Wirt County Pioneer Day

10/09/2026

Step back in time and discover Wirt County’s history this Saturday, October 10, as part of America 250! 🎉

The Beauchamp-Newman Museum is proud to be a stop on this self-guided tour. We’ll be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Come see our historic exhibits, including our new World War II Blue Star Service Banner display. If you haven’t visited the Old Red Brick in a while, now’s the perfect time!

📍 Tour stops include:
🏛️ Beauchamp-Newman Museum
⛪ Ruble Church
🏨 Little Kanawha Hotel
🛢️ Burning Springs Oil & Gas Museum

🍎 There will also be a Food & Craft Fair at Sportsman’s Park, sponsored by the Wirt County Development Authority, plus historic demonstrations along the way.

🗓️ Saturday, October 10
🕘 Tour starts at 9 a.m.
🚗 Self-guided: explore at your own pace!

Thank you to the Jonathan Sheppard Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, for sponsoring this celebration of our nation’s 250th. For tour questions, call Shirley at 304-483-0264 or Jessica at 304-373-6394.

10/09/2026

We have had such a great time with Gabby Cunningham, one of 2025's essay contest winners, representing the DAP in all the parades and events over the past year. Such a good sport to lean into the celebrating America's 250 posing as the Statue of Liberty in last week's Homecoming Parade.

10/09/2026

Pioneer Days Essay Winners Honor America’s Founding Fathers

The Elizabeth Beauchamp Chapter, Daughters of American Pioneers, congratulates the winners of this year’s Pioneer Days Essay Contest: 5th grader Charlotte Theys and 8th grader Sophia Riley of Wirt County Middle School. Each received a $100 prize for her essay on the Founding Fathers, and both represent the strong work students put into this year’s contest.

This year’s Pioneer Days on Saturday, October 3, was a tribute to America’s 250th anniversary. We had beautiful weather and a fantastic turnout around the Courthouse Square. Historical reenactor Carl Swick opened the day as President Abraham Lincoln, joined by his wife, Linda Swick, as Mary Todd Lincoln. He delivered Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address and a stirring Gettysburg Address. That famous speech begins by looking back to 1776: “Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”

Those “fathers” are the same men Charlotte and Sophia wrote about. It was fitting that, on a day honoring 250 years of American history, the next generation stepped up to tell their story. Charlotte read her essay, “Our Founding Fathers,” aloud during the opening ceremony and did a fabulous job. President Lincoln presented her award and also recognized Sophia and her essay, “The Founding Fathers: Architects of American Independence.”

We are proud to share both winning essays below, exactly as the students wrote them. Our thanks go to every student who entered and to the teachers and staff of Wirt County Middle School for their support.

OUR FOUNDING FATHERS
By: Charlotte D. Theys

Imagine being young in your 20s -40s and knowing that putting your name on a piece of paper could make you a traitor to your king. Would you sign it anyway? In 1776, 56 men did! Our Founding Fathers, 250 years ago, signed the Declaration of Independence. This is what led to freedom from Great Britain. And to this day, we have the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

The Founding Fathers rebellion plan really started to form when they got angry over the imposition of Parliament’s laws over taxes, like the Sugar Act of 1764, the Stamp Act of 1765, and the Townshend Act of 1767.

One of the key figures of the rebellion was George Washington. He commanded the Continental Army during the American Revolution. His bravery in this is how he earned being the first President of the United States. He also helped negotiate ideas for many of the choices the diplomats made. One surprising fact is that George Washington did not sign the Declaration of Independence. While the document was being signed, he was serving as a commander of the Army with his troops.

The Declaration was not created by one person working alone. Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft, but Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston were also a part of preparing it. They had to work together to represent all the colonies.
Many different ideas and documents came out of this. Some documents are the Declaration of Independence, which shows our freedom, and the Bill of Rights also known as the First Ten Amendments. The Declaration of Independence was founded on ideas of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Some of the challenges the Founding Fathers faced were securing their independence, convincing the colonies to unite, and building a revolutionary movement. To make their dream of a free country come true, the Founding Fathers made immense personal, financial, and physical sacrifices to secure American independence. Facing the military might of the British, they risked high treason. Probably, the biggest risk they ever made was signing the Declaration of Independence. Signing it was like signing a death warrant.

250 Years later, the impact that the Founding Fathers made still stands to this day. They signed the Declaration of Independence, risking their lives every word, just for us. To this day, we stand tall, celebrating our accomplishment 250 years later. We have the right of life, the right of liberty, and most of all, the right to pursue happiness, all thanks to them.

The Founding Fathers: Architects of American Independence
By: Sophia Riley

We hear the term “Founding Fathers” all the time in history class, books, magazines, and in daily life. However, do we know what a Founding Father truly is? According to Webster’s Dictionary, a Founding Father is “a person who helps to create or establish something; a person who founds something OR a man who had an important part in creating the government of the US.” But for me, a Founding Father isn’t just a historical figure that we can leave in the past. They helped shape the structure of the United States and influenced the country through their ideas, actions, and leadership. Because these men helped create the nation’s government and guide its independence, understanding them helps us understand our country’s history, how it was shaped, and how that history impacts us as American citizens today.

Because the term ‘Founding Fathers’ is so broad, there isn’t an exact list of all the Founding Fathers. Still, six core figures are commonly recognized. These men are George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton. Each of these Founding Fathers played an incredibly important role in creating the United States government. For example, George Washington presided over the Constitutional Convention. John Adams was one of many who served as a diplomat during the Revolutionary War, and he also pushed for independence. Thomas Jefferson had the biggest part in writing the Declaration of Independence. The article “5 Secrets of the Declaration of Independence” from the January 2025 edition of the magazine Junior Scholastic says, “In June 1776, Thomas Jefferson faced the writing assignment of his life. The 33-year-old from Virginia had been chosen to craft a document formally declaring that the 13 American Colonies were breaking away from Great Britain.” Benjamin Franklin was a true leader in the fight for independence; he was also a writer, diplomat, and scientist. James Madison was mainly involved in the writing of the Bill of Rights and the Constitution, giving him the name “Father of the Constitution.” The final Founding Father is Alexander Hamilton; he was a Revolutionary War officer and an advocate for stronger national government.

There are many Founding Fathers, depending on who is included, but these six core figures appear on nearly every list. The website battlefields.org states, “There are many others who are considered Founding Fathers.”

The Founding Fathers’ legacy still lives on today through the ideas and documents they created for the government of the United States. The Declaration of Independence is a document written in 1776, and it included ideas about equality, rights, and government. The Constitution is a document written in 1787 that created the three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial. The Bill of Rights is the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution and established rights and freedoms for citizens. These include freedom of speech, religion, the press, the right to peacefully assemble, and the right to petition the government. Many ideas, including separation of powers, checks and balances, and individual rights, also impacted the U.S.

Although the Founding Fathers lived centuries ago, the legacy they created still leaves a mark on the government today. Leading back to our original question, ‘Do we truly know what a Founding Father is?’ We can now say that a Founding Father is someone who has made a lasting impact on America through their ideas, documents, and leadership. Like Donald T. Phillips said in his book The Founding Fathers on Leadership, “The leadership principles employed by the Founding Fathers still apply today—in business, in politics, and in life.” Knowing what a Founding Father is important because understanding their history leads to understanding how our country was developed, how their ideas continue to affect America today, and the legacy of their lives. In the end, the Founding Fathers are more than a single idea; they are more than a simple document they wrote, and they are more than forgotten figures.

10/05/2026

What a fantastic event! On behalf of the Elizabeth Beauchamp Chapter, Daughters of American Pioneers, I want to publicly thank everyone who helped make the 23rd Annual Wirt County Pioneer Days such a wonderful success. We were blessed with beautiful weather and a fantastic turnout, and it did my heart good to see the Courthouse Square filled with families, friends, and visitors celebrating Wirt County’s heritage.

This year we celebrated America’s 250th birthday, and our opening ceremony set the tone for the whole day. Thank you to Erika Lockhart for singing the National Anthem and to Lester Morgan for the opening prayer. The Little Kanawha Riverfest royalty also took part, each recounting a piece of the history of the founding of Elizabeth and the Beauchamp-Newman Museum.

A very special thank you goes to Carl Swick and his wife, Linda Swick, for their portrayal of President and Mrs. Abraham Lincoln. Carl opened the event with Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address and a fabulous delivery of the Gettysburg Address. He and Linda, as Mary Todd Lincoln, stayed with us all day, visiting with the crowd and posing for pictures, and they presented our essay contest winners with their prizes.

Our essay contest, open to Wirt County Middle School students, celebrated the history, achievements, and legacy of the men who founded America 250 years ago. Congratulations to 5th grader Charlotte Theys for her essay “Our Founding Fathers,” which she read aloud during the opening ceremony, and to 8th grader Sophia Riley for her essay “The Founding Fathers: Architects of American Independence.” Each received a $100 prize.

Our thanks to the bands who filled the day with music: Rustic Ridge, Junction 144, Neon Moon, and Track 9. Thank you also to Zach Butler for his music at the Little Kanawha Hotel, and to our sound and music crew, who all worked at reduced rates. The Victory Elite Allstar Cheerleaders put on a fantastic performance on the courthouse lawn.

Visitors young and old enjoyed getting their pictures taken with Smokey Bear from the WV Department of Natural Resources Forestry Division, the Glenville State University Pioneer mascot, Adalynn “Addy” Cottrill, and, of course, President Lincoln. Thank you to the owners who brought out their antique engines, and to the WV Department of Natural Resources Forestry Division for its historical sawmill display. Everyone enjoyed the Dow Ras Farms Petting Zoo, the bounce house and games on the museum lawn, and the Rocky Point Carriage Rides around town.

Thank you to Dr. Heather Elkins for opening the Little Kanawha Hotel and giving tours, and to everyone who stopped in to tour the Beauchamp-Newman Museum. Your donations and bell purchases go directly toward preserving the museum for future generations.

Our contests were a true highlight. The Quilt Show had more quilts entered than ever before, and 30 cars were entered in the Car Show. The pumpkins and rocks were wonderfully creative, and the coloring pages were fantastic. Thank you to every person who entered, and to our judges. Congratulations to all of our winners, who are listed below.

The first day concluded with a Civil War skirmish, complete with cannon fire, on the County Commissioners’ lot. Earlier in the afternoon, Confederate soldiers raided the Porchfluff Sutlery and the Civil War Ladies Tea Tent, taking several hostages. They advanced along Court Street toward WesBanco but retreated when confronted by Union soldiers. Thank you to the Porchfluff Sutlery for hosting the Ladies Tea once again.

The second day featured an exciting Civil War battle reenactment. The participating units delivered a first-rate performance, as always:
• Jim Miracle with Carlin’s Battery D, 1st West Virginia Light Artillery (cannon)
• Byrnes Battery, Company D (cannon)
• 17th Virginia Cavalry, Company F (Nighthawk Rangers)
• 19th Virginia Cavalry, Company A (Moccasin Rangers)

This was the second year that mounted cavalry soldiers participated. Many children came out to take part in the activities and experience the excitement, which is exactly our goal: bringing history to life for the younger generation.

Sunday was made possible by the generosity and hard work of many people. Thank you to Harold Villers for providing the field for the battle reenactment, to Sharon Villers of Giovanni’s Pizza for providing the meat for the delicious barbecue, and to Dale Clark for once again spending the night tending the barbecue pit. I am deeply grateful to my wonderful reenacting family for the dedication and demanding work that makes this event a success.

Pioneer Days simply would not happen without the hardworking members of the Daughters of American Pioneers. Our members spent months planning and preparing, and on event weekend they ran the contests, the bounce house and kids’ games, the quilt and car shows, the museum tours, and the 50/50 table, and they prepared and served the food on Sunday. Thank you, ladies.

Thank you to all of our vendors and exhibitors, our demonstrators, our generous sponsors (listed below), and the dedicated men and women who work tirelessly to make this event a success. We hope that the parents, children, and everyone who joined us had a wonderful time, and we look forward to seeing you again next October.

2026 Pioneer Days Results

Essay Contest — “Our Founding Fathers” ($100 each)
Grades 5–6: Charlotte Theys (5th), “Our Founding Fathers”
Grades 7–8: Sophia Riley (8th), “The Founding Fathers: Architects of American Independence”

Pumpkin, Rock and Coloring Contests (1st $25, 2nd $20, 3rd $15)

Pumpkin, Jr. Division: 1st, Sadie Dickson; 2nd, Jessa Lockhart; 3rd, Ava Metz
Pumpkin, Sr. Division: 1st, Steve Elliott; 2nd, David Kirk; 3rd, Eugene Ash
Rock Painting, Jr. Division: 1st, Adalida Trippett; 2nd, Sadie Dickson; 3rd, Conner Trippett

Rock Painting, Sr. Division: 1st, Annet M. Slack; 2nd, Christine Monington; 3rd, Steve Elliott

Coloring, Jr. Division: 1st, Oaklen Leak; 2nd, Everly [LAST NAME]; 3rd, Briar Ellison
Coloring, Sr. Division: 1st, PJ Joel; 2nd, Sarah Clark; 3rd, Steve Elliott

Quilt Show

Best of Show: Sharon Villers
People’s Choice: Carrie Brainard
Machine Quilted: 1st, Sharon Villers; 2nd, Gloria Batten; 3rd (tie), Sharon Villers and Janet Mace
Hand Quilted: 1st, Carrie Brainard; 2nd, Gloria Batten; 3rd, Patsy Westfall
Embroidered: 1st, Barbara Ashley; 2nd, Janet Mace
Crochet: 1st, Melissa Wilkinson
Miscellaneous: 1st, Danielle Taylor; 2nd, Judy Starcher

Car Show
Best of Show: Keith Ried, Washington County
People’s Choice: Kathy Hopkins, in memory of Jerry Hopkins
Best Modern: Walton Lester, Elizabeth
Best Truck: Buck Burdette, Ravenswood
Best Classic: Denny Cowger, Vienna
Diamond in the Rough: Curtis Ellison, Palestine

50/50 Raffle
Winner: Randy Holbert, $141, with the remaining proceeds supporting the Beauchamp-Newman Museum

Thank You to Our Sponsors and Supporters

Music Sponsors
• Calhoun Banks
• Elizabeth-Wirt Volunteer Fire Department
• Wirt County Commission

Event Sponsors
• CR Motors Pre-Owned
• Ethan’s Landscaping LLC
• Austin Grimmett, PA
• Our anonymous donors

Car Show Sponsors

Trophies: CR Motors Pre-Owned

Door Prizes: Advance Auto, Elizabeth; Advance Auto, Vienna; All Season Power Sports; B&D Title & Licensing; Charlie Roberts for Wirt County Commission; Galen’s Alignment & Brakes; GNG Auto; Lemon & Barrett’s, Parkersburg; Mothman Harley, Williamstown; O’Reilly Auto Parts, Parkersburg; Walmart, Parkersburg

Kids’ Games Sponsor
• WV Solid Waste Management Authority, Wirt County

Special Thanks
• Wirt County Commission, for the use of the courthouse square
• Wirt County High School, for the use of its parking lot for the Car Show
• WesBanco, for use of its lot
• Dr. Heather Elkins, for opening the Little Kanawha Hotel for tours
• Carl and Linda Swick, as President and Mrs. Lincoln
• Little Kanawha Riverfest royalty
• Victory Elite Allstar Cheerleaders
• Glenville State University Pioneer mascot, Adalynn “Addy” Cottrill
• WV Department of Natural Resources Forestry Division and Smokey Bear
• Dow Ras Farms Petting Zoo
• Rocky Point Carriage Rides
• Porchfluff Sutlery and the Civil War Ladies Tea
• Steve’s Plumbing and Whitetail Woodworking, for putting up the quilt frames at the courthouse and helping set up tents
• Aimee Shrader Grimmett, for the wagon display
• Kristen Goodnight, DAR, for staffing the 50/50 table
• Harold Villers, Sharon Villers of Giovanni’s Pizza, and Dale Clark, for Sunday’s field and barbecue
• Our bands and sound crew, who all worked at reduced rates
• Our vendors, exhibitors, and demonstrators
• The members of the Elizabeth Beauchamp Chapter, Daughters of American Pioneers

10/02/2026

New vendor this year: Kelly's Pottery (Kelly Snider). Stop by her booth to see her newest creations.

10/01/2026

We have a lot of great vendors. Here is where you can find then on Saturday. Visit our website to find more information on the vendors and links to their sites. https://wirtpioneers.com/schedule-%26-vendor-list

09/30/2026

We have updated Saturday's schedule to include Victory Elite Cheer who will be performing at 1:15 pm on the courthouse lawn, dancing to Dolly and other great hits. Come out and join us for a terrific day of live entertainment and fun.

09/30/2026

We have some fun contests for Pioneer Day. If you don't have a pumpkin, rock, or coloring page yet to enter, you can stop by 269 Washington St and pick one up off the bench by the garage. Please only pick up one if you intend to enter the contest on Saturday.

09/30/2026

https://www.newsandsentinel.com/news/community-news/2026/09/wirt-county-pioneer-days-celebrates-americas-250th-with-abraham-lincoln-live-music-and-a-civil-war-weekend/

ELIZABETH – The 23rd annual Wirt County Pioneer Days will honor America’s 250th anniversary Saturday at Courthouse Square in Elizabeth Saturday, plus a Civil War encampment and battle reenactment Sunday. Hosted by the Elizabeth Beauchamp Chapter of the Daughters of American Pioneers, the weekend...

09/26/2026

Wirt County Pioneer Day Vendor List: If your name is listed, you have a space. If you have not paid for your space, please do so in a couple of days. VENDORS: 1 more week to do your advertising here on the FB page. Log on to wirtpioneers.com to see your advertisement link on our web page.