Apple Fest is a Comin!

This is the 6th year that, My Old Historic House, will be open for tours as part of the 33 Annual  Clarksville Apple Fest Celebration. This is how the 1845 Historic Elgin/Cottrell House Museum looks today.

   My home town, Clarksville,Missouri, population 490, is getting ready for the 33 annual Apple Fest Celebration. It is in a couple of weeks. October 8th and 9th. This is the 6 year , I have been involved with this celebration , by opening my 1845 Home for tours.Clarksville is 70 miles from St.Louis and 50 miles from Hannibal . Clarksville can be reached from Hwy. 61, 54, or 79. It is a beautiful ride on any of these highways, as Ocobter is a beautiful time to visit this part of the country. The tress always have beautiful colors and the fields are full of amber waves of grain. You are more likely than not, to see deer, wild turkey, pheasants, quail  and foxes. You will pass farm stands in every little town, selling pumpkins, Indian corn and  hale bales. Every mile or so is another old farm with a wonderful house and barn.I love to see the cows and sheep out in the pastures. seen them my whole life, but am always glad to see them again.  Tractors are in the field and there is no place like the country.
   Clarksville was started in 1817, 4 years before Missouri became a state. Early settlers soon learned that the land was just right for growing apples.For many years this area was know for there apples. In the early 1900's apples were one of the areas main source for income. A giant apple shed was built at the edge of town for sorting, sacking and shipping the apples. The apple farmers soon gave up the apples for other crops. The apple shed remains today and is now the home of ,Pike and Lincoln County Center for the Arts. Used for art shows, plays and other special events, we are lucky to have such a center in our small town.33 years ago the Arts Council got together and started the Apple Fest. It is still going strong today and is one of the most successful events in our area. Art and Craft Shows are held in the old apple shed. Food vendors are found through out town. Many locals ,host yard sales in there yards. And I, Open, My Old Historic house for tours.
   I bought the old house in the spring of 2006. After a few months of working  on it,I held the first tour, that October. I hailed it the, '"Sneak Preview Tour." Only a couple of rooms were done, there was ladders and scaffolding everywhere. But we had a tour and there has been no stopping us since. Every since that first tour my nieces come and help me do the tours. They have fun getting all dressed up in Ante Bellum dresses made for them by my dear sister. This is the 6th year for the tour and the first year that the whole house is complete and open to the public. For the past few years my famous friend Dean, comes from Chicago and plays the baby grand and sings, he is much loved and appreciated. The big celebration is always started off with a parade and the girls love that part. We decorate a truck, put them on it ,with baskets of candy and signs that say, house tour today, and down the parade route they go.It is a fun and busy weekend. I always seem to add to the fun by hosting a party on Saturday night.

This is  how the house looked that first fall, 2006, when I hosted the first tour.

This is Ms. Prissy, she is now in Heaven and Ms. Sissy has taken her place. I love you Prissy.

This is how the house looked for the first tour, fall of October 2006.

Me and the girls. The lady in purple is my sweet Sister-in-law.

    I know most of my wonderful friends ,out there on the Blog ,live far, far away. I only wish you could come for the tour and the party. I also know some of my followers and readers live close by, at least not to far. I only hope and wish that you will try and make an effort to attend. It would mean so much to me.If you need a place to stay, I have several bed rooms and lots of friends, who are willing to share there rooms.  If you can't come this time, maybe real soon. I will leave the lights on, you are always welcome and Sissy Dog will always meet you with a jump and a kiss.
   REMEMBER, CLARKSVILLE 33 APPLE FEST CELEBRATION
                          ON THE BANKS OF THE MIGHTY MISSISSIPPI RIVER
                           OCTOBER 8 AND 9  -  10:00 to 5:00 - EACH DAY
                           CLARKSVILLE,MISSOURI,63336
                          1845 HISTORIC ELGIN/COTTRELL HOUSE MUSEUM OPEN BOTH DAYS.
                          COME TAKE A TRIP BACK IN TIME.

My very special nieces who dress up in there Ante Bellum Costumes and help me give the tours. Linda, Sherry and Elizabeth.

Elizabeth in the Ladies Parlor

Barn lanterns are used to light the path to, My Old Historic House, for the party

Tour guides in Ante Bellum costumes  will greet you at the door.

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO-
AN HISTORIC LADY BLOG -
FOR A FEATURE SHE DID TODAY, ABOUT APPLE FEST IN CLARKSVILLE,MO.
PLEASE DROP BY HER BLOG FOR A VISIT:
 www.anhistoriclady.blogspot.com