By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

DESTREHAN – Students from across the region gathered at Destrehan Plantation for an afternoon of learning about what it was like to live on the sprawling home at its prime.

Volunteers from the plantation and other organizations demonstrated carpentry,

wood carving, open hearth cooking, candle making, sewing and other valuable skills

of a bygone era during the plantation’s an-nual Heritage Day program.

“Our goal is to keep it as close to what would have been used on the plantation during its 19th century operation,” said volunteer Charles Licciardi. “The students get a good understanding of just how difficult it was and how much work was involved in everyday tasks that now can take just minutes or seconds.

In addition to being shown the skills needed to survive, students also got a glimpse into how plantation residents young and old might spend their free time. Vintage music and dancing was performed throughout the day, and there were also displays that featured antique toys and games from the 1800s and before.

“It is one of those opportunities to get students interested in the history of the region where they are now growing up,” Licciardi said. “I think they come away with more of an appreciation for what it took to grow this region into what it is today.”

With all the unique crafts and skills being demonstrated, the highlight of the afternoon for all students still seemed to be the Civil War encampment where weapons of

the past were demonstrated. Performers with Fenner’s Louisiana Battery, a traveling history tour out of Pearl River, showed off a variety of guns, ammunition, swords and daggers used by soldiers from the union and confederacy during the Civil War.

“We are the ones making all the noise out here,” said Donnis Davis, one of the partners in Fenner’s. “We show the students that there is a lot more to weapons than just aiming and firing.”

Although the students seemed to be interested in the discussions, Davis said he knows that the real draw is in the firepower, specifically from the horse drawn cannon shells.

“That’s where we get our applause,” Davis said.