Local Events

Friday, June 12, 2009

Starr Homeplace Community Days

If you are looking for something interesting to do in Northeast Louisiana this weekend, just a little out of the ordinary, you may be interested in Starr Homeplace Community Days.  The second weekend of each month from May through October, they are open to the public.  Volunteers come from near and far to demonstrate the crafts of yesteryear.  From milling and weaving to woodworking and smithing, there is sure to be something of interest to you.

Saturday and Sunday, June 13th and 14th, there will be an antique car and tractor show.  Saturday will be the main day for the car show, but it is so much more than a car show.  If you are interested in machines and motors of the past, you are sure to enjoy this event. 

Other points of interest this months will be the loom in operation, a gentleman will be building an Ox yoke and they plan to fire up the wood stove for bread baking. 

The old plantation home has been turned into a museum of sorts with working memorabelia from the past.  There is an herb garden, a blacksmith station, a grist mill, a printing press and a weaving loom just for starters.  If you really would like to see just how far we have come in the past century, this is a good place to start. 

Give your children a glimpse into the lives of your parents and your grandparents.  Make a weekend family outing of it, you can't go wrong here.  It costs $5 per person to get in, and you can tour the grounds all day.  They will be providing a light lunch for a small contribution. 

You will want to be sure and check out the book sale in the barn too.  Last year they received a large donation of books, some of which are new inventory from an old bookstore from the first mall in Monroe, Louisiana.  From cookbooks, old and new to history and fiction, it is a book lovers dream.  All proceeds go to fund the project, so you not only get a great deal on books, you are helping to keep history alive.

For more information or directions to Starr Homeplace, go to www.starrhomeplace.org

And while you are thinking about it, be sure to mark your calendars for the July event.  It is a driving tour of the Ancient Mounds of Northeast Louisiana.  Guest speakers Joe Saunders and Reca Jones, members of the Northeast Louisiana Archaeological Society will be be giving a talk and a tour of the mounds in the area.  They work together at ULM and have worked in the field for many years, and are both experts in their field. For more information or to sign up for the tour, email JCR@pandemonia.net

Lazy J Auction

Lazy J Auction, Hwy 165 South in Bastrop, LA starts at 6 p.m.  They say the building is full, they have antique furniture, books, tools and you don't want to miss it.  We plan to go, hope to see you there.