Morgantown >> Joanna Furnace ironworks celebrates an old-fashioned apple harvest during the Hay Creek Apple Festival, the second weekend in October, Saturday, Oct. 8, and Sunday, Oct. 9.
This weekend, as for the past 35 years, Historic Joanna Furnace Ironworks becomes the setting for the area’s premier family – apple attraction featuring the enjoyment of delicious, homemade apple foods, out-of-the-ordinary family fun and immersion in local history of the ironworks and village.
Even today, the fall apple harvest is strongly associated with our local rural culture. The aroma of fresh apples in the cool autumn air brings back pleasant memories to adults and creates special memories for our children. For over 30 years, parents have made this event a family tradition. The youngsters who came to this Festival during its early years are now bringing their own children back to help them create their memories.
Visitors can start the day with the all-you-can-eat apple pancake breakfast, served from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. both days. Then throughout each day, every imaginable apple food is available . . . from freshly pressed cider to fritters, pies, tarts, dumplings, and so much more. The 19th century Joanna Furnace apple cider press will be operating throughout each day with continuous demonstrations. Experience freshly pressed Hay Creek Cider by the cup or by the gallon to take home.
Also in the food court, traditional apple foods like Schnitz un Knepp (apples, dumplings, and ham) and apple butter are always a special treat. Additional delights available include roasted nuts, kettle corn and a large variety of freshly picked apples by the bag.
The menu includes the uniting of traditional early American dishes with such additional favorites as apple dumplings, apple pies, apple crisp, homemade caramel apples with various toppings, apple sausage sandwiches, apple fritters, candy apples, hot mulled cider and the freshly pressed cider. And not to be missed is Mabel’s Iron-Kettle Soup, cooked to perfection over open fires. (Chicken Corn, Beef Vegetable, Ham & bean with rivels). Mabel’s Iron-Kettle Soups recipes can be traced back to the 19th century. They are also available by the quart for take home and you can freeze them for eating later. And if anyone wants an even wider menu . . . chicken pot pie (also available by the quart for take home), hamburgers, hot dogs, French fries, soda, water and coffee and additional festive foods and beverages are always available.
Many visitors make a point of purchasing our soups, pot pie and apple baked dessert goods to take home and freeze in preparation for entertaining and holiday meals.
HAY CREEK APPLE BAKING CONTEST
The annual Hay Creek Apple Dessert Contest will take place on Saturday morning. This Apple Dessert Contest is open to all those who love to create their own special desserts. Bring your entries: pies, cakes breads & muffins, desserts and Heritage Recipes to the Festival Food Court area between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. And don’t forget to include your detailed recipe along with your entry. The winning recipes from last year’s Apple Dessert Contest have been put together in a new Hay Creek Apple Dessert Cookbook and will be available for purchase at this year’s event. This year’s winners will have their recipes published next year in the 2017 dessert cookbook. Bakers interested in entering a favorite recipe should see details on the website for categories, rules and prize amounts. As collectors’ items, five previous years’ Apple Baking Contest Cookbooks will also be available for sale.
THE APPLE FESTIVAL FLEA MARKET
The Annual Hay Creek Flea Market will be open both days. For anyone wishing to participate with a flea market stand, the cost for Saturday only set-up is $20 for members and $30 for non-members. Interested people should call Kathleen at 610-914-8152 for details.
FAMILY ACTIVITIESNumerous family activities round out this two-day festival. These family events include scarecrow building, pumpkin painting, early American games, plus hay and pony rides. The children will especially love a ride on the popular Apple Barrel Express. Scarecrows can be built on site or visitors can purchase ‘scarecrow kits’ to build at home. Kits will include a “t” frame, pants, shirt, head, string and accessories. As each scarecrow will have its own personality, each kit will contain varying details including such unique things as bandana or belt, hat, tie, etc. and a small amount of straw to stick out of the hands and feet. Homebuilders can use their own newspaper to stuff their scarecrow.
Other activities include a Petting Zoo, archaeologists at the Wheelwright Shop and exhibits in the Mechanical Technology Building.
All five Joanna Furnace Ironworks Historic Complex Buildings will be open with garbed interpreters telling the full story of the ironworks and village. The Blacksmith Shop complete with the working blacksmith; The Blowing Engine House with a 22-minute video telling the Joanna Furnace story; The Casting House with molders and workers demonstrating the casting process; The Office/Store with the Storekeeper; and the Charcoal House Museum with interpreters showing the process of charcoal making, actual Joanna Furnace products and recovered archaeological artifacts.
The Hay Creek Apple Festival at Historic Joanna Furnace will be held on Saturday, October 8-7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, October 9, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Festival site is at Historic Joanna Furnace Ironworks off Route 10; three miles north of Morgantown . . . turn on Furnace Road and proceed to site entrance.
Admission to the Festival is FREE. Parking is on site with a parking donation. All proceeds from Hay Creek-Joanna Furnace Ironworks events support educational and restoration projects – through the Hay Creek Valley Historical Association and this significant 18th and 19th historic site, Joanna Furnace Ironworks. For more information, visit www.haycreek.org. or call 610-286-0388.
