Students gather around the front porch of the Bain-Honaker House before starting their 1900s Day field trip Tuesday, May 12. During the annual event for fourth grade Farmersville Intermediate School students, Farmersville Historical Society volunteers teach how to make butter, cornhusk dolls, dance the Virginia Reel and much more. Ian McVea/The Farmersville Times

The Bain-Honaker House and Onion Shed were once again filled with Farmersville Intermediate fourth grade students as the Farmersville Historical Society hosted its annual 1900s Days educational experience this week.

Originally planned as a two-day event, weekend rain forced the cancellation of Monday’s activities, prompting historical society members and volunteers to quickly reorganize the program into a single-day schedule.

“Over the years, the schedule has changed to help accommodate the number of students coming through,” organizers said prior to the event. “It will be compressed into one day. It will be busy, but we are confident we can do it.”

Volunteers arrived before 8:15 a.m. to prepare for the busy day, which ran from student arrival at 8:30 a.m. until dismissal at 2:30 p.m. Fourth grade students rotated through activities and tours at both the Bain-Honaker House and Onion Shed throughout the day.

The annual program gives students an opportunity to experience activities similar to those children may have participated in during the early 1900s while reinforcing lessons tied to Texas and local history curriculum.

Students rotated through a variety of hands-on stations, including cornhusk doll making, butter making in the kitchen, cornhusking and lessons about the Caddo Indians. Other areas highlighted life inside the historic home, including the music room, parlor and dining room.

Historical society members and volunteers guiding the activities included Ann Seward, Denise Gay, Denise Kelly, Bertie Neu, Sherrie Johnson, Alma Jones, Adam and others. LiAnn Pennington served as greeter and timekeeper for both morning and afternoon sessions.

According to organizers, the structure of the event has evolved over the years as participation has grown. The Farmersville 1900s program dates back to 1996, when fifth grade students originally participated in a weeklong series of activities designed to immerse them in life from another era.

Despite the weather-related adjustments this year, volunteers remained committed to ensuring students could still experience the longstanding community tradition.

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