EMPORIUM – Dozens of horse-drawn canvas-covered wagons will
voyage this morning to Driftwood, recalling the pioneering
days.
Passengers will travel south to the state game lands, Huston
Hill near Driftwood. For the remainder of the day, they’ll
socialize.
At the stop in Driftwood, the Sinnemahoning Volunteer Fire
Department will provide water to the horses, mules and ponies.
Riders will also have a chance to see the birthplace of Tom
Mix.
On Sunday, area citizens got the opportunity to see the wagons
parade through downtown Emporium.
About 250 to 300 people from around the country and the state
converged Saturday at the Cameron County Fairgrounds to prepare for
the week-long journey.
It’s a part of the Appalachian Wagon Train, an organization that
has been shining the spotlight onto history since celebrating
Somerset County’s 175th anniversary in 1970.
John Friedhoff of Mechanicsburg, whose been involved with the
Wagon Train for about 32 years, said the annual event is used to
educate the young and old alike.
“We learn from our past in order to do better in the future,” he
said. “We learn from our mistakes.”
A similar perspective is shared by Paul Ivory, who has been a
part of the Wagon Train for about 10 years.
“We want everyone to see the mode of transportation our
forefathers used,” he said.
Ivory said he feels right at home by the friendliness of the
participants and loves “seeing the country at three miles per hour”
while riding in a wagon.
Kathy Eckberg, coordinator, calls the trek “fun.” She’s been
involved with the Wagon Train for about nine years and her horse
named Bandit is leading the adventure this year.
“We bring the past into the present,” she said.
Dick Stewart, guide for the Wagon Train, visited the area about
10 times to lay out the trails and get a feel for the adventure.
He’s been a member for about seven years.ð
They’ll continue their journey at 8 a.m. Tuesday. Riders will
also be participating in beard, hat and bonnet contest, as well as
an ugly man contest at 7 p.m. the same day. The train voyage will
continue west to Rocky Elk Foundation, Elk Mountain Homestead, 950
Winslow Hill Road near Benezette at 8 a.m. Wednesday.
Passengers will be setting up camp at Elk Mountain Homestead on
Thursday. Plans call for an ice cream social and, in the afternoon,
competitions, children’s games and horse games.
They’ll be traveling in a loop to the northeast and return to
the Elk Mountain Homestead. At 7 p.m. Friday, the horse game
competition winners will be awarded. On Saturday, the train will be
the highlight in a parade in Benezette at noon. A water gun battle
will take place later in the day at the camp grounds.
The week’s events will conclude with a worship service, led by
the group’s chaplain, Elam Bender, starting at 9 a.m. Sunday.
Brunch will also be served.
“They’re all good, down-to-earth people,” Stewart said. “They’d
do anything for you.”
