Snow Camp Historical Site (See our slide show of pictures below the story) Why travel far off to see how people lived years ago? Just down the road is a true history lesson for the entire family and also a great day trip. Restored Snow Camp is located on the north bank of Cane Creek, in present day Alamance County. This settlement became known as Snow Camp by the mid 1700’s. Some hunters from Pennsylvania camped near the Cane Creek during the winter of 1748, during which time the snow was two to three feet deep. When they cut trees for firewood, they cut them level with the snow. When this band of hunters and other Pennsylvania pioneers returned to the Cane Creek area the following year, they recognized the old camp by the tall stumps and said, “There is the place where we camped in the snow.” In the years that followed, the settlers began referring to the area as Snow Camp. The historical site is a project that is supported by the Alamance County Arts Council with funds from the Grass Roots Program of the North Carolina Arts Council, a state agency. There are a total of seventeen key locations to visit while at this site. This is also home to the Outdoor Theater which is celebrating its thirty-fourth year. Their shows run from late June to the end of August. While there make sure to visit Ye Old Country Kitchen that has a daily buffet and great menu items. It's open Wednesday thru Sunday. If you want to camp, you can travel just down the road to the Cane Creek Campground and RV Park. The list of key locations at the historical site is as follows: amphitheater, gift shop, Ye Old Ice Cream Shop and craft display, office for the Snow Camp Historical Drama Society, York & Dwight Teague Memorial Cane Mill and Gazebo, William “Bill” Sizemore Picnic Area, Carroll M Shoffner Building, Ye Old Country Kitchen, The Natural Springs, Log Kitchen, Cane Creek Meeting House, Post Office Museum, Colored School House, New Hope Meeting House, Herb Garden, Worthy B Teague House and Quaker Museum, Chatham Meeting House to name a few. There are beautiful walking trails and more. The best thing is to park and stroll all the history in this great area and it's FREE. In October there is the annual Molasses Festival. Here they take real sugar cane and demonstrate all the steps in preparing and making of molasses along with numerous other activities. Be on the lookout for the dates and times. Do not forget to stop in for a meal or dessert at the Ye Old Country Kitchen which has an indoor display of items. It has been newly remodeled this year. See you in the past at Snow Camp.
Snow Camp
| SNOW CAMP OUTDOOR DRAMA 35TH SEASON!
Why drive all the way to Manteo or the Mountains when history comes alive right here in Snow Camp?! Sword of Peace! Now in it's 35th Season! June 26,27,28; July 11,17,19,25,31; Aug. 2,8,14,16,22,28,30 Showtime 8pm Pathway to Freedom: Now in it's 15th Season! July 3,4,5,10,12,18,24,26; Aug. 1,7,9,15,21,23,29 Showtime 8pm Cane Creek Calamities! - A fun filled musical in the spirit of Lil' Abner! July 9 - Aug. 27, Weds. only Showtime 8pm Robin Hood - Children's Theatre July 12 - Aug. 30, Sat. only Showtime 10am Adults $15; Children 12 and under $7; Seniors (60 and over) $13 SEASON TICKETS $35 IF PURCHASED BY MAY 31! $45 AFTER THAT DATE! SNOW CAMP OUTDOOR THEATRE, 301 Drama Rd., Snow Camp, NC 336/376-6948 www.snowcampdrama.com snowcampot@aol.com Snow Camp Outdoor Drama is in its 35th Season.
With the high cost of gas, this makes it even more important to visit a local treasure. THE SWORD OF PEACE is an historical outdoor drama written by William Hardy. The Sword of Peace is a dramatic portrayal of the American Revolution. It enlightens the audience about the struggles the peaceful Quakers must face in a time of war. Sword of Peace performs selected dates June 26 – Aug. 30. PATHWAY TO FREEDOM is an historical outdoor drama written by Mark Sumner with Music by Ann Hunt Smith. Pathway to Freedom is an exciting account of the struggles and heroism of the 1840’s and the 1850’s along the “Underground Railroad” from North Carolina to Indiana. Pathway to Freedom performs selected dates July 3 – Aug. 29. Make a point to visit all the historic building while you visit and most of all…. Do not forget to stop by Ye Old County Kitchen to enjoy a great home cook meal. You can visit the Liberty Leader Website
Local Tradition of Molasses In Snow Camp In the community of Snow Camp the art of making molasses is alive and well. Molasses, a thick, dark brown syrup made from sugar cane or sorghum cane is a delicious alternative to honey and maple syrup. Rich in iron and other minerals, molasses has a robust taste and distinctive flavor not found in any other syrup. At the home of local account James Andrews, if a step back in time as they have an annual making of molasses. With all the equipment on his premises, friends and family all come out for this all day event. It is truly an awesome event to see. A true art is needed to make molasses. It may seem primitive but they have added several gauges to the time old tradition. However, nothing can replace the hands on art of just doing everything just right to get that perfect batch. There is more in the air that just the smell of the wood burning, that would be great fellowship of friends and families laughter and conversations. You can not buy this type of fun. For those of you who have never made molasses or seen it made, let me explain the procedure and work involved. First the leaves must be "stripped" from the cane stalk while it is still standing in the field. Then it must be cut and hauled to the "boiling" site. There the tops (seed pods) must be cut off and the stalks are then run through a cane mill. This squeezes the juice from the stalk. Before the juice can be placed in the large "boiler pans" it must be strained through clean white cloths. The juice must be "wrung-out" of the cloths and this alone is quite a job. Once the juice is strained, it's placed in the "boiler pans" and a fire is built beneath it. The juice must be brought to a boil and maintained at boiling temperature for six to seven hours. This requires plenty of firewood and manpower, since the wood lengths must be 5 to 6 feet long to assure even heat beneath the boiler pans. Once the juice begins to boil, it must be constantly skimmed to remove the cane residue that rises to the top. This skimming must be continuously repeated for the entire six to seven hours until the molasses are "ready." Up at day break, in the crisp country air, their working hours to get the batch completed. Friends and neighbors gather at Andrew's house to assist and socialize over the day's batch of fresh homemade molasses. We often talk of traditions in The Liberty Leader but here is the epitome of country traditions. Just one of the many secrets in our great community that makes living here so great.
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