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Old World Charm
Photo
Janet Yosay and Pat Moore of Canfield drive a bird-in-hand Eagle carriage pulled by “Scout,” a paint/Welsh cross pony in front of the Old School House in Zoar. It was built in 1836. Zoar is about 80 miles southwest of Youngstown.
THE OLD WORLD charm of the 18th century communal village of Zoar, combined with members of the Western Reserve Carriage Association, recently made for a step back in time.
Carriage owners from Ohio and Pennsylvania donned period clothing and harnessed their horses for a “sporting day” of driving in the picturesque setting of Zoar, known as an island of Old-World charm in east-central Ohio.
“We all dress up in attire appropriate to the type of carriage or cart we are driving, which is fun for us and gives our spectators an idea of how it would have looked for our ancestors to actually travel and work this way,” said Nancy Roemer, WRCA member who lives near Dover and has hosted the event for more than 15 years.
Sporting days are intended to preserve and celebrate the carriage-driving style of bygone days and include the elements of horsemanship, driving acumen, equipment care and sportsmanship.
The event will be repeated in late October.