By RANDY GRIFFITH
SOMERSET — Other girls her age are content to pop some macaroni in the microwave oven, but 15-year-old Ashley Sells has been learning some old-fashioned cooking.
In fact, her culinary skills can be traced to the 18th century over an open wood fire.
On Sunday, the Somerset teen was among volunteers demonstrating the heritage of pioneer life during Mountain Craft Days at Somerset Historical Center.
“My eighth-grade social studies teacher told us this,” Ashley said after scooping some more hot coals onto her Dutch ovens.
“It just sounded fun.”
Although cooking demonstrations are only one part of the Mountain Craft Days weekend, they got the attention of 8-year-old Grant Fordham of Johnstown.
“I learned how they make pickles,” Grant said after swallowing a bite.
Education is an important mission for Mountain Craft Days, Administrator Charles Fox said at the Somerset Historical Center museum.
“It is our most well-known educational program,” Fox said.
“It is also our single largest fundraiser.”
Young historians such as Ashley are an important part of the historical center’s programming, Fox said.
The teen volunteers are recruited from programs conducted through the center.
“They participate in our educational events,” Fox said. “Then they pass on what they have learned to the visiting public.”
The historical center was founded to preserve and interpret the history and heritage of Somerset County and southwestern Pennsylvania, Fox said.
The sprawling property includes a log homestead, log cabin and a new barn dedicated Saturday.
“We show them what life was like at different times,” curator Carrie Blough said at the log cabin’s hearth. Blough spent Sunday afternoon cooking and discussing different types of food from the past.
“I want to make it personal so they can connect it to themselves,” Blough said.
Thousands of visitors saw demonstrations, programs and vendor booths during the three days of the 40th annual event. Sewing, spinning, lace making, blacksmithing, cider pressing and rifle barrel making were featured.
“I don’t think we can know who we are as a people, as a nation, as a culture or as a society if we at least don’t have some understanding of our past,” Fox said.
“Sites like this – museums of all kinds – they are enriching people’s lives. And they are just plain fun.”
