So, what did Central Florida's pioneers do for fun?
They certainly did not have as much spare time as their modern-day descendants. Not surprisingly, when they did have free time, it was usually dedicated to honing important life-sustaining skills.
Pioneer men spent as much time as possible hunting and fishing. Not only could it be a nice break from the drudgery of farm work, it also supplemented the family's diet with fresh fish and game meat.
Pioneer women frequently gathered in "quilting circles." Sometimes, they worked communally to patch together a special gift for a wedding or birth of a new baby in the community. Other times, they worked on individual projects while simply enjoying each other's company and swapping neighborhood news.
Pioneer kids enjoyed swimming in the many area lakes, weather permitting. Or, mimicking their elders by joining the hunting/fishing expeditions or quilting circles.
Everyone looked forward to the fiddle playing, dancing, and frivolity associated with larger gatherings. These included a hog-killing, sugar cane boiling, or barn raising.
Organized sporting events did not appear in the Pine Castle area until after 1900. By 1915, though, the frontier town had its own baseball team.
To learn more about Central Florida's pioneer folkways, please join us at the upcoming Pine Castle Pioneer Days festival at Cypress Grove Park! (www.pinecastlepioneerdays.org)
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