A Jumping Mule, Living Histories, Food And Fun - It's Current River Heritage Days

Muleskinner Richie Dement will give a jumping demonstration with his mule Pedro at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Friday at the Pioneer Heritage Homestead in Doniphan.

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From classic cars and a jumping mule to wagon rides and a lot of food, Current River Heritage Days will present a full lineup of entertainment Friday and Saturday, Sept. 24-25, in Downtown Doniphan.

The Doniphan Neighborhood Assistance Program (DNAP) has settled on a fall celebration after sponsoring for several years Civil War Days during April.

Julie Braschler, curator at DNAP’s Current River Heritage Museum, hopes the community will like a wide variety of entertainment for all ages.

This filling station model was donated to the Current River Heritage Museum by Carolyn Gatlin of Doniphan. Bill’s (formerly Bud’s) was captured in miniature sometime in the mid seventies and was a delightful surprise for everyone to see. Originally, there were lights inside. It will be on permanent display in the museum after it’s debut in the community center window. The public is invited to see some historic restored films on Thursday, Sept. 23, at 6 p.m. in the community center. This event is free to the public as a kickoff to Current River Heritage Days.

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Starting off the big weekend will be a special showing of vintage movies filmed between 1954-64 of scenes in Ripley County including the centennial celebration held in August 1959.

The reel-to-reel films were donated to the museum, which has taken on the task of converting them to video disks. Mendy Reece and United Country American Realty are sponsoring the project.

The show begins at 6 p.m. at the DNAP Community Center, 105 W. Washington St. Admission is free. Hot dogs and refreshments will be available.

A new event - mule jumping - will be offered Friday at the Pioneer Heritage Homestead one block south of the courthouse. The event sponsor is D&D Tire And Service Center.

Muleskinner Richie Dement and his mule, Pedro, will demonstrate mule jumping at 11 a.m. and again at 2 p.m.

Mule wagon rides around the downtown area will be available on Friday and Saturday starting at the homestead.

Pioneer skills such as quill writing and candle making will be demonstrated by the Poplar Bluff chapter of the Daughters Of The American Revolution.

The Doniphan R-I FFA will offer a petting zoo for the kids and will also be offering fried potatoes and other treats.

Two downtown traditions will be joining the celebration.

Friday evening, Cruisin’ The Park will feature classic cars and trucks. Vehicles will begin lining up at 6 p.m. at Harp’s Foods for the cruise downtown.

Vintage cars and trucks also will be featured Saturday at a downtown car show starting at 10 a.m. Admission is free with Mathis Timber LLC sponsoring the event. Contact Rick Yates at 996-7772 for more information about the car shows.

On Saturday, Pickin’ On The Square will offer live music on the east side of the courthouse beginning at 3 p.m. Around 5 p.m., a pie supper will join the music with proceeds going to preserving the pioneer cabin at the homestead.

Special items to be auctioned include a signed photograph of Autumn On The Current by the late Paul Ripley and an out of print copy of ‘Histories And Families Of Ripley County Missouri.’

DNAP expresses thanks to all of the sponsors, which include Southern Bank, Countryside Chevrolet, Current River Ford, Hoefer Feed And Pet Food, Top Quality Rental and Sales, Three Rivers Citizens Advisory Board, E & S Pharmacy, Harrison Insurance Agency, China Garden, Vitronic, the Ripley County Historical Society and United Country American Realty.

Contact Julie Braschler for more information at 996-5298.