Wirt County Pioneer Days

 In 2003, members from Daughters of American Pioneers and Wirt County Historical Society collaborated to share our knowledge of Wirt County’s rich history, landmarks, and acknowledge Wirt County’s distinguished pioneer citizens. Our goal was to educate school children, local citizens, and the general public.

The first event featured homemade crafts, music, antique engines and demonstrations of pioneer skills. The fundraiser for the first year was a Red Fenton Bell with a sketch of the Beauchamp-Newman Museum drawn by a primary school student. The Elizabeth Beauchamp Chapter Daughters of American Pioneers started sponsoring the event in 2004. The DAP continued the Fenton Bell fund raising activities for five years. Wirt County Pioneer Day celebrated our 20th Anniversary in October 2023. 

The activities of the two-day Wirt County Pioneer Day event represent our organization's values. The event provides an opportunity for local craftsmen, organizations and school/sports activities to raise funds for their school and other community projects. The Wirt County Commission has provided the use of the Courthouse Square and electric for the event each year.

Special guided tours of the historic Morgan-McClung House and the Beauchamp-Newman Museum are conducted. Well-known bluegrass, country, gospel, and old-time rock and roll artists perform live on stage all day. Our annual quilt show is held in the hallway of the Wirt County Courthouse. Wirt County High School parking lot provides space for the antique car show participants. Antique engines are displayed near the Courthouse.

Skilled artists have demonstrated their pioneer skills in apple butter making, basket weaving, blacksmithing, crochet, pottery, rag rug making, and wool spinning. In 2022, a group of pioneer music artists demonstrated the folk art of playing the dulcimer and bagpipes. 

Special activities include horse carriage rides, children’s craft tables, face painting, and inflatable bounce houses on the museum lawn. Smoky Bear, Shriner Clowns (magic and balloons), and local actors from Mountaineer TV Show have made appearances. 

The Porch fluff Sutlery holds an annual Civil War Ladies' tea on the Museum lawn. Light refreshments are served, and the ladies dressed in period attire display their hosting and sewing skills. Union and Confederate troops in period attire will engage in a small skirmish (with historical cannons) on Court Street in the afternoon. The skirmish gives visitors a small glimpse of Sunday’s Civil War reenactment battle.

On the second day the event is relocated to a field on Route 5. Sunday morning starts with church services. Visitors can observe the authentic details of the rifles, equipment, uniforms, and cannons set up in a Civil War encampment. Sunday’s featured event is The Civil War Reenactment Battle.