WALHALLA — Soon, residents and tourists alike may have the chance to experience what life was like at the turn of the 20th century.

Brainstorming blue prints are nearing completion as the Oconee Heritage Center is hoping to have a working farmstead up and running by this fall.

However, these are just proposed plans, said Nicholas Gambrell, director of the Oconee Heritage Center (OHC).

“We have a pending application with the USDA Forest Service to use the current Russell Farm in Mountain Rest,” he said. “We will keep and preserve the buildings that are currently located on the property, while incorporating new ones as well. We want people to get a feel for what it was like on a traditional mountain farm.”

Currently, there are nine buildings on the Russell Farm property that will be fixed up, while the historic structures that the OHC has been collecting may soon have a permanent home.

Since opening in 2004, Gambrell said the OHC has been lucky in acquiring buildings. A dogtrot log cabin from Buzzard Hollow, Ky., a one-room cabin from Gum Log, Ga., smokehouses, a blacksmith shop and several others are examples of properties that the center now has.

“We started thinking about this in the summer of 2007 when we disassembled and moved the cabin from Kentucky,” he said. “Louise Alexander (who grew up there) and her family are very excited about the prospect of this project.”

But before the Forest Service can make a decision, the OHC will have to conduct an environmental study as well as allow plenty of public input, he said.

“There is still a lot to do,” Gambrell added.

Plans will officially be announced on April 4 during the Mountain Heritage Supper at the Oconee State Park for the project being dubbed, “The Southern Appalachian Farmstead.”

At the event, supporters will be able to see a specific plan outlining where structures are proposed to sit along with an overall proposal for parking, footpaths and tenant quarters.

Tickets for the dinner are $40 and reservation requests can be made at info@oconeeheritagecenter.org or by calling (864) 638-2224.