Hart Square names volunteers of the year

Jan. 18—Judy Sigmon and Sue Ward have been named 2023 Volunteers of the Year by the Hart Square Foundation for their efforts in helping the organization and its work in the community.

The Hart Square Foundation, which provides a wide slate of programming, including the Hart Square Village open-air museum, living history events, field trips, folkways classes and historic foodways, also recognized other volunteers who have made a difference.

Hart Square Village is an open-air museum in Vale, consisting of over 100 historic log structures built between 1760 and 1893. The Hart Square Foundation is the nonprofit organization tasked with instilling a pioneering spirit in the next generation through preserving and sharing the history and culture housed at Hart Square Village.

The programs offered through Hart Square would not be possible without the support of 518 volunteers who collectively gave more than 11,000 hours of their time to share the nation's largest log cabin museum with 28,000 visitors from 25 states, said Lorissa Vines, Hart Square development director.

"Our volunteers bring Hart Square Village to life, and we truly could not do what we do without them," said Rebecca Hart, Hart Square executive director.

Sigmon has been volunteering at Hart Square for many years. In addition to serving as an instructor for folkways and field trip classes, Sigmon volunteers as a historic artisan at living history events. She is passionate about horticulture and created the Heritage Learning Garden, which has been a great asset to youth educational programs. Most recently, she volunteered as a historic demonstrator at Christmas in the Village, where she assisted visitors in creating block printed Christmas cards.

Ward is a longtime volunteer who gives her time in many capacities, from serving as a historic docent to assisting with field trips to support with office tasks. She most recently served as a field trip assistant during Hart Square Foundation's December field trip programming.

Ward helped by preparing craft class supplies, assisting with the wreath-making class, and providing golf cart transportation when children were physically unable to walk into the historic village to tour the historic cabins.

"It is an honor to recognize Judy Sigmon and Sue Ward for their longtime service to our organization, and to recognize Jaimie Beatty for excellence in historic preservation and Gail Boyles for excellence in traditional arts," Hart said.

Jaimie Beatty was named as the first recipient of Hart Square's Bob Hart Preservation Award, and Gail Boyles was honored as the first recipient of the Becky Hart Traditional Artist Award.

The special awards recognize volunteers who are carrying forward the legacy of the Hart Square founders and their vision to preserve and share Hart Square Village and traditional arts and trades with the next generation.

The Hart Square volunteers gathered to celebrate Old Christmas on Jan. 5. The historical Appalachia tradition was marked with hot chocolate and sweet and savory snacks in gratitude for their service and in honor of the volunteer award recipients.