Three generations of musicians entertain the audience.
The blacksmith is just one of twenty live demonstrations at the Ozark Folk Center
Clancey Ferguson is on of the park musicians
One hundred years ago he might have been the most important person in any community. Today it's not horse shoes or door hinges, it's an ornamental leaf to demonstrate technique.
The skills of a blacksmith are just one of the twenty, up close and personal demonstrations featured at the Ozark Folk Center.
Betty Rae Miller works in the general store. She says, "They're showing you how things were made and used in this area back in the late 1800's and early 1900's."
Her grandfather ran a similar store in the area. For 25 years now, Bette has helped guests make sense out of her supermarket of long ago, and served as the informal park guide.
Miller says, "This weekend we have had visitors from Switzerland, Germany, Bolivia, Brazil, Portugal, Italy, and England."
And she's apparently also the park register.
"Not to mention Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi, Iowa, "continues Miller.
Without electricity, many things had to be made by hand, including clothing. Martha Laster demostrated an old fashioned loom. Her feet control which strands are over or under - while she weaves another strand in between. It takes most of a day to complete a small floor rug.
"And it just depends on the weather because there are some days it just takes a lot longer, it takes like all day just because of the humidity or it's raining, "says Kay Jones.
Jones uses water, animal fat and lye to cook up a batch of soap.
The soap is poured into a pan and dried for three weeks before it's cut into bars.
And everybody needed a broom. You can even learn when to plant your broom corn at the folk center.
"That's our goal at the here at the folk center, is to pass the torch down to the next generation, "explains musician Joe Jewell
The park stage is where you see the real mission here at work.
On this day, three different generations of musicians entertain the guests.
There is no amplification. And the music is true to tradition.
Jewell enjoys the chance to play with his young band mates
And pass along a part of the past.
Jewell says, "They just can learn so fast at a young age and their fingers are limber and spry So we start them out and we watch them rocket past us and we have a hard time keeping up with them after a couple years."
Clancey Ferguson, 12, is part of the park's magic circle
Clancey says, "It's neat when some kids try to ask you, well can you teach me how to dance. Or can you teach me how to do that song that you were playing and it's neat to watch how fast they can pick it up."
The Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View, where old-time traditions are kept alive. It's another place you'll be Amazed by Arkansas.