Heritage Day 2015

Take a step back in time at the annual Heritage Day Saturday, September 19, 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Come out to the Henderson Mennonite Heritage Park and enjoy a wide array of ethnic foods, demonstrations, and activities for young and old alike. Apple cider making, meat rendering, old fashioned laundry day, corn shelling, hands-on rope making, rug braiding, sewing & quilting demonstrations, and butter making can all be enjoyed at Heritage Day. 

There is no admission charge on Heritage Day with the entire park open for viewing. The newly completed Henderson Depot will be open, and a must-see is the Deep Well Irrigation Display in the Machine Shed. Music will be performed in the Country Mennonite Church throughout the morning by the Matt Siebert band. Woodworking demonstrations will be held by Jim Ratzlaff in the Summer Kitchen where he will be making his unique wood cranes.

Country School will be in session from 9:30–11 a.m. complete with chalk board lessons, raising of the flag and vintage school yard games. A variety of sewing demonstrations will take place in the Immigrant House in the morning. Horse drawn wagon rides will be available for tours around the park throughout the day. 

Ethnic foods available will be bologna, cheese, zwieback, ham sandwiches, New Year’s cookies, raisin shnetya, sour cream cookies, and apple prieshka. Cracklings and homemade sausage may also be purchased on Heritage Day. Fresh waffles cooked on an outdoor wood fired stove using antique waffle irons will be available.

If you are interested in genealogy, the General Store will be open and visitors can view the Heritage Park’s entire collection of genealogies and gift shop items. Volunteers will be on hand for assistance using the GRANDMA Genealogy computer program.  

Golf carts will be available for those needing help getting around the Heritage Park. The park is located 1 ½ mile south of the Henderson I-80 Exit #342 on spur 93A.  For more information, contact LaVonne Thiessen at 723-4559.