Experience Pioneer Days At Lawton's Historic Mattie Beal Home

Lawton has several museums to learn about the city's unique history. One way to step back in time is to visit the Historic Mattie Beal Home, and on May 30, visitors can experience what life was like in the pioneer days.

Coming up on Saturday, May 30, the Lawton Heritage Association will host Pioneer Days at the Historic Mattie Beal Home. On this day, visitors can experience activities done in pioneer times, like making butter or planting seeds, and play pioneer games, like wheelbarrow and sack racing.

Mattie Beal's name was the second drawn during the 1901 land lottery.

Martha "Mattie" Helen Beal is one of Lawton's historical figures. The Lawton Heritage Association manages her home in south Lawton that was built between 1901 and 1910 my Mattie Beal and her husband Charles Warren. The home was built on the 160-acre tract Mattie Beal acquired during the 1901 land lottery; her name was the second drawn.

Mattie Beal divided her land and made affordable lots. She also donated some of her land for Lincoln School, a church and two city parks. Today, the area of town is known as Beal Addition, and Lincoln Elementary, Beal Heights Presbyterian Church and two parks are still there today.

Today, the Lawton Heritage Association maintains Mattie Beal's home and hosts tours. Each month, the association hosts special events, and on May 30, visitors can tour the home and take part in activities that Mattie Beal and her children would have done when they first built the home.

Lawton Heritage Association via Facebook

Pioneer Days at Lawton's Historic Mattie Beal Home will feature pioneer activities.

Pioneer Days at the Historic Mattie Beal Home will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 30. Cost to participate in pioneer activities will be $5 per person or $20 per family. Below are a list of activities that will be on site, along with tours of the home.

Make A Doll - Participants will make a doll out of folding fabric. No sewing is involved in the craft.
Wheel Barrel Race - Two child-size wheelbarrows will be available for guests to race each other.
Horseshoes - Horseshoes are special to the home because Mattie Beal found one after she learned her name was drawn for the land lottery. Visitors at Pioneer Days can test their luck by playing horseshoes.
Milk The Cow - Visitors can learn how to milk a cow using a fake cow made out of wood, fabric and a plastic glove.
Plant A Seed - Guests can plant a seed in provided containers and take it home to watch it grow.
Painting - Paint opportunities will be available with brushes and rollers.
Butter - Guests can make their own butter using a jar with cream.
Washing Clothes - No washing machines were around in pioneer times. Guests can learn how to wash clothes with a washing board.
Three Legged Race - Guests can race each other by tying the legs of partners together.
Sack Race - Old racks will be available for an old fashioned sack race.
Balloon Artist - A balloon artist will be on site to make balloons into animals or objects from pioneer days.

For more information about the Historic Mattie Beal Home or the upcoming Pioneer Days event, visit the Lawton Heritage Association's official website or follow the association on Facebook.

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