Granite Quarry Celebrates German Culture at Annual Germanfest
Granite Quarry came alive on September 19 during the annual Germanfest, an event filled with music, food, and history at the Old Stone House.
Visitors explored colonial-era German culture through home tours and various demonstrations. The sounds of the North Carolina Polka Time Allstars filled the air as attendees wandered among vendors, including a genealogy section where Dr. Gary Freeze engaged visitors about their German ancestors.
Southeast Mercantile Cooperative, operated by Jennifer Geoghan and Connie Christman, showcased several handmade items. Christman demonstrated the art of spinning wool, explaining her technique while connecting with the festival’s traditions.
Kate Dula, stirring apples in a copper pot for homemade apple butter, shared her process, which she learned from her grandparents. With family assistance, she described the meticulous cooking method, emphasizing the craft’s history dating back to the late 1600s.
Amy Brown and Kaye Brown Hirst demonstrated bread baking in an outdoor oven, while the Carolina Colonial Dancers performed traditional dances, captivating a growing crowd.
Nearby, blacksmith James M. “Jeep” Sorba showcased his craft, creating a campfire coffee pot hanger. Vendors like Rustic Edge Soap Co., featuring goat milk products, attracted attention with their live goats.
While food vendors, including Griff’s Dawgs and Southern Sodas, served refreshments, inside the Old Stone House, Tricia Creel of the Rowan Museum educated visitors about its history, focusing on its German builder, Michael Braun.
Aaron Kepley, executive director of the Rowan Museum, noted good turnout and highlighted the festival’s role in celebrating the German heritage of eastern Rowan County, promising continued cultural enrichment in future events.
