July 22 - West Overton marks Old Overholt Days

West Overton marks Old Overholt Days
By Barbara Hollenbaugh
West Overton Museums, outside Scottdale, will celebrate an unusual aspect of the Overholt family, who founded the village, Saturday and July 22.During the Old Overholt Days celebration, West Overton will note the military service of this Mennonite family during the Civil War.The village was founded in 1800 by Henry Overholt, a Swiss immigrant who moved there from Bucks County. Overholt's son, Abraham, an entrepreneur, expanded the town's modest grist mill and distillery. He later added other businesses, including a flour mill, a cooper's shop and a blacksmithing shop. He even launched a thriving pig trade.Abraham's grand-nephews, Aaron and John, enlisted in the 15th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Calvary, much against the wishes of their father, a local Mennonite bishop.This regiment served mainly as scouts; however, members played important roles in the Battle of Chickamauga. They also were present at Appomattox on the day Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered.The regiment mustered out of service in June 1865.Barbara Pearlstein, executive director of West Overton, said Old Overholt Days is a celebration of the history of the village and of the people who lived there."There will be demonstrations of cooking, farming and preserving, along with other period crafts, such as spinning and weaving." she said. "There also will be Civil War re-enactments, and even a mock trial for a Southern sympathizer."The musical group The Remnants will perform period music, as well.Pearlstein said she plans this year to test a new program that will depict the lives of children who lived and worked during the region's coal and coke era."We'll have a self-guided picture display in the barn," she said. "People will see what life was like for these children. They had no medical care. Also, there were no child labor laws."There will be children's activities as well. Kids will be able to sort coal by grade and by size, just as their counterparts did years ago.Pearlstein said she hopes to add more living history events to the celebration."West Overton once had a thriving pig trade," she said. "That should be illustrated."Also, the building that once housed the company store is still standing. I would like to focus on its importance to the villagers. I would like to bring more attention to the old post office, as well."Pearlstein emphasized that she doesn't want to diminish in any way the importance of the Civil War in the village's history; she simply wants to bring attention to the many other aspects of village life.Pearlstein hopes that people will leave the celebration with a deeper understanding of what life was like during the Civil War Period.But she said West Overton is in need of volunteers."There's a wealth of interpretation here," she said. "We simply don't have enough volunteers to help bring it to life."