Celebrate Thanksgiving 1890's Style Nov. 23

WACO, Texas - Rural Thanksgiving traditions will be the focus of activities from 1-5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, at Baylor University's Gov. Bill and Vara Daniel Historic Village. Visitors to the village can learn about Thanksgiving 100 years ago and can share written or spoken reminiscences of Texas holiday traditions.
"Thanksgiving at the village gives visitors an opportunity to see the way things were and to appreciate how good things are now," said Debra Reid, curator of the historic village. According to Reid, people who lived in urban areas like Waco enjoyed a Thanksgiving that is similar to today's holiday. "They had a big meal and football. But the majority of Texans didn't live like this. They worked right through the holiday. We try to emphasize that at the village," she said.
Reid will spend the day cooking samples of a typical "poor man's meal." She said that 100 years ago, most rural Texans subsisted on meat, mostly fried pork, cornmeal and molasses. Visitors to the village also can speak with history interpreters or can watch volunteers participate in other 1890's chores.
Admission is $3 for adults, $2 for seniors and $1 for students. Baylor students, faculty and staff with an I.D. will be admitted at no charge. The village is located on University Parks Drive behind the Baylor Alumni Center and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.
For more information, call (817) 755-1160.