Kingsport goes back to the nineteenth century at Farm Fest

KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) -Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Homes and Exchange Place Living History Farm celebrated the joys of country life Sunday afternoon with their Farm Fest event, which is part of the Fun Fest.

Farm Fest was a nineteenth-century-inspired, family-friendly event that included fresh food, sack races, hayrides, flowers, crafts, and a cakewalk. Live music was played on traditional instruments, and, of course, farm animals were present. The event occurred on an actual nineteenth-century farm, and participants learned about the details of farm life.

John Gaines began the farm in the early 1800s. News Channel 11 spoke with Marshall Adesman, a volunteer at the event. He talked about the farm’s history, chores and the average day of a farmer.

“We talk about what life was like back then,” Gaines said. “I was in the spring house, so I told them about how that was the refrigeration unit for back then because there was no electricity, no refrigerator, a freezer. That’s where you put your cold water [and] your cold milk. [If] you made ice cream, you put it in there.”

Gaines also talked about how people stayed warm or cool and cooked their food, what they grew in their gardens and the schoolhouses where children attended class.

“The schoolhouse, you could see where the kids went to school,” said Gaines. “Our barn is where we still keep our animals, our big animals. And you could see where they would have kept their large animals. And the pigs are running around, the sheep are running around, and chickens. So, this is a farm. This is a literally a step back in time, going back 150 or more years.”

Gaines said the event is run by volunteers. Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Homes has sponsored it for nearly 30 years.

Farm Fest was held at Exchange Place Living History Farm .

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