Frank Frisch: A new idea for Middfest

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1:45 PM Thursday, October 15, 2009

I recently read in The Journal that Middfest attendance was down due to the economy and the bad weather. I agree that the bad weather played a part in the poor turnout. I was there Friday and was downright miserable due to the windy and cool conditions.

I have nothing against Middfest. It’s a great idea and has been working for several years. But I think Middletown needs to return to its roots.

A while back, I was doing some research in the Ohio Room at the library and ran across an interesting “Middletown Diary” article compiled by the late local historian George Crout, titled “Citizens from Kentucky.”

With the outbreak of World War I, there came increased demands for steel and new workers. The war had cut off the supply of foreign workers from Hungary, Greece, Romania, Austria, Italy, Slovakia, Serbia and Germany. It was necessary to recruit more “home-grown” Americans.

Not only did my maternal grandfather Claude Wills from Mount Sterling, Ky., answer Armco’s call for help, but the sons of miners and farmers of the Cumberland Plateau area of eastern Kentucky did so as well.

Armco’s Bulletin in 1916 stated — with a smile — that the independent mountain men had taken over Middletown “without firing a shot.”

One Armco supervisor said, “Of all foreigners, those Kentucky highlanders were quickest to learn our language and acquire American ways.” It also stated that the new Middletonians referred to themselves as “briarhoppers” and were proud of their nickname.

Now to the point of this article. Middletown needs to follow the example of Pikeville, Ky., which recently wrapped up its 33rd annual “Hillbilly Days” festival. It draws visitors from all over the country. Hundreds of thousands of people crowd the streets of downtown Pikeville for the festival.

“It brings in the vendors, the money, the events,” said Hope Slone, who lives in Pikeville. “It brings people to Pikeville. It brings in maybe families, hopefully. It helps our economic system.”

“It’s fun to drive through the parking lot, the parking garage especially, and drive through and look at the (automobile) tags,” said Donovan Blackburn, city manager for Pikeville.

He said people come from across the country for the three-day event, pumping much-needed money into the local economy.

“It’s had a tremendous benefit,” he said. “It brings several million dollars into our economy and — under today’s economy — obviously we need the boost. So this is somewhat our stimulus package locally.”

Everything from hotels to restaurants benefit from the $2 million in revenue. Officials say this year’s crowd was the largest, topping out at nearly 200,000.

I think if we were to ask most folks in the Middletown area if they have any Kentucky ancestors, most would respond with a resounding “yes.”

So here is my suggestion. Next year’s country has not yet been determined. The Middfest committee that decides that will meet soon. I propose that they consider getting back to Middletown’s roots for at least one year and see how it goes. Let’s have a “Briarhopper Days Festival” in Middletown.

Let’s dress in the old-fashioned ways for the event. Set up food tents with good ol’ Southern cooking with beans and cornbread. Let’s invite vendors who sell crafts and stuff that Middletonians will buy. Let’s have local talent that sing down-home songs and gospel music.

Let’s get the local churches involved. Most would gladly volunteer their choirs and quartets for some good ol’ toe-tapping music.

Hey, what can you lose, Middfest committee? It might just prove to be what downtown Middletown needs.

Frank Frisch is a retired Middletown resident.

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another great article from mr.frisch.
how about having it on a summer weekend instead of early fall.perhaps mr.frisch could be the chairperson of the event.

trentons dickie
8:59 PM, 10/19/2009

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Great article. Has some very good points, give the guy some credit for trying to help.

Jan
1:19 PM, 10/18/2009

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I agree try mit and see how it goes, there is a reason people call this town middletucky, it's because of the solid foundation of kentucky heritage. This town does need a break to get back to it's roots for the common person for a change, it's hard for people to relate our festival as a representaion of middletown, not sure i would call it briarhopper days but it might work.too many people think of midfest in a joking way as "culturefest" maybe concentrate on middletowns roots and founding.

rusty shackleford
1:22 AM, 10/18/2009

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Great Idea,lets show some Hillbilly pride.

fedup
8:57 AM, 10/17/2009

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I really appreciate Middfest! Learning the dance routines and music of other countries is especially interesting to me. May I add to this idea of Briarhoppers being treated as a different culture? I recently learned that Irish immigrants are partly responsible for what we call Hillbillies. Actually, they came to northern North Carolina, I believe. After spreading some, they probably are throughout the Ohio valley by now. Let's go with this idea and include the Irish.

Carolyn Miller
9:51 PM, 10/16/2009

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