FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 17, 2024
Contact:
Marie Cheek
Community Relations Coordinator
Culture & Heritage Museums of York County, S.C.
www.chmuseums.org
803.909.7312
mcheek@chmuseums.org
Harvest on the Homestead – each Saturday in October yields a cornucopia of agricultural activities at Historic Brattonsville
McCONNELLS, S.C. – Highlighting the Carolina Piedmont’s agricultural heritage, Historic Brattonsville presents “Harvest on the Homestead.” For the month of October, each Saturday features a variety of 18th and 19th century harvest-time activities. Period-dressed interpreters help visitors better understand the past through authentic demonstrations and educational programs. Observe how wattle fencing is built around garden beds, how blacksmithing works in the forge, how the cotton gin separates cotton fibers from seeds and the process of naturally dyeing fabric. Historical cooking recipes bring apple and pumpkin dishes to the table. It’s a good time to explore Historic Brattonsville’s 800-acre farm, outdoors and open air, and relish the Carolina Piedmont’s delightful Autumn season.
2024 ITINERARY for “Harvest on the Homestead – Living History Saturdays”:
Oct. 5: Farm Work in the Harvest Season
Blacksmithing
Garden maintenance and building wattle fencing
19th century open-hearth cooking
2 p.m. —guided tour focusing on the life and work of the enslaved people who lived on the Bratton Plantation in the 18th and 19th centuries
Oct. 12: Apples
18th century cooking featuring Apple Dumplings and Carolina Snowballs
The process of naturally dyeing fabric
19th century food preservation
2 p.m. —guided tour focusing on the agricultural practices of the 18th and 19th century Carolina Piedmont
Oct. 19: Cotton
Running the Cotton Gin – every hour, beginning at 11 a.m. and ending at 3 p.m.
Blacksmithing
18th century cooking featuring Planked Fish and Sea Pie
2 p.m. — guided tour of the 19th century Bratton Plantation
Oct. 26: Pumpkins and Spice
Historical recipes featuring 18th century Pumpkin Pie and Pumpkin Stuffed with Apples; and 19th century Pumpkin Pudding and Pumpkin Hoe Cakes
Archery
2 p.m. — guided tour focusing on the agricultural practices of the 18th and 19th century Carolina Piedmont
Light concessions will be available through the Historic Brattonsville Gift Shop.
WHAT: Harvest on the Homestead – Living History Saturdays
WHERE: Historic Brattonsville is located at 1444 Brattonsville Rd., McConnells, S.C. 29726
WHEN: Every Saturday in Oct. [Oct. 5, 12, 19, 26] from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
VISITORS SERVICES: 803.684.2327
ADMISSION: $8 adults; $7 seniors; $5 youth; FREE for CHM Members and guests under age 3
As a participant in Museums for All, all CHM sites provide reduced admission for low-income families.
WEBSITE: chmuseums.org
IMAGES:
- The Homestead House at Historic Brattonsville with its newly restored exterior
- Open hearth cooking using historical recipes and foods of the season
- Gardens with wattle fencing alongside the 18th century McConnells House
Credit: Culture & Heritage Museums
For high resolution images, contact mcheek@chmuseums.org
About Historic Brattonsville:
Historic Brattonsville features over 30 colonial and antebellum structures, including three house museums. The site spreads over 800-acres and includes farmed land with heritage breed animals, a Revolutionary War battlefield, and a nature preserve with miles of walking trails. Seasonal events, reenactments, and living history programs interpret Southern rural life from the days of the American Revolution through the Reconstruction Era.
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