AUGUST 6, 2009 ISSUE
What Makes the Horn Sound? A Family of Volunteers
Nakita Pasour & Erica KatesIf you visit Horn in the West or the Hickory Ridge Homestead, many of the people you will encounter aren’t paid staff, they’re volunteers. The Horn survives off of the generous donations of time from its various volunteers, who come simply to help out.
One such volunteer is Pam Scarborough, a volunteer at the Hickory Ridge Homestead. If you’ve come to the show this season, you’ve probably seen her at the museum, sitting in the Coffee cabin spinning wool, working the 18th century loom or stringing beans. Scarborough spins wool at the museum’s antique spinning wheel while telling stories of the old cabin to guests wandering through.
Scarborough got her start in 1973 when she restored her first loom for ASU, which is now in the Appalachian collection, which used to be housed in the Belk Library. Restoring looms to working order is one of Scarborough’s unique talents, and has volunteered her time and expertise to the Homestead for the first time this summer.
“I’m more comfortable here than in the 21st century,” Scarborough said, and looks quite at home among the Colonial world that is the Hickory Ridge Homestead.
Scarborough started volunteering because she visited last year’s Apple Festival and wanted to be a part of the SAHA family. The Horn was glad to offer her the opportunity; the volunteers keep the Homestead running smoothly and allow the guests to have a more personal experience.
Davy Davis, the museum curator, oversees the Homestead volunteers.
Travis Souther
“I’m very thankful for all our volunteers; they make our jobs easier and the experience better for the guests.” Davis oversees several volunteers in the homestead, some who come every day, dressed in period clothing and reenact every day life in Colonial times.
Volunteers aren’t only in the Hickory Ridge Homestead. Travis Souther, for example, volunteers on stage as an actor as well as in the museum. This is Souther’s first year volunteering for the Horn. While working full time at the ASU Library, Souther still finds the time to be on stage part time and at the Homestead every night.
Souther had seen the show last year and wanted to be a part of it, so he auditioned to be on stage and volunteered to be a reenactor as well. Although he says it has been a lot of hard work, being involved with the show has been very rewarding. “It’s one of the best experiences I can remember. It’s been the best summer I’ve ever had.”
Souther plans on coming back again next season to the Homestead; he enjoys working at the museum since he was once a teacher and loves to educate people about the vastly different lifestyles of Colonial times.
Michelle Johnson, production stage manager, oversees the on-stage volunteers. She said the volunteers are essential to the show; they not only fill out the stage with bodies, they are fully committed to the stage, they help out backstage and understand the hard work it takes to make the show go on. Johnson especially appreciates the children volunteers.
But the volunteers don’t only work in costume. You’ll see Erica Kates above the amphitheater, donating her time by renting seat cushions to guests filing into the theater. Kates is in North Carolina for summer vacation all the way from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. like she does most summers. She is volunteering at the Horn for the first time this season along with her grandmother, Marcella Flanagan.
Pam Scarborough
Kates sees the show with her grandmother every year she comes to North Carolina. “I grew up loving it and when I found out I had the opportunity, I wanted to help out in any way that I could.” Kates said she loves volunteering and plans on returning again next year. She’s even made friends here at the Horn with some of the other volunteers who she hopes to keep in contact with when she goes back to Florida.
Overseeing many of the day-to-day operations, Terry Hamilton has been with the Horn since its 14th season in 1966. Hamilton performs various job functions for the Horn, including representing the SAHA board of directors, working in the office, public relations, the museum store, concessions and the ticket office to name a few. “It’s challenging but exciting,” Hamilton said.
Horn in the West is open from now until August 15, Tuesdays through Sundays. For ticket reservations and information, call 828-264-2120 or click to www.horninthewest.com. Closing weekend (August 13, 14 and 15) is Watauga county nights. During closing weekend, Watauga County citizens with ID get into the show for $6 and surrounding county citizens get in for $8.
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