down to the blacksmith's shop and then they can brand on wood and they brand their initials onto a piece of wood and then they put the hemp string through the hole, the kids can wear them around their neck," Witham said.

Children can also use an old-fashioned water pump and do laundry the pioneer way, rubbing clothes on a scrub board, use lye soap and put the clothes out to dry on a wooden clothes rack.

"In our saloon, we're selling Coca-Cola in vintage bottles. They're a dollar and a half and these are the actual bottles that Coca-Cola styled after the 1900 bottle," she said.

The general store offers penny-candy, dill pickles, pretzels and cookies.

A barbecue is hosted by Post 28 American Legion in Ephrata, with hot dogs and hamburgers.

Admission to pioneer day is $3.50 for adults, $2.50 for students 6 years old through 15, and kids 5 and under are admitted free.

The Grant County Historical Museum & Village is located at 742 Basin Street N., in Ephrata.

For more information, contact 509-754-3334.