The Gazette 09

Winner of 2 History Awards From the Kentucky Historical Society

THIS WEBSITE FUNDED BY THE FORT BOONESBOROUGH FOUNDATION


	Winter Trade Days Draws a Crowd

		Despite some chilly weather over the weekend the final event at Fort Boonesborough for 2008 drew quite a crowd on Saturday. 18th Century vendors filled the cabins and Lexington TV Station Channel 27 even came by for an interview with Fort Manager Bill Farmer. Re-Enactors and visitors alike shopped for 18th century Christmas gifts. Re-Enactors were treated to a pig roast courtesy of Randy Wolfe and Tony Baker. Sunday the weather was not as cooperative. The highlight on Sunday was the Re-Enactor Appreciation prize awards.


	Fort Boonesborough Hammer-In

Blacksmiths gathered at the Fort on Saturday, October 4th and Sunday October 5th to demonstrate projects and techniques and trade ideas and information. And as always when blacksmiths get together they swapped tall tales of the forge and offered hand forged items for sale.

		More photos - Click Here


	The 230th Anniversary of the Siege of Boonesborough Had Most Re-Enactors Ever


A record number of re-enactors were on hand for the 230th Anniversary of the Siege of Boonesborough. The Siege was re-enacted at 2 PM on both Saturday and Sunday with a special night battle on Saturday at dusk. Click Here for more photos of the 2008 Siege!

		A Message From Park Manager Phil Gray

	Thanks to all the re-enactors that came for the 230th Anniversary of the Siege if 1778. Re-Enactors came from over 12 states. In these tough economic times I am amazed at your commitment and the dedication to telling the story of Frontier Kentucky. We had over 800 school kids on Friday, over 800 visitors on Saturday with 500 for the night battle. We topped off the weekend with an additional 400 visitors on Sunday! On behalf of all the management and staff of Fort Boonesborough State Park, including


	ParksCommissioner Gerry van der Meer (who was on hand on Saturday and posed for photos with the re-enactors) a special Thank You for making this weekend one of the best 18th century events ever. Hope to see you again next year!


		New Surveying Equipment

	With the aid of grant money - Fort Boonesborough now has 18th century replica surveying equipment. Both the Fort Boonesborough Foundation and the Kentucky State Park Foundation stepped up to help obtain this equipment. Says Bill Farmer “ After all, land was the real driving force that brought people onto the frontier in the last quarter of the 18th century”. We can now develop an interpretive program based on 18th century surveying, land acquisition, and land speculation.


	The two foundations split the $1300 price tag while workers at the the fort produced several of the other items. The Gunter's chain, used to measure length of a survey line, surveyors cross, station staves, an offset staff, a set of oak chain stakes, and a set of chaining pins were all produced on site.


	The compass is especially nice, being a reproduction of an 18th century Rittenhouse Compass. Rittenhouse made instruments for Washington and Jefferson, and Rittenhouse equipment went west with Lewis and Clark as well. Be sure to check out this new interpretive display on your next visit to Fort Boonesborough.


		Cattail Mat Workshop


	A new interpretive skill was explored at Fort Boonesborough at a workshop held July 12th and 13th, as participants joined in making mats out of cattails. The workshop ws conducted by Tony Baker. Click here for more details and photos.


	Kellar’s and Logan’s Companies of the Illinois Regiment Muster at the Fort

		Click Here for Photos and more...


Boone Society Visits Boone Station and Fort Boonesborough





		Every two years the international Boone Society plans a gathering of it’s members. In 2008 the gathering was held in Lexington, Kentucky. Members and guests stayed at the Campbell House in Lexington while visiting historic sites, meetings and educational haunts. Saturday the group made a stop at Boone Station in Fayette County and followed that with their Annual Meeting over lunch at Hall’s on the River. After lunch the group toured Fort Boonesborough during Women on the Frontier. Click here to visit The Boone Society Web Site.



	Native Re-Enactor Michael Fields was much in demand as Boone Society visitors snapped photos around the fort.


	Women on the Frontier


	Horsesense was one of the highlights of Women on the Frontier for these visitors to Fort Boones- borough on June 21-22 as they got to learn about and then ride a horse in 18th century clothing.

		Photos, slide show and newsreel now loaded!


	Transylvania Store Settles in to Larger Quarters


	Visitors to Fort Boones- borough have noticed a change at the fort. The 18th Century Transylvania Store has moved into the space which previously housed the modern gift store. “The ever increasing popularity of the many 18th century items prompted the move,” said Park Manager Phil Gray. The previous Gift Shop has


	been condensed into the small cabin which is now the "Museum Store", and the blockhouse, where the gift shop was, is now the Transylvania Store. The fort staff completed the move last Friday after some renovation work was finished by Bill Farmer. Farmer used barn siding and other materials to give the store an 18th century feel.


	The move will also free space up in the lower blockhouse. The blockhouses have traditionally been used at the fort, for a gathering space during events, especially in inclement weather.


Photos from the 18th Century Trade Fair

	Sun Shines on Trade Fair

		From Park Manager Phil Gray

I want to personally thank all the reenactors that came to the 18th Century Trade Fair at Boonesborough. Not unexpectedly the number of traders were slightly down, we certainly understand about the price of gas. Those that came were outstanding and the public loved it.

Our paid visitation numbers were up over last year. With people staying closer to home and with our location in Central Kentucky, the Trade Fair was a great way to spend part of the holiday weekend. We had over 1300 paid and saw several of the same people on both days. I spoke with people who said they enjoyed so much on Saturday that they returned on Sunday. That tells us what great quality the reenactors are.


	Again thanks to all the reenactors who make these events so successful and continue to help us tell the story of 18th Century Boonesborough and Kentucky.

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


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