TURBOTVILLE — The Warrior Run Fort Freeland Heritage Society needs the money it raises from its annual Strawberry festival to maintain the historic 170-year-old Warrior Run Church.
But according to society co-chair Terry Greiner, the money is secondary to the festival’s true purpose.
“It’s not about the money we raise really. It’s a fun event,” she said, during the 28th annual festival Sunday afternoon.
Looking out across the church lawn off the Susquehanna Trail, Greiner noticed a small group of children playing with tennis rackets.
“That’s the stuff we want to see — a big family picnic,” she said. “People don’t get out and do this stuff anymore.”
Of course, the money helps. According to Greiner, the society spends about $10,000 a year on renovations and upkeep to the church and the $4,000 stipend they get for being on the state’s register of historic places doesn’t cut it.
Fortunately, the Strawberry Festival is a popular event, regularly drawing more than 1,000 people, she said, though no official totals are available since there’s no admission charge.
Attendees enjoyed an antique car show, tours of the church and, of course, fresh strawberries, about 300 quarts of them, according to Greiner.
One of the attractions at this year’s festival was a demonstration by the “Fort Freeland Flickers,” a student sheep-to-shawl weaving team that took first place at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in January.
Team advisor Francie Appleman said the students met each other through the society’s apprentice program, which teaches the crafts and skills of colonial America to young people.
The team — made up of students from fifth through 10th grade — participated in the Farm Show and took first place after the other two weaving teams dropped out, but Appleman said the judges were impressed.
“It takes a lot of practice on their part,” she said. “People come by and say, ‘Oh, it looks easy.’ It only looks easy because they’re good at it.”
The team went from raw fleece to finished shawl in a little more than 3 hours, with 14-year-old Erin Webster weaving for 3 hours straight.
“It’s just like you have to keep going. You can take a break if you want to, but you might not make the time,” she said. “I was scared to stop.” Erin said her family’s house is filled with scarves, shawls, purses and mittens she weaved herself.
“Actually, it’s kind of relaxing,” she said. “There are tons of different things you can do, different colors.”
Several people also stopped into the church for a brief history lesson from volunteer Lorraine Miller, who was decked out in a period costume, which included her grandmother’s petticoat. Pointing, she said, “The fourth pew back over there is my family’s pew.”
Years ago, when mass was still held in the church, the congregation had a seating arrangement, she said. The church stopped holding services around 1950, though it opens up several times throughout the year for special events, weekend tours during the summer and for weddings.
Greiner said the society usually raises about $3,000 from the Strawberry Festival.
n E-mail comments to rscott@dailyitem.com.
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