Wintersville festival looked back while farmers market launched new season (2024)

A UNIQUE ARTFORM — Sandy Day, left, a member of Wintersville Methodist Church, discussed an 1886 quilt belonging to the church with visitors Brian and Rachel Parsons of Cross Creek Township during Wednesdays in Wintersville. It was one of 75 patchwork pieces of art displayed in the church’s Center for Hope as part of the street festival’s Heritage Month theme. -- Warren Scott

WINTERSVILLE — The most recent edition of Wednesdays in Wintersville offered attendees opportunities to look back at the past, while vendors in the Farmers Gateway Market offered their earliest crops for the summer season as well as assorted home-made foods.

The market’s vendors shared space in front of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church with food trucks and other booths that were part of the monthly street festival.

But they will remain in the lot at 852 Main Street every Wednesday from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. through Oct. 2.

Among them were J.R. and Shawna Lurby of It’s All Good Farm of Smithfield, who brought beets, celery, kohlrabi, zucchini, cucumbers, peas and strawberries.

“This year, we’re a month earlier on produce,” said J.R., who explained that’s due to a warmer winter than usual though their farm also benefits from high tunnels, short greenhouse-like structures that allow them to plant some produce earlier.

THE MARKET IS OPEN — The Farmers Gateway Market opened for the season on Wednesday, with vendors of produce and other items setting up tables in the front lot of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church at 852 Main St., Wintersville, where they can be found from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. each Wednesday through Oct. 2. -- Warren Scott

The Lurbys said health problems and a desire to eat healthier led to their farm-based business,

where they also invite visitors to purchase and pick fresh flowers, and they are proud to say they use no herbicides and pesticides in their operations.

Also espousing a natural approach to farming was Clint Finney of Spring Valley Farm, who sells grass-fed beef, lamb and pork.

Finney said while his parents acquired the farm near Mount Pleasant in 1989, it has belonged to a member of the Finney family since an Irish ancestor first cultivated the land in the 1700s.

He said animals on his farm aren’t confined to small spaces as they are in some more modern farming operations, while the expensive procedure of processing the meat is done at approved facilities in Ohio.

A LIVELY PERFORMANCE — Led by Zac Gordon and Jariel Henthorn, the Sycamore Center Folk Dancers demonstrated various dancers from Europe in keeping with Wednesdays in Wintesrville’s Heritage Month theme. This month’s street fair also included a performance by folk band Faire May, quilt display at Wintersville Methodist Church’s Center of Hope and information booth manned by the Jefferson County Historical Association as well assorted food and craft vendors and attractions for children. -- Warren Scott

“We’re strictly a no-spray farm,” said Wally Sadowski, owner of Kolb Orchard in Irondale.

He said the absence of chemicals on his farm is appreciated by many customers and results in product he believes tastes much better.

Sadowski said he also uses high tunnels, planting some crops as early as January, and yielded more than 6,000 pounds of tomatoes last year.

Overseen by the Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District, the farmers market was established 14 years ago in the parking lot of Eastern Gateway Community College, with the cooperation of its administration, but moved to its present site in 2021.

Irene Moore, the district’s director, noted in addition to fresh produce, vendors may sell home-made foods, such as bread and jellies, and hand-made items, but 80 percent of it must be locally produced.

The cost is $10 per booth, and those interested in participating may call (740) 264-9790 for information.

Moore said in some ways, the market has become like a business incubator, with new farmers using it to find their market before branching out on their own.

She noted many use social media to reach their customers, but regular vendors like the market because it provides them with face to face contact with their clientele.

“We’ll always be here because everybody sees you,” said Sadowski, who noted that through it, he’s met owners of restaurants and other businesses to whom he’s sold his product.

Since farming played a major part in the settlement of America, it was appropriate that this year’s market debuted at the same time the volunteer committee behind Wednesdays in Wintersville chose to celebrate the various cultures from which the American population sprang.

This month’s edition included folk singing and dancing by Faire May and the Sycamore Folk Dancers, a display of 75 quilts at Wintersville Methodist Church’s Center for Hope and an information table manned by the Jefferson County Historical Association.

Area residents were invited to lend their quilts for the display, which included an 1846 woven coverlet lent by members of the historical association, who noted such blankets were made by carding wool, spinning it into yarn, dying it and weaving it into the final product using a large loom.

They said in this case, the task was completed by a professional weaver known as C. Long.

Another quilt in the display belonged to the church itself, having been produced around 1886 to raise funds for Christian missionaries to foreign countries.

Sandy Day, a member of the church and the historical association, said more than 200 names on the quilt belong to people who had made a donation for the cause and may not be limited to church members.

Day said the quilt was sold and at some time came into the possession of Madelyn Campbell, an antique dealer whose son, Craig, later presented it to the historical association.

She said Charlie Green, a member of the group, saw that it was returned to the church.

Linda Hilty, Joan McGlone and other members of the Jefferson County Historical Association, also brought many books and other print items that offered a glimpse of the past of several Jefferson County communities.

They included an atlas containing maps of areas of the county circa 1871, books marking the 100th and 150th anniversaries of Steubenville; others detailing the histories of Wintersville and Mingo Junction and yearbooks and football programs from area schools.

Hilty said those items and many other interesting items from the county’s past can be found at its museum at 426 Franklin Ave., Steubenville.

Wednesdays in Wintersville was initiated to attract visitors to businesses in the village, and a number have accepted the invitation to hold special events or sales during it.

As owner of Valley Wine Cellar, Mary Decker, who also co-founded the event, invited visitors to sample four imported wines while noting her shop stocks wine originating from several countries.

She noted the flavor of wine often varies from region to region, with the types of grapes grown there. She added wine can be created from a variety of sources, from tomatoes to rice.

Visitors to local restaurant Pastaio Cucina Rustica Italiano were encouraged to try the works of its new pizzaiolo, or pizza chef.

In addition, each month’s entertainment has been sponsored by Ferguson House of Furniture and Seven Ranges Entertainment while this month’s activities were sponsored by Everhart-Bove Funeral Homes and Jake Kleineke.

For next month, Drazen Frankovitch, owner of EzFresh Meals, is inviting the public to participate in a baked bean contest.

Joel John, chairman of the Wednesdays in Wintersville Committee, said the theme for the July 3 event will be “Let Freedom Ring,” with events tied into Independence Day.

They include music by Tri-State Brass, a bicycle decorating contest for children, followed by a parade featuring them; and a class in which participants will learn to create a charcuterie board resembling the U.S. flag using assorted food.

Those interested in participating in the class must register by June 26 by calling (740) 275-4380.