Rockingham’s folk festival teaches ‘old-timey way of doing things’

Attend the 19th Annual Rockingham County Folk Festival and learn to do things the way grandma did.

“That’s what the whole festival’s all about — the old-timey way of doing things,” said Marie Anderson of Eden.

Anderson makes quilts on old-fashioned treadle sewing machines. She doesn’t use electric machines, preferring the hand craftsmanship and soothing, rhythmic motion of the foot-powered machines.

“I like the treadle machines, just because they’re unique,” said Anderson. Her favorite sewing machine is an 1886 Montgomery Ward, because it makes such precise stitches. She began collecting the machines in the 1980s.

Dillon Gourley, 11, of Eden, tried his hand at sewing a beanbag on a 1923 Singer Model 66 “Red Eye.” The machine was part of Anderson’s display in the Rockingham Community College gymnasium Saturday.

“I like making beanbags. It’s fun,” said Gourley.

Anderson began sewing as a child. She learned from her mother and was eager to pass on the skill to the children, whom she called “quick learners.”

Carrying on traditional arts and crafts is a major part of the folk festival.

Walter Aberson of Concord held pottery demonstrations on his hand-built English treadle wheel. The self-taught potter of 38 years makes functional pottery and often holds demonstrations at historic sites.

“I want people to see that they can do something themselves. You don’t need a motor or a computer,” said Aberson. “All I need is an axe and this wheel and clay and I can make pottery. It suits me fine.”

All Rockingham County craftsman J.P. Madren needs to make dough bowls is a log and a wood-splitting tool.

Years ago, people made bowls out of necessity, “because grandma needed a bowl,” said Madren. He made his first dough bowl because his wife needed one, and he couldn’t afford to buy it.

Madren makes three or four dough bowls a week and sells most of them on the Internet. Unlike the dough bowls made years ago out of soft wood, Madren makes his from red maple with the hope that they will last hundreds of years.

“Everything I use is red maple. There’s no other wood I have been able to find that has as much character. I’m just awestruck by it.”

Anna Micciulla, of Pennwood Farm in Reidsville, makes Pennwood Puritannicals soap from vegetable oils, lye and goat’s milk.

“We make it the old-style, the old-fashioned way,” she said.

Weaving is another traditional craft.

“We consider it an art piece now, but it used to be a necessity,” said Beth Lanier, a local fiber artist. “There’s such a move for ecology and going green that something that’s really old is becoming new again,”

While folk artists demonstrated traditional crafts, children were outside at the Kids Art Fest area making creations of their own.

“Everything’s really hands-on,” said Angela Elliott, who works in the child development center at RCC. “At most festivals, it’s not as personal or creative as the programs here. They’re really getting creative with the wire sculptures.”

Just down the hill, children panned for minerals in a sluice set up by the Rockingham County Mineral Club. Hannah Billingsley, 9, of Reidsville, was busy panning for shark teeth, smoky quartz and whatever else she could find.

“It’s her second go-round with it; she’s liking this,” said Eddie Roberson, Billingsley’s grandfather.

His favorite part of the folk festival is the music.

“I enjoyed hearing Michael Ken play,” he said.

Ken, a country singer from Reidsville, took the stage at the amphitheater at 1 p.m. When Jeni & Billy went on at 11 a.m., it was still raining lightly and the bleachers at the amphitheater were still wet.

By the time the Slate Mountain Ramblers, a family old-time band, took the stage at noon, the sun had started to come out.

“The more we played, the sunnier it got,” said Jeni Hankins, of Jeni & Billy, an acoustic duo.

The crowd was sparse in the morning because of the lingering rain from Tropical Storm Hanna, but the crowds grew as the skies cleared. This is the first year the folk festival has been held in the fall.

Coordinators cited the need for better weather as the primary reason for the change.

“I know people have been accustomed to having it in the spring, so it’s still a new idea to have this as a fall event,” said Longhofer. “I think so far people have been very positive about it.“

Kitty Williams, an artist and member of the Rockingham County Historical Society, believes attendance will rise as more people learn about the change.

“I think it’s good to move it to the fall,” said Williams. “It could become a harvest festival, which I think would be a great thing.”

Williams spent most of her time Saturday in the historic village, where festival goers toured a log tobacco museum and factory, a one-room schoolhouse and observed a Civil War re-enactment group’s encampment.

“There’s not always this historical element,“ said Hankins. “It gives something a little special to this festival.”

The festival continues today at 10 a.m. and ends at 6 p.m. The forecast calls for sunny skies and warm weather.

Staff writer Miranda Baines can be reached at or 349-4331, ext. 35.