BSC Social Studies Methods Class
Participates in Crab Orchard Museum's
"Christmas on the Frontier"

Christmas on Frontier 1)  BSC student Meghan Bennett at Historic Crab Orchard Museum and Pioneer Park’s Christmas on the Frontier.

BSC students Rebecca Asbury and Matt Blevins at Historic Crab Orchard Museum and Pioneer Park’s Christmas on the Frontier.

BSC students (front row, left-to-right) John Larkin and Meghan Bennett, (second row, l-to-r) Rebecca Asbury and Ashley Kinder, and (third row, l-to-r) Matt Blevins, Jackie Hicks, Jeremy Hedinger, Ashley Taylor, and Tim Farra at Historic Crab Orchard Museum and Pioneer Park’s Christmas on the Frontier.

(Bluefield)--Students in Bluefield State College’s Social Studies Methods Class recently assisted the Historic Crab Orchard Museum & Pioneer Park staff by interpreting the prehistoric era, the Civil War, the Jamestown 400 Display, cooking over the open hearth, blacksmithing, candle stick making, weaving and other pioneer crafts. Their research in the class, taught by BSC adjunct faculty member Dr. Terry W. Mullins, helped to enhance the museum’s “Christmas on the Frontier” display.

Students attend a day workshop at the museum prior to the December 8, 2006 event to familiarize themselves with the themes open to interpretation in the main gallery and the pioneer park. They choose a topic to research in more detail and interpret during the annual Christmas on the Frontier event. More than 300 participants took part in the annual program. BSC students have been active participants in the Christmas on the Frontier since 2003.

Jackie Hicks, a BSC student involved in the project, observed, “The experience was fun and I really enjoyed working with the kids, who ranged in ages from 2-14. It was relatively warm where we worked, even though it was only 14 degrees outside.” Ashley Taylor added, “Sharing the information from Crab Orchard Museum with area children and families was a wonderful community and holiday experience.”

The Historic Crab Orchard Museum & Pioneer Park in Tazewell portrays life on Virginia's western Appalachian frontier in the 1700s and early 1800s. Sixteen furnished log and stone buildings interpret pioneer life dating from the early 1800s. The museum gallery traces the history of the Southwest Virginia and Southern West Virginia region from the 1700s to today. Each year, Christmas on the Frontier features hot apple cider, horse and buggy rides, dulcimer music, blacksmithing, spinning and tatting demonstrations. Cookies and cider are served inside the fire-warmed kitchen. Christmas carols are played on guitars, dulcimers and flutes by costumed musicians, and cabins are adorned with traditional pioneer decorations.

December 18, 2006