The Kentucky Historical Society and the Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, supports "Hands & Heritage : Traditional Arts of Revolutionary America” with state tax dollars from the Kentucky General Assembly and federal funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information, visit history.ky.gov.
What to Expect
The weekend will celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation and Hershel’s birthday with hands-on demonstrations, artisan workshops, colonial era crafts, and a guided tour of Hershel’s original cabins and blacksmith shop. This event will take place at Hershel’s historic homeplace in Woodbury, Kentucky.
Meet Ian Pratt, who lives in Ohio with his talented wife, Mary.
He is an accomplished full-time gunmaker, knife maker, and blacksmith, and one of our awesome board members. Ian will be demonstrating how to make flintlock rifles and any related work during the event
Flintlock Gunmaking and Related Forge Work
The one and only John House, our foundation President and Hershel’s youngest brother, lives in Woodbury, KY. John brings a lifetime of experience in front of a coal forge, and he will be demonstrating how to make gun furniture and knives during the event.
Making Trigger Guards, Butt Plates, and Knife Blades
Meet Jeff Gier from Ohio, who grew up in the hobby of living history and continues to reenact with his wife, Shelly.
Currently, he is a journeyman in the Honorable Company of Horners, where he continues to develop his horn work and turning skills. Jeff will bring his years of knowledge and will be demonstrating how to make a traditional powder horn during the event.
Making a Powder Horn
Daniel Casey lives in Arkansas with his wife, Chelsa, and son Wesley.
Daniel has competed on Forged in Fire and also had his own show on the Discovery Channel called Iron and Fire. He works full time making flintlocks, tomahawks, and knives, he is also one of our board members and will be demonstrating some basic blacksmithing skills making Tapers scrolls and twists.
Basic Blacksmithing
Anna Greinetz is originally from Germany and currently lives on a farm in Kentucky with her husband, Jake.
She is captivated by the cultural richness of Appalachian basketry, working with materials like white oak and hickory bark, as well as native and non-native plants and German willow work. Anna is also on our board and will be demonstrating Basket weaving during the event.
Basket Weaving
Chad Henle lives in Kentucky and serves on our board.
Chad’s passion for learning traditional methods of making things is fueled by his love of history and the days when things were made to last, and how they reflect the personality and creativity of the maker.
He is himself anaccomplished bowyer, knife maker, artist, and broom maker, and will be demonstrating how to make traditional brooms during the event.
Broom Making
Verlin cossel lives in Kentucky and met the House brothers many years ago at a longrifle seminar.
Verlin wanted to learn a craft to work on during his retirement, and he gathered the tools needed for his smithy. Soon after, the House brothers taught him how to make a Woodbury knife. Verlin later collaborated with a local Mennonite knifemaker to improve his skills.
Verlin will demonstrate how to forge a Woodbury style neck knife during the event.
Forging a Woodbury Neck Knife
Denise Haddix Cossel lives in Kentucky and loves to weave, watching each pattern come to life, and uses Inkle and floor loom weaving to make her textiles.
Denise makes her pieces to be used, and watching other artists use them in their creations, such as powder horn straps, accoutrements bags, sashes, leg ties, or hat bands, brings her great satisfaction.
Denise will demonstrate inkle weaving during the event.
