History Shines In Waitsburg’s Pioneer Fall Festival

WAITSBURG - Locals and tourists flocked to the Bruce House Museum Sunday to im­merse themselves in Waitsburg history at the Pioneer Fall Festival.

Sales and events up and down Main Street brought locals and people from out of town out to see the fare. The Bruce House and the Wilson-Phillips House run by the Waitsburg Historical Society was open for most of the day for festival-goers to tour. In the lawn around the museum, pioneer-themed vendors and ex­hibitions kept the audience mov­ing while local bluegrass groups played on a stage aimed toward Main Street.

Exhibitor and vendor Gary Lentz made hand-dipped bees­wax candles after years of only making candles out of tallow and paraffin. Lentz said people requested he make beeswax candles this year. He said the beeswax candles smell great and are easy to add scents to.

Judy Czyhold of Walla Walla and her husband Richard Czy­hold showed off some recycled jewelry she made while her son Ben Czyhold demonstrated blacksmithing techniques at their table outside the Bruce House.

Judy Czyhold said her hus­band makes objects out of found items and started making jewelry out of the recycled pieces. She uses recycled copper, old wash­ers and items she finds at yard sales to create jewelry.

"Everything is recycled," Judy Czyhold said. "(For the center charms) I cut and letter the copper pieces."

Richard Czyhold creates hand-pounded and forged sculp­tures including a giant dinosaur more than 10 feet tall. Ben Czyhold demonstrated forging techniques and explained black­smithing to a group of children and adults who gaped at the red-hot metal when it came out of the coals.

Long-time Waitsburg resident Erma Lee Smith was honored as the Pioneer of the Year. Her daughter, Darleen Dozier and grandson Logan Dozier, spoke on her behalf. Smith's family came to the Waitsburg area in 1898.

Kids ruled the music scene, participating in four of the five musical acts. Waitsburg's Dr. Kyle Terry was the only act that didn't include any children.

The Blue Mountain Barn­stormers, composed of Emma Philbrook, Chris Philbrook and Sam McGowan, performed two sets and the Inspired Ramblers, composed of Kavin, Kassidy, Kaleb and Kathryn Kuykendall, performed one set. The Barn­stormers also performed a few songs with Kavin Kuykendall between sets.

Kris Kuykendall, mother of the Inspired Ramblers, said her oldest child, 16-year-old Kavin, has been playing guitar and banjo for about 3.5 years. And once he started, his siblings started play­ing instruments as well.

Other kids enjoyed the sunny day at the festival by playing pioneer games like the hoop roll and sack races. A group of seven children expended their energy racing up and down the field near the old Waitsburg schoolhouse.

Organizer Jeff Broom said the event seemed to have gone well. Broom said he was surprised the majority of attendees stayed at the museum for most of the day. He said he thought the lack of a buffalo feed would keep people from coming out, but they seemed to enjoy the good music. Broom said he was happy the weather was nice and sunny so people could head down to the local businesses when they got tired of nachos at the museum grounds.

Broom said he was surprised to see the historical elements of the festival were the most popular but most local businesses saw a bump in sales as well.

"We may be onto something positive here (with the event)," Broom said. "But we aren't sure yet."