As early settlers stumbled upon the Sandy Creek Valley, many had to learn to depend on the support of strangers to help clear land and build homes. Those community work days came to be known as pioneer frolics.

This past weekend at Goddard State Park, the first-ever Pioneer Frolic re-enactment was held, giving hundreds of people a glimpse into rural western Pennsylvania life along Sandy Creek from the 1790s through the 1840s.

Set up under a tent, Ann Grancey of Reading, Pa., demonstrated the art of flaxing to curious onlookers.

Grasping a handful of flax, she chopped the herb and used a sketching knife to remove boon, the harsh portion of the plant. After about five minutes of hackling, or raking, the plant, she held up the few remaining fibers. The small amount left over was softer and ready to be spun and woven into linen cloth. But to have enough for an article of clothing, she would have to repeat the process about 10 more times.

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