COMBERMERE – Stepping back in time has never been easier. On September 1 and 2, Madonna House staff members held the annual Heritage Days weekend event, which celebrates the area’s rich past. Butter making, bee keeping, puppetry, and even 1902 laundry demonstrations were all on display on the Madonna House grounds in Combermere. “It’s kind of the finale of our summer season,” Linda Owen, department head of the gift shop said. All summer long, the gift shop is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Following the Labour Day long weekend, it will be open Thursday, Friday and Saturday 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. until the new year. Then it is closed for the winter. “So it’s kind of a way of sharing our heritage that has been passed down to us and us sharing it with our neighbours,” Owen explained. Around 300 people each day visit the grounds. “Saturday is much more busy because St. Joseph’s House, our clothing and rummage sale building is open. So people come to both events,” Owen said. “People look forward to it.” She added that the puppet show is a big draw for kids. To read the full story, pick up the September 5, 2018 issue of The Valley Gazette.