Dressed in period clothing, David Agnew and Mike Hoffman regaled the Young at Heart crowd with tales of survival around the time the area was first being settled during the group’s January get together.

 

Young at Heart is a monthly event begun three years ago as a way for people of the community to gather on a regular basis. Held at Rejoice Lutheran Church in Clearwater, the group is nondenominational, with people from all over the area attending and helping out. A variety of programs are offered for both entertainment and education throughout the year.

 

Hoffman, a local blacksmith and historical re-enactor, previously gave a presentation to the group a few years ago, talking about area trading posts and sharing items that were common during the time period.

 

Agnew is a lifelong Clearwater resident who is very knowledgeable about area history. He and Hoffman are members of the Rendezvous group that meets at Riverside Park during Clearwater’s Heritage Days in August. The group is a living history show, as they not only teach people about the past, but also demonstrate the knowledge and skills of the era.

 

“I felt winter was a great time for us to see what pioneers had to do to stay warm and provide for their families,” said Young at Heart organizer Karolyn Boucher. “Dave Agnew, who is very entrenched in history, and Mike Hoffman, who has been with us before, made the perfect combination for the presentation,”

Along with the historical presentation, guitarist Terry Nelson also entertained the crowd.

 

Young at Heart is a nondenominational group that meets the third Thursday of every month at Rejoice Lutheran Church in Clearwater. Attendees begin gathering at 10:30 a.m. to talk and play cards, followed by lunch at noon and a program. 

 

To sign up, call Rejoice at 320-558-6851 or email rejoice@rejoicelutheranchurch.org. Everyone is welcome!