The Beverly Heritage Center, the newest attraction in Historic Beverly, is planning a busy season of activities for the summer of 2012. Living history and craft demonstrations, traditional music concerts, and a three-day Beverly Heritage Days are among the upcoming events.
"Now that our museum is mostly complete, we're offering exciting activities to bring people to have fun and learn at the Beverly Heritage Center," said Terry Hackney, operations manager for the Beverly Heritage Center.
The biennial Beverly Heritage Days will be expanded this year to three days in July. On the evening of July 13, the Blue and Gray Choir of Philippi will perform at the Beverly Presbyterian Church. A homemade dinner by the ladies of the church will be available before the concert.
On July 14, the Historic Home and Garden Tour, plus Civil War scenarios and a skirmish, will highlight a busy day of craft demonstrations, living history, children's activities, music, food and fun. A Civil War outdoor dance by the Rich Mountain String Band will conclude the day.
The featured event for July 15 will be a Civil War-era fashion show, preceded by a Victorian Tea. Only the home tour, fashion show and food will be ticketed. All other activities during the event will be free.
June activities will include the annual Lemuel Chenoweth Day on June 16, with tours of the Lemuel Chenoweth house, weaving demonstrations through town and music at the Beverly Heritage Center. On June 30, a living history day will feature printing, weaving and basketry demonstrations during the day.
Two concerts are planned, with Michael and Carrie Kline on July 29, and Born Old on Sept 1. Clara Barton will visit Beverly on Aug. 12 with a History Alive! presentation by Karen Vuranch. Additional living history, demonstrations, workshops and musical performances will be offered periodically at the Beverly Heritage Center and will be posted on the website.
The featured August event will be a Progressive Porch Party on Aug. 18. The event will be a progressive dinner of traditional courses, served from the porches of the historic homes surrounding the center.
"This will be a new fundraising event to benefit the Beverly Heritage Center, based on the model of our successful Night at the Museum and Heart of the Heritage events," Hackney explained. "We are working on some exciting ideas for hospitality and activities that will make this an event not to be missed."
The Beverly Heritage Center is a museum, visitor center and gift shop located in four historic buildings in the Beverly historic district, 6 miles south of Elkins on U.S. 219. Summer hours for the center are Thursdays through Saturdays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sundays through Wednesdays 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
There is an admission charge. Beverly Heritage Center memberships are now available, which entitle members to free museum admission and discounts on many of the ticketed events.
The Beverly Heritage Center is a partnership between Rich Mountain Battlefield Foundation and Historic Beverly Preservation. It has museum exhibits and visitor information about the Battle of Rich Mountain and area Civil War sites, Beverly's history, shops and attractions, and about the Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike National Scenic Byway.
For more information, visit the website at www.beverlyheritagecenter.org or call 304-637-7424.
