By Lynda Updike

Special to the News-Herald

Yes, you can go home again. At least, you can go “Down Home,” for a day, to a popular event that recalls what it was like to live in Western Tidewater during the 18^th century.

The Southampton Heritage Village and Agriculture & Forestry Museum will hold its 11^th annual family-oriented “Down Home Day — Y’all Come!” from noon to 5 p.m. April 18. The museum is located at 26135 Heritage Lane in Courtland.

Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for school-age children. Pre-schoolers are free. The adjacent Museum of Southampton History will also be open, for a donation, featuring many old military uniforms and memorabilia, an operational train room, and a pre-history exhibit.

Just like the good ol’ days “down home,” the fun activities planned for the afternoon include something for all members of the family, offering a chance to step back in time for a few hours and enjoy life at a slower pace. Visitors are welcome to sit, relax and enjoy the afternoon’s happenings.

Activities include music by well-known local musicians, Jimmy Ricks and his “Shiloh Grass” bluegrass band. Mattie the plastic cow will be present — she teaches young people that milk comes from cows, and kids are free to “milk” her. There also will be a mule handling demonstration by Blair Bunn and his mules, always a crowd pleaser.

The 1920s sawmill will be sawing pine logs. While the restored grist mill is grinding meal throughout the afternoon, several ladies will be frying cornbread, made with some of the freshly ground meal, for visitors to sample.

The grist mill has two mill stones from an earlier mill. Each is three feet across and weighs 1,000 pounds. Cornbread used to be an everyday staple. Now visitors can see how meal is made from corn.

The late Edward Lee Johnson, owner and operator of Johnson’s grist mill near Sedley, designed and helped build the mill.

Two very old restored printing presses, operated by Bill Billings and Jimmy Creasey, along with several apprentices, will be working, as well. Young visitors can make a “hands on” bookmark bearing the museum’s logo. A local blacksmithing guild will be exhibiting their skills in the Blacksmith Shop.

The dying art of sheep shearing will be demonstrated by Glenn Updike during the afternoon.

A petting zoo of gentle local farm animals will feature goats, sheep, chickens, a rabbit and a pet duck for visitors to play with. Hoyle Green’s miniature train will be around for rides.

The Rebecca Vaughan House, which played a part in Nat Turner’s slave insurrection of 1831, is located at the museum for visitors to see. Its exterior has been restored. Experts on the insurrection will be on hand to answer questions.

There will be antique cars and tractors to see. If you get hungry, hot dogs, snacks and soft drinks will be available for sale.

In addition to all the special activities, visitors are welcome to tour the Heritage Village and Agriculture and Forestry Museum and all of its outbuildings — including a country store, one-room school, country dwelling, doctor’s office, old post office, two outhouses, old kitchen, barber shop and little country church.