Gloria Wetzel

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	Re-Enactor of the Month


	by Jim Cummings


	We are preserving living history today so that the past will not be forgotten. Jim Cummings


	To See Past Re-Enactor of the Month

	To nominate a Re-Enactor of the Month


	*First Woman Re-Enactor of the Week*


		Morning Glory - Gloria Wetzel

	We at Pioneer Times Web News have chosen our first woman Re-enactor of the Week. Throughot time women have not been given credit for their achievements. And many times they need to do more than a man to get the recognition they deserve. But women have always proven their worth - proven that they are not just for childbearing, cooking , washing, darning socks and working in the fields. Proven that their is more to them than canning cutting wood and milking cows and goats. The American Pioneer Woman has done all these things mentioned and much, much more. And the frontier women were not so different from the woodland native women. The biggest difference between the two is that the native women were treated with more respect by the male population.

The woodland native women took part in the decesion making of the tribe and manged the cropss and the prunning of the day to day operations of the towns and villages. It was not a matter of the white Anglo men not loving their women as much as the natives - rather it was a different outlook between the two groups - a differnet way of life with different priorities.

It is well documented that many of the captured white women, after being adopted into the tribes and being forced to run the gauntlet did not wish to return home to their husbands and families.

Gloria Wetzel who is also known by her Indian name Morning Glory, uses this in her personna. She portrays a white woman who was captured by an Indian brave.

Before she became Morning Glory, Gloria ran the gauntlet of initiation. It was only after this that she received the respect of the tribe and was adopted. Soon after Morning Glory married a brave and later when settlers tried to buy her back she refused to return to white society. As often recorded in history she was well treated, work was lighter because it was shared by many.

And re-enacting imitates real life. Gloria Wetzel started re-enacting in the middle eighties at Friendship, Indiana. She too paid her dues at Friendship where she was known as “the -itch in britches” Gloria could outshoot many of the men and most did not like it.


	AN INTERVIEW WITH MORNING GLORY

JC: Gloria, how did you overcome the resistance of the men?

GLORIA: Perseverance and attitude.

JC: When you shot in competetion, how did the men treat you?

GLORIA: Cold, they didn’t want me there.

JC: Did you like to shoot black powder, and did you belong to a club?”

GLORIA: Yes, both flintlock and cap (percussion) at a club in E’town.

JC: It’s been siad that you are pretty good at flint and steel firestarting.

GLORIA: yes I can start three to four in a minute.

JC: Let’s let everyone know who you’re husband is.

GLORIA: Well it’s White Turtle.

JC: Well Gloria I’ve known White Turtle as long as I’ve known you and that alone should make you re-enactor of the week if not get you nominated for Sainthod.

JC: What made you get into re-enacting?

GLORIA: There was this Indian lady in E’town, that got me started. She was very knowledgeble and so nteresting. She made it sound so simple. There also was the gun club therwher I first started to shoot. I loved it.

JC: I know you and Turtle love to go to re-enactments and camp out.


GLORIA: There is nothing like it. When we get into our personas we stay that way the entire weekend, Sometimes it takes a little while to reset yourself.

	JC: How passionate are you about re-enacting? GLORIA: Not only am I passionate about it, I really think that I could have made it alone back then. JC: I’ve watched you over the past few years and when the school kids arrive - your persona really kicks in and your are back 250 years. GLORIA: Well it’s not quite that simple, I have to get myself up for the occasion - but when they start to come in I am prepared for them/ JC: What would you like to see happen in re-enacting? Gloria: I would like to see more history of the 1750-1790 period being taught. We need more development and more re-enactments like The Long Run Massacre, Lochrys Defeat on the Ohio and Pigeon Roost (War of 1812) JC: And what about the adults? GLORIA: When the kids come in on Friday they can’t see all that they want to see in that short time the schools alot them. So they go home and talk their parents into bringing them back on the weekend. And of course the adults love it too. JC: Gloria, how long do you want to continue re-enacting? GLORIA: As long as we are able and having fun doing it.

		*Gloria Wetzel and White Turtle have been members of Painted Stone Settlers since it’s first re-enactment 5 years ago.*