LSUS event: How early American settlers survived in 1800s Louisiana

SHREVEPORT, La. ( KTAL/KMSS ) – A university in Shreveport, Louisiana, is working hard to teach people from the region what life was like in 1800s Northwest Louisiana by highlighting the importance of historic crafts and arts.

Marty Young is the Director of the LSU Shreveport Pioneer Heritage Center. He’s also among around 70 living historians and volunteers participating in the annual Pioneer Day.

Young is 52 and one of the youngest historians in the group. He literally lights up when he’s at his historic blacksmith forge.

And it’s his intention to encourage the next generation of living historians to begin passing along the craftsman traditions of our region’s historical culture.

Young said that one of the main goals of Pioneer Day is to expose people to LSU Shreveport’s Pioneer Heritage Center and to help young people fall in love with old-fashioned arts and crafts.

The event is free to students and $5 for adults. It takes place on Oct. 12 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Young said the day is to help preserve our region’s historic folklife.

The Pioneer Heritage Center at LSU Shreveport features seven historic buildings:

• Caspiana House, a log dogtrot cabin.
• A historic general store.
• A historic doctor’s office.

Each of the buildings has artifacts that show how residents of this region live in the 1800s.

Pioneer Day is an opportunity for living historians to recreate life in the 1800s for modern observers to witness. Expect to learn about woodcarving, pine needle basket weaving, leatherworking, Dutch oven cooking, pottery throwing, sewing, stitchwork, and flint knapping.

Elvin Shields will demonstrate how to make twisted wire toys that originated in Africa.

Vendors will sell their wares, and representatives of local organizations (such as the Scottish Society of the Louisiana Highlands, Walter B. Jacobs Memorial Park, Bossier Parish Libraries History Center, and the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum) will speak on subjects related to historic NWLA.

For more information about Pioneer Day contact Marty Young at marty.young@lsus.edu .

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