The Gazette 06

Winner of 2 History Awards From the Kentucky Historical Society

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Taking It Up a Notch
By Bill Farmer

While planning events for 2007, we are keeping in mind that we need to improve every event, and make positive changes in order to achieve the two goals we have set.

The first goal is to provide our Park visitors the best historic site experience that we possibly can with the resources available.

The second is to provide a place and experiences for re-enactors that will somehow show our appreciation to those who make this site, and so many others, the type of place where people go to see history come to life.

To help achieve both of these goals, we will take our list of events, and give each one a good kick to improve and make each one a more attractive and enjoyable experience for all who attend, whether they be participants or visitors. Current plans are to include a special acknowledgement of those who have supported, and will continue to support events here through their attendance and participation in our event program throughout the season. The basic plan is to have a drawing at the last event for the year, Winter Trade Days in November, to present, to several persons, gifts of appreciation. What these items may be will come to light over the next few months, and be noted in Smoke & Fire articles and on this website.

To become eligible for this drawing, the process is very simple. Any of the following will get your name in the hat.
1. - Be a registered participant in any of our 2007 scheduled events at the fort.
2. - Show up for a day during the season in 18^th C. clothing to interact with visitors.
3. Participate in one of our 2007 Living History Weekends.
4. Participate in any School Day program in 2007 (this is good for two tickets in the hat).

You might consider this similar to a re-entry match, because every time you do one of these things, your name goes into the hat again! The more events you participate in, the more you are here in support of history, the more chances you have to be a winner.


A Visit to the 18th Century Trade Days at Fort Boonesborough May 26 - 28, 2007

	Photos Now Posted

		Also check the Photo Post for photos from our visitors


	Historic Marker Dedication


	Re-Enactors gathered at Boone Station in front of the new highway marker that was dedicated during the Living History Weekend. In addition to the dedication by Park Officials the weekend also consisited of a School Day on Friday and a re-enactment of the Massacre at Ruddles Station in 1779 on both Saturday and Sunday.


	In 1780 two stations in central Kentucky were attacked by British and Indians under the command of Captain Henry Byrd.


	The Massacre At Ruddle’s Station April 20-22 held at Boone Station

This important part of Kentucky’s Early Settlement History is being brought to the forefront this year at Boone Station. The actual central Kentucky site where this battle took place is on private land so it’s story is only commemorated by a Highway Marker.

Since the land at Boone Station is also one of Kentucky’s best kept secrets, Phil Gray and Bill Farmer of Fort Boonesborough have brought the two together. A re-enactment of British Captain Byrd’s attack on the stations with his Indian Allies will be presented on the beautiful land in Fayette County in April. There will be a school event on Friday followed by the larger re-enactment on Saturday and Sunday.


		Kentucky Woodsmans Weekend



	Fort Boonesborough was alive this weekend with a gathering of folks enjoying a “Kentucky Woodsmans Weekend”. Pictured above is Jesse Mains talking about The Longhunters of Kentucky. At right is Jim Jacobs who spoke on travel by water in the 18th Century. Click here to learn more.




		Blackmiths Carl King (left) and Randy Wolfe (right) joined in the Hammer In at Fort Boonesborough on October 6 and 7th.


	Rain played a major role in the 2006 Siege of Boonesborough just as it did in 1778


		*Click Here for Photos*

	Extensive rain and storms in Kentucky caused the cancellation of Fort Boones- borough’s Siege of 1778. Re-Enactor’s who began arriving on Friday were thoroughly soaked by early Saturday morning. In the interest of safety Phil Gray, park manager decided to cancel the re-enactment. But as the sun began to break through in the early afternoon a scaled down version of the 11 day siege began.


			Transylvania 18th Century Store Expanded



		The move to larger quarters for the 18th Century Transylvania Store is complete. Be sure to stop in on your next visit to the fort. More Photos coming Soon!




		A Sneak Peak at the new diorama in the museum. More Photos Coming Soon!


	Families Arrive at Boone Station

Just as Daniel Boone and his family traveled from Boonesborough to Boone Station in 1779 so did these intrepid pioneers. The first event at Boone Station was attended by a group of re-enactors to reflect the approximate size of the original group. The event was open to the public and attended by over 450 people - many from the Kentucky Parks Department, Boone descendants and just a lot of folks interested in the early history of Kentucky and Boone Station in particular.


	Click here to see Photos of the event.

The Transylvania
Store Expands

By Anne Farmer

The Transylvania Store has done a brisk business since its opening last August. We continually try to improve by adding a wide variety of 18th Century goods. We are constantly looking for new suppliers and artisans. Our goal is to keep our inventory as authentic as possible and thanks to the support of fellow reenactors, we are accomplishing that goal.

I am encouraging anyone who has quality products they are producing to consider the Transylvania Store. We do take items on consignment and we would like to expand our line of consignment items. What has amazed me since the opening of the store, is the impact it has had on the general public. It affords us an opportunity to interpret 18th Century Lifestyles and the types of goods offered for sale and trade in the 18th Century. Because of the positive response from our visitors and fellow reenactors we are moving the store into the blockhouse located next to the store. We are desperately in need of the added space. Hopefully this move will be accomplished by mid-August.

All of us at Fort Boonesborough want to thank our fellow reenactors and friends for their tremendous support which has made this expansion possible. We would really like your input on items that you would like to see carried in the store. Any and all suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks for your continued support.

Click Here for more of The Transylvania Store

History Weekend Successful

By Jim Cummings

It was hot and muggy and after it rained it got even hotter and more humid. But members of Benjamin Logan’s Company of The Illinois Regiment did not seem to mind it and neither did the estiamted 600 visitors to Fort Boonesborough this last weekend in July.

As one visitor put it. “I like to bring my children to the fort. It gives them a feel for what it would have been like to live in another time period like the 18th century.

The visiting members of Logan’s Company joined with The Fort Boonesborough Living History Re-Enactors,

Historians and employees in 18th Century garb to experience what it must have been like in Kentucky in the late 1770’s. I spoke with a grandfather with his grandchildren who explained that his own great, great, great grandparents had stayed for a while at the Fort when they first entered Kentucky. Like many others they stayed for a while until times were safer and then moved on. Part of the family eventually settled in Ohio, while some had moved on toward Indiana.

Visiting with his own grandchildren, he said, gave them all a chance to walk in the footsteps of their ancestors. It gave him a chance to tell them the story of Daniel Boone in the place where not only Boone but their own family had been some 200 years before.

Another couple admitted to being regular visitors to the fort. They love talking history and being there on a weekend when lots of re-enactors are present gives them that chance. He said he loves to talk history and with the re-enactors he could talk all day if he wanted to and never be without someone to converse with.

This couple actually admitted that they would like to take the leap and become re-enactors of living history themselves but just haven’t had the nerve. They certainly have a love of history and knowledge of it, they are only one step away from doing it. After talking to a few more folks and picking up a few pointers, I pointed out that we all go through the nerve thing. Just don’t be afraid for there are plenty of people to help while you make the transition. I think we just might have a few new re-enactors on the horizon.

People come to Fort Boonesborough for many reasons. Re-enactors come for the camaraderie, with old friends, new friends and of course to share history. Even the most experienced re-enactors can pick up a tip or two. But most still come to tell the story of these early pioneers and their settlement.

As living history re-enactors we are the frontiersmen we portray. We try to portray the part as accurately as we can so visitors will know the hardships they endured and the odds that they overcame so that we might live as we do today.Often even after the battles with Indians were over our ancestors fought for their land. Daniel Boone, Squire Boone and Simon Kenton all had their land taken away by the courts. And it was land that was paid for with their families blood. Bringing these stories and events to life gives a future to the past!


	For more photos of this weekend click here.


	The original Fort Boonesborough was built by Daniel Boone and his men in 1775


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