Cheryl's View // Panhandle Pioneer Settlement - Bluntstown, Florida
In April, we went to the Panhandle Folk Life Days Festival. It is their annual spring festival which highlights the way of life for Florida's early settlers. While we were there we learned about how they churned heavy cream into butter and how buttermilk was made. We learned the history behind the "hoe cake" and how they made cracklins. There were ladies making beautiful baskets from pine straw and several ladies working on a quilt that was attached to a quilting frame. We were able to sample fresh biscuits from the wood burning stove and fresh homemade jam or jelly. We were also able to learn about spinning wool into yarn, blacksmithing, and bowl carving.
There are many historic buildings on the property such as the Red Oak Methodist Church, blacksmith shop, cobbler shop, Shiloh School, Sexton cabin, and Wells cabin. Each of these buildings offers a unique look into our history.
One of the most interesting buildings on the property is the Altha Calaboose (a small jail). The Calaboose was built in 1927 by Haywood Baggett and Miles Richards. Later that year these two builders of the Calaboose also happened to be the first ones to be tossed into it for selling a horse without a license.
The Pioneer Settlement offers several family friendly events, programs, classes and demonstrations throughout the year. I encourage you to check a few of them out. It is definitely worth the visit if you are a history buff.
Things you need to know:
Location: Bluntstown, Florida
Hours:
10 a.m. - 2 p.m. CST
Open: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
Admission: Adults - $6.00, Seniors - $3.50, Children 5-12 - $3.00
Children under 4 - free and Members - free
