NORTH BUXTON – A new generation is taking the lead as the popular Buxton Homecoming Weekend enters its second century.
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This tiny hamlet, a terminus on the Underground Railroad for people escaping slavery in the US to freedom in Canada, attracts descendants from across North America and many others Buxton National Historic Site and Museum for the annual celebration.
What began as a humble celebration on Reginald and Minnie Robbins’ farm has grown into a four-day event, featuring a genealogy conference, re-enactments, live entertainment, family feud baseball tournament and Labor Day parade, that draws more than 4,000 visitors a year.
The Buxton Next Generation group is taking more of a leadership role in organizing the weekend.
BNG member and museum curator Michelle Robbins said there are still many senior community members involved in organizing the weekend.
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“We’re just kind of taking a little bit of the onus off of them and happy to continue on with all of the events,” she said.
BNG member Chris Prince said when the curator’s torch was passed to Robbins, it came with more responsibility for the younger generation.
He said there are so many elders working hard to make homecoming happen, but BNG is “definitely a big part of it.”
Both Robbins and Prince said watching their parents, grandparents and other community members organize the Homecoming weekend has been invaluable.
“They have created such a foundation for all of us and to continue to build onto that is amazing,” Robbins said. “They’re definitely leaders in our community and we want to catch up to what they’re doing.”
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“It’s been really cool to see people that give everything they have for their community,” Prince added. “And now, me being able to give back in that same way, I’ve been lucky to have some good folks show how you care for your community.”
It’s great to see younger people, like his son, Solomon, getting involved to help make the weekend happen, he said.
Ona Allen, 99, has been coming to Homecoming since she was born in 1925.
“You didn’t see this many people, it was smaller,” and church services were a big part of the event with a lot of singing, she recalled.
Her aunts and uncles would come and the family would get the old pots and pans out and start cooking.
“That was amazing,” she said. “Oh, yeah, you got to have the food.”
Allen remembers the delicious fried chicken and mashed potatoes.
“When we came of age, we had to serve the tables,” she said of her role in the early Homecoming event.
Then, of course, it came time to wash the dishes.
There were no automatic dishwashers back then “and no paper plates, either,” he laughed.
Allen, who lives in Burlington, enjoys coming back for Homecoming to see her family.
She also likes the fact younger generations are keeping the event alive.
“It amazes me,” Allen said. “I admire that they’re still carrying on.”
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