Vann House Days has been a highlight of the summer since 1978 and the 2012 edition promises to be every bit as exciting as any other. Hosted by the Friends of the Vann House at the State Historic Site in Spring Place, the program is built around “living history” demonstrations featuring arts and crafts of the 1800’s. This year’s program will be Saturday, July 21 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Quilting, carding, and spinning were the first crafts included in Vann House Days and will again be featured this year. Weaving on the 175-year-old-loom also helps interpret the story of how people on the frontier made their clothing.

Veteran members of the Vann House Quilters Willie Mae Gallman, Ruth Young, Kathleen Cantrell, Dot Cochran, and Lula Cochran and Tina Robinson will be on hand to train some new volunteers while Nancy Adams will be back to operate the loom.

Another unique part of the program will be Bob Cullinan of Cisco who leads a group of re-enactors for the War of 1812—to kick off the bicentennial celebration of that conflict.

Joseph Vann and a number of Cherokees fought in that war and there will be block powder firearms demonstrations at various times during the day.

Other Friends of the Vann House members including Kate Kemp, Emily Cogburn, Pearl & Vanessa Stancil, Ruth West will churn butter, do beadwork, and explain Cherokee garden plants during the day.

Faithful volunteers from the Appalachian Heritage Guild like basket weaver Margie Hufstetler of Adairsville, blacksmith Max Williams of Big Canoe, chair-caner Marvin Garner from Resaca, and tinsmith Max Schram of Douglasville will be on hand to again exhibit their skills.

Special guest this year is Cherokee artist Billy Mac Steele who works in Gadsen, Alabama. This will be his first appearance at the Vann House.

The Friends of the Vann House and the Georgia Trail of Tears Association will also have information, membership, and fundraising booths.

Docents will guide visitors through the Vann mansion, the slave exhibit, and the Cherokee homestead. On display for the first time will be a grinding stone used in Murray County as far back as the 1800’s. The grinding stone is a recent gift to the site from the family of Bill and Peg Loughridge Fincher of Chatsworth.

The R.E. Chambers Visitor Center will feature a short film and interpretive exhibits on the Vann Family and the Cherokee Nation.

Admission to the site is $6 for adults, $5.50 for seniors, and $4 for youth 6-18. Children under six are admitted free. The Vann House is located three miles west of Chatsworth, Georgia at the intersection of GA Highways 52A and 225. For more information call 706-695-2598.