Neighborhood resident Evelyn DeWitt’s curiosity makes her a perfect Old City Park volunteer.
During the last year, she has been a craft docent at this museum of architectural and cultural history near downtown Dallas. But, before coming to Old City Park, DeWitt’s interest was sparked at a local art fair where she discovered the old-fashioned art of spinning. She learned the craft and soon bought her own antique spinning wheel.
In July 1993, she decided to spin her wheel in a “proper setting” so she packed up and headed to Old City Park for Independence Day.
When staff and volunteers at the park saw DeWitt spinning, they asked if she would consider becoming a craft docent, sharing her talent with park visitors on a regular basis.
She volunteers monthly, and weekly during the summer.
“I like showing visitors how to spin and seeing their eyes sparkle when they realize it’s not that hard,” DeWitt says. “Before long, they’re spinning themselves.”
DeWitt doesn’t limit herself to spinning. While researching first generation Dallasites, she learned pioneer women wore palm hats. She gathered the necessary materials and now demonstrates how to make these straw hats.
She also thought it would be fun to make soap from scratch, so she did some research and now hosts soap demonstrations several times a year at Old City Park.
“Evelyn’s craft demonstrations bring Old City Park to life,” says Nancy Farina, volunteer coordinator. “We want to preserve not only historic buildings, but a way of life, and she helps us do that.”
Cliff DeWitt, Evelyn’s husband, shares her enthusiasm for learning and has joined her as an Old City Park volunteer. While demonstrating soap-making with his wife, he watched a volunteer at work in the potter’s shed. The potter offered top take him on as an apprentice, and now Cliff serves as a volunteer, doing pottery demonstrations for guests.
“The best part of volunteering is that I get to play like the park is mine,” Evelyn says. “It’s great to get away from computers, phones and voice mail to a place where it’s quiet and I can hear the birds singing.”
Old City Park needs more volunteers like the DeWitts. There’s a demand for touring docents to guide visitors through the historic buildings. Discovery docents are needed to lead school children on tours of the park.
Volunteers also are needed during Candlelight, Old City Park’s holiday event, Dec. 8-11. Training is provided for all positions.
For information about volunteer opportunities at Old City Park and other nonprofit agencies, call the Volunteer Center of Dallas at 826-6767.
