JUNE 18, 2009 ISSUE
Heritage Day and Wood Kiln Opening in Blackberry June 27
Potter, sawmill man, storyteller and musician Glenn Bolick welcomes the public to his home in Blackberry for the annual Heritage Day and Wood Kiln Opening on Saturday, June 27.On the fourth Saturday of June each year, visitors come from miles around to the small community of Blackberry to purchase unique pottery from an old-fashioned wood kiln, hear mountain music and relive the past through demonstrations of traditional crafts and old-timey equipment.
Bolick Pottery and Traditions Pottery, located on Blackberry Road just south of Blowing Rock, will host the annual Heritage Day and Wood Kiln Opening on Saturday, June 27, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is free.
Local legend Glenn Bolick, a fourth-generation sawmill man, potter, old-time musician and storyteller, is the leader of the annual celebration.
“We draw a lot of people,” Bolick said.
Most of the pottery at Bolick Pottery and Traditions Pottery—owned by Bolick’s daughter and son-in-law—is created using a modern electric kiln, but twice a year, the two families of potters fire up the old wood kiln to produce hard-to-find, unique creations. If you’re looking to grab one of these one-of-a-kind pieces for your own home, you better get there early. Folks line up for the pottery sale long before it opens at 9:00 a.m., and by 10:00 a.m., most everything is gone, Bolick said.
“A lot of times, we do sell all of the pieces,” he said.
Live music will be provided throughout the day by The Dollar Brothers, the Clyde Maness Band from Robbins and Surefire, an up-and-coming local bluegrass band that Bolick is especially excited to hear at the event.
“They are super good,” Bolick said about Surefire. “I believe they will absolutely go to the top.
“I wanted to get them before they got too famous,” he laughed.
And you’re likely to catch old-time musicians jamming out between performances. Roger Hicks, a potter from Lenoir, will also perform on guitar.
The Heritage Day activities include horse and wagon rides, blacksmithing, basket making, shingle sawing with an old-timey tractor, corn grinding, a working steam engine and sawmilling, among other crafts.
Food, to be served all day, includes hot dogs, pinto beans, cornbread and homemade ice cream.
The grounds surrounding Bolick Pottery and Traditions Pottery include several restored historic buildings. Bolick recently moved and reconstructed an old log cabin that used to serve as one of Watauga County’s first schoolhouses, located in the Blackberry community. Rumor has it that the Dougherty brothers, founders of the college that became Appalachian State University, first taught in this schoolhouse, Bolick said. He guessed that the logs from the schoolhouse were at least 150 years old.
“It’s a pretty rare building,” Bolick said.
To get to Traditions Pottery and Bolick Pottery, travel south on Highway 321 past Blowing Rock. Turn left at Blackberry Road and right on Bolick Road and follow the signs. For more information, call 828-295-5099 or click to www.traditionspottery.com.
Want To Go?
Date: Saturday, June 27
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Location: Traditions and Bolick Pottery, south of Blowing Rock
Cost: Free admission
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