Rick Castell, President of West Virginia Surveyors Association center, shows left Kaden Statler, Finn Dobosh, and Jacob Hare one of the vintage transits, at Mason Dixon Historical park.
News

Learn about Mason-Dixon Line at historical park’s festival

by The Dominion Post

MORGANTOWN — The Mason-Dixon Line Festival continues from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 13 at Mason-Dixon Historical Park.
Folks can learn about Brown’s Hill, where in October 1767, Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon halted the famous survey known today as the Mason-Dixon Line.
A quilt show, sponsored by the Country Roads Quilt Shop in Morgantown, will be held in the park’s log cabins, with more than 100 quilts on display. There will be a drawing for a log cabin quilt, with proceeds going to the Snack Pack backpack program in Monongalia County.
A buckwheat cakes and sausage breakfast takes place from 8 a.m.-noon today in the park’s Red Barn. Cost is $9 for adults, $5 for children.
Saturday schedule 

  • 8 a.m.-noon — Buckwheat pancak breakfast/brunch in the park’s Red Barn.
  • 9:45 a.m. — Prayer service at the park amphitheater.
  • 10 a.m.-6 p.m. — Colorful quilt show sponsored by the Country Roads Quilt Shop in Morgantown. The show will be held in the park’s historic log cabins. Golf carts will shuttle visitors up the hill to the cabins for those who need a ride.
  • 10 a.m.-6 p.m. — Mason-Dixon Craft Fair in park’s annex building.
  • 10 a.m.-6 p.m. — Food sales by Phyllis Bruce and the Warrior Trail Association.
  • 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. — Surveyors presentation. Learn how surveying is done now and how it was done during the time of Mason and Dixon.
  • Noon — Historical interpreter Dianne Anestis discusses the role of women in the Native American society.
  • 2:30 p.m. — Historical interpreter Doug Wood will portray Native American leader Ostenaco.
  • 3 p.m. — Mason-Dixon Hike led by Pete Zapadka. Departs area next to the Red Barn and proceeds along Dunkard Creek to the Third Crossing of Dunkard Creek Recreation Area. East 1 1/2-mile walk. An optional part of the hike will proceed up steep Brown’s Hill to the 1883 marker where Mason and Dixon placed their last marker in 1767.
  • 4:45 p.m. — Historical interpreter/surveyor Don Teter portrays Edward Corder, a chainman for young George Washington on surveys in the days before the American Revolution.
  • Nightfall — A public star party with telescopes to show off the stars Mason and Dixon used to draw the line so accurately.

The park is at 79 Buckeye Road near Core and Mount Morris, Pa.
Info: masondixonhistoricalpark.com.

 

Gallery by Ron Rittenhouse