The Chadds Ford Historical
Society was forced to adapt to unfavorable weather conditions, but managed to
have its annual Chadds Ford Days celebration without a hitch.
A month of heavy rain that
included a hurricane and two more days of torrential downpours within a week of
the annual fund-raising event caused some concern, but CFHS arranged for
off-site parking and shuttle buses to take visitors to and from dry parking
areas. They also moved the bandstand closer to the barn Visitors’ Center. No
complaints from visitors or performers were reported.
The wet field conditions may
have played a factor in another aspect. There were fewer colonial crafters
exhibiting this year. Those who did attend said they thought the others stayed
away because of the soggy field and the uncertainty of what the weather would
be over the weekend. While it was sunny Saturday, there was a chance of
showers.
Contemporary crafters and
artists showed up in full force, as did local restaurateurs and vendors.
There were a few new
attractions. One was Minnow, the Painting Pony.
Minnow is an 18-year-old
Chincoteague pony, born wild on the Virginia island, but now owned by Iron
Horse Farm in Embreeville.
Minnow paints with the help of
his trainer, Kyley DiLuigi. She
dips the brush in the paint and puts it in Minnow’s mouth, but the pony applies
the paint to canvas. DiLuigi does frequently wipe off the brush handle.
She said she had more
difficulty training Minnow than any other horse she had trained. He also does
other tricks, but he’s billed as the painting pony. One difficulty DiLuigi had
with that training, she said, is that Minnow was afraid of red.
DiLuigi said they sell Minnow’s
paintings with a portion of the proceeds going to animal-related charities such
as the SPCA and the Main Line Animal Rescue.
Another new participant was
11-year-old Liam Jackson, a fifth grade student at Chadds Ford Elementary
School. Liam makes soap and was selling his creations — one mint and one
vanilla — with his mother, local artist Barbara Tlush.
Liam has been making soap since
the age of 6. He said he tried it once and liked the process. In the process,
he’s learned to work with a ledger and calculate taxes.
Liam sells his soap for $1 per
ounce at Pete’s Produce on Route 926, and has sold at the art and garden show
at Pocopson Elementary School. People can also order Liam’s soap by emailing
Tlush at snowpeoplellc@yahoo.com
About Rich Schwartzman
Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.
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