As in previous years, living history is the focus of Heritage Village and Indian Village, two of the main attractions at the Cumming Country Fair & Festival. Thousands are visiting the living history exhibits during the Fair, which runs through October 14 at the Cumming Fairgrounds.

Since 1995, Heritage Village has been a living history exhibit features working demonstrations of authentic farm machinery such as a cotton gin, corn mill, syrup mill, saw mill, grist mill, blacksmith shop, cider press and chicken house. Even the forbidden moonshine still is on display.  Visitors are also encouraged to visit a steam engine display as well.

This reproduction of a turn-of-the-century town is complete with a one-room schoolhouse, a working post office, doctor's and dentist's offices, Baptist and Methodist churches and a quilting house. The general store, which has been relocated to the Exhibit Hall, is stocked with homemade items to enjoy at home. Stop in to catch up on local doings and pick up some homemade cider, a wash board or homemade soap. Send a postcard from the working post office or watch a grist mill at work.

Much of the machinery was donated by local families, and many of the artifacts decorating the stores, churches and school were bought at local estate auctions. Much of the labor is donated, too. In fact, many of the people who do the live demonstrations at Heritage Village have made performing at the Fair a fall tradition.

While in the Village, wander into the dentist's office, complete with antique dental equipment and chairs. The doctor's office sports a collection of old medicines, books, nurse's and doctor's kits and wooden wheelchairs. Imagine catching up on local gossip while having a trim in the 1930s art-deco barber shop, where barbershop quartet music often plays softly and the mirrored shelf is stocked with a supply of hair tonics. Many of the furnishings came from a real barbershop in the Illinois neighborhood where Al Capone lived. An antique shoeshine stand came from downtown Atlanta.

A stroll through Heritage Village at the Fairgrounds is akin to walking through a time portal that leads to the turn-of-the-century past. The sights and sounds of the county's rural roots come alive through working demonstrations of a lifestyle unknown to most of us today. 

As part of an effort by Cumming city leaders to preserve the heritage of the community and better educate people about the rich history of Native Americans in Forsyth County, the Indian Village as back on display during this year's Fair. This Native American heritage is prevalent in the area. Several Indian archaeological sites are located in Forsyth County. An Indian Mound and Village are located on Settendown Creek near the mouth of the Etowah River. Another Indian village is located near Sawnee Mountain on Big Creek.

Like last year, the Cherokee Indian Village consists of a tavern, two log cabin homes, a council house, a corncrib and a smokehouse. The tavern, owned by Chief James Vann in the early 1800s, was moved to the fairgrounds from off old Federal Road on the Etowah River to be restored. Vann, known for bringing Morovian missionaries into the Cherokee territory to witness and educate the children, was at one time one of the richest men in the United States. He opened these taverns along river to give people a place to stop during their travels. President James Monroe actually slept in the facility.

Other facilities include an early 1800s log cabin that was donated to the city and restored, and a replica Cherokee log cabin which was built to resemble what a Cherokee home would have looked like. A small log corncrib and a log smokehouse, both replicas of facilities that would have been found in the area in the early 1800s can also be toured. Visitors to the Indian Village will be able to visit the Cherokee Council House, a seven-sided building, which represents the seven clans of the Cherokee Indians.

The exhibit includes rocks from the area etched with carvings that are some of the earliest signs of civilization in Forsyth County, according to University of Georgia archeologists. The carvings or “peckings” were made by a prehistoric tribe that occupied the county and the surrounding area 4,000 to 5,000 years ago. These rocks were found in the northwest section of the county on a hill a short distance from the Etowah River near the town of Matt. They are on loan to the city from the Garmon family and were discovered on L.M. Harris’ property, Henry Garmon’s grandparents.

The inter-tribal Native American Indians are interacting with crowds each day in this living encampment that features teepees and other traditional items. In addition, they perform three to four shows per day with dancing, drum and flute playing, and a display of warriors on horseback. Vendor tents offer Native American jewelry, crafts and artwork for sale. According to Dave Horton, fairground administrator, “The Cherokee Indian Village is important to the Fair because it is such a rich part of this county’s history.”

Regular ticket prices are $5 for adults, $2 for students ages 7 to 18 and free for children six and under. Parking is $3. To visit the Cumming Fairgrounds, take Georgia 400 north to Exit 15 (Bald Marina Road) and turn left. Go straight through four traffic lights and bear left on Highway 20 east. At the first light, turn right on Castleberry Road. The Fairgrounds are on the right. For more information, call 770-781-3491 or visit www.cummingfair.net.