Following every Labor Day weekend, the Somerset Historical Society, located just off of Route 985, holds a three day festival to preserve local history with the help of over 180 artisans, musicians, entertainers, and volunteers. Somerset and the surrounding areas know this weekend as Mountain Craft Days.

This year, Mountain Craft Days was held on September 9th, 10th, and 11th from 10 am to 5 pm. Visitors were able to enjoy over 125 craft booths including everyday living items from history such as soaps, teas, homemade wooden spoons as well as  plates, herbs, and oils.

Booths also included unique one-of-a-kind collector's items made by blacksmiths, ironworkers, jewelers, potters, trappers, quilters, knitters, and wool spinners.

Families and guests were able to enjoy many demonstrations and entertainment acts such as, a magician that provided a show everyday of the festival. At the 1770’s settler’s cabin, guests could watch a demonstration on how to split wood for fences.  A variety of musicians such as those who played dulcimers, fiddles, violins, cellos, and wooden flutes, filled the area with their old time music.

Food is a major contributor to the festival. Venders sold homemade historic somerset county foods such as ham potpie, corn mush, smoked chicken, apple dumplings, cider, dried apples, and maple products.

Children and youth also had opportunities to contribute to the historical weekend. There was a booth that the “Young Historians” ran selling self-churned butter served on saltine crackers, fresh baked warm gingerbread,  and old time brewed coffee. Shanksville school is one of the many schools in the surrounding area that has student participation in the program. Avery and Josiah Custer are both members of the Young Historians program and participate in Mountain Craft Days.

Avery has been a member of the Young Historians program for three years . The group meets once or twice a month and are able to learn history through hands on experience.  At the festival the “Young Historians” group table had a table to make gingerbread, churn butter, and roast and make coffee.

Avery declared, “My favorite part about Young Historians and Mountain Craft Days is being able to churn the butter, and help the younger kids learn about history.”

Mountain Craft Days has been educating today’s population in the history of the area for 46 years. The volunteers are committed to the quality and tradition of excellence in local history. There is something for all ages and levels of interest in history and crafts each year. Mountain Craft days is an opportunity to really relive the “good old days.”