Under sunny, crisp skies, the Pioneer Apple Festival once again filled Ontelaunee Park, celebrating both the apple harvest and the agrarian and cultural roots of the area.

The festival is a fundraiser for the Lynn-Heidelberg Historical Society, and its newly named president, Keith Nagle, said the money goes straight back into their buildings.

“Apple Fest raises money for the general upkeep and maintenance of the historical society’s buildings here at Ontelaunee Park,” Nagle said. “We maintain four buildings: the Zeisloff family cabin, the New Tripoli train station, Fort Everett, and the barn, which houses part of the historical society’s museum collections.”

Those buildings provided a backdrop for a day of activities for all ages.

“What a wonderful event for the whole family. I especially loved seeing young girls working on the spinning wheels, such a lost art!” said Marie Jorgensen of Kempton.

Crafts of a bygone era

Demonstrations included printmaking, blacksmithing, pottery and basket weaving.

Debbie Zvanut of New Tripoli taught willing participants to weave simple baskets, and a large group of children worked diligently at the table.

Just up the hill, Keith Thundering Buffalo of Denver, northern Lancaster County, displayed Native American artifacts and tools and demonstrated shaping stone into arrowheads.

Born in Pueblo, Colo., and of Navajo heritage, he said many of his techniques are common to tribes across the country.

“I moved to Pennsylvania in 1989 and enjoy sharing my culture with others,” he said.

Inside the Zeisloff cabin, visitors found warm spiced cider at the back entrance and, in the main room, Joshua Fink of Lower Macungie Township demonstrating Fraktur, a Pennsylvania German style of lettering whose sharp, broken-looking pen strokes set it apart from smooth, flowing script.

With quill and ink, Fink and a table full of children practiced the writing once used to record weddings, christenings and other occasions on folk art documents.

Built by George Zeisloff in the 1740s, the cabin originally stood along Zeisloff Road about a mile west of New Tripoli.

It was moved to Ontelaunee Park in 2001 and restored by the society as closely as possible to its original form.

Dumplings, games and a fort

Behind the cabin, a long line snaked around the building for fresh apple dumplings.

“We sold 400 dumplings, and by 2 p.m. they were gone,” Sally Smith said.

Next door, through the stockade fence of Fort Everett, Mary Malacki demonstrated table games from the era of the French and Indian War, and visitors were invited to sit down and play tic-tac-toe, dominoes and Klackers, also known as Shut the Box.

Inside the fort, Paul Trainor of Breinigsville volunteered his time to explain the medical tools of the period.

The fort is a remarkable example of the many that once dotted the area, serving as places of refuge and defense during raids in the French and Indian War.

Pies, pups

and tractors

Under the main pavilion, attendees enjoyed hot dogs and fresh-cut fries while Irwin Hamm and Lorrie Rauch, both of New Tripoli, conducted a pie auction.

One huge pie climbed to $55 and went to Dale Phillips of Philadelphia, formerly of New Tripoli, and his granddaughter Ava.

The Buttered Crumb bakery sold pies, fritters, scones, muffins and cookies on site.

Down the hill, Tyson the dog and his handler, Denise Shaffer of the Lehigh Valley Dreamweavers Agility Club, ran a course of hurdles, tunnels and weave poles.

Spectators got informative commentary on the sport, and the club’s dogs, trained at various levels, drew large crowds.

A long line of tractors was on display, with demonstrations that included a children’s tractor pull.

“I really loved the tractor parade, and seeing all the different kinds of tractors!” said Iver Jean, 7, of Kempton.

At the society’s barn, historic farm equipment was on display.

“The old farm equipment is fascinating,” said Rob Sayre of New Tripoli. “Corn husking machines, an old horse-drawn mail truck. It brings you back to a slower time, but with technology that was both creative and innovative.”

Art and orchards

Local artisans were also on hand.

Dave Fegley of DF Creations in New Tripoli displayed handmade jewelry crafted from wire-wrapped natural stones, along with seasonal corn husk wreaths and swags.

“My customers often purchase remembrance pieces to commemorate a loved one or even a cherished pet,” he said.

Scholl Orchards of Kempton sold fresh apples, though supply was tight.

“An unfortunately timed spring frost wiped out a good amount of fruit in our region,” Nagle said.

Still, the festival was enjoyed by all who came.

“This festival is a time and place that brings people together from a wide area,” Sayre said. “We ran into people we had not seen in a long time.”