Gas Station
Howard Voshell as Alfred Kneebone tells about his gas station and the Kneebone Pleasure Resort just upriver.
Virginia Turnpike
A few hundred yards along the Virginia Turnpike toward Kneebone Cemetery, an old timer (played by Doug Leach) explains several ways he extracted gold from river gravel during the Gold Rush.
Gold Panning
He starts by explaining the simplest method -- gold panning.
Casket
Children carry the casket for the Ghosts of Bridgeport burial ceremony.
Serious Stuff
This is deadly serious stuff, complete with Halloween costumes.
Barn Tour
Many folks toured the barn and its old time wagons, this one a dump wagon with chain operated bed doors.
Log Wagon
This log wagon with massive wheels was pulled by 12 to 20 horses.
Wheel Construction
It appears the wheels were made by filling the circle of heavy steel rims with large and then smaller cross sections of wood. The smaller pieces were pounded in last to force a tight fit against the rims.
Committee Chairman
Barn Stormin' Committee Chairman Don Denton was master of ceremonies.
LWW Barbershop Quartet
During the Ghosts of Bridgeport pageant, those in the theater-rows of chairs waiting for the Historic-Barn Opening celebration were entertained by the Wildwooders Barbershop Quartet, who sang many old and new classics.
Jim Kerr
First to speak was former radio announcer Jim Kerr.
Park Docents
Park docents listened from hay bales next to the theater-like rows of chairs.
Final Speakers
It was fitting that SYRPA President Diane Marten and Bert Hall were windup speakers.
Additional Words
After a few additional words by Susan George, President of Penn Valley Chamber of Commerce, and Supervising Ranger Jeremy McReynolds, Diane Marten spoke last, to thank once more all the people and organizations who made the barn and historic wagons re-conservation possible. As her remarks came to a close, Bert Hall joined her at the podium to tell a funny story about a bear he saw on the Buttermilk Bend Trail. The bear disappeared above the trail and then reappeared on the other side of Bert -- he'd climbed around to avoid an encounter. We didn't know Bert was that scary!