Recent Headlines - 2009

Oh it’s a pirate’s life for me....

The 4th Annual Pirates of Paynetown draws a crowd of pirates and landlubbers alike

If you are going to attend an event in hot August weather than Pirates of Paynetown was the way to go. Situated on the banks of Monroe Lake near Bloomington, IN the pirates the soldiers and their many friends enjoyed a cool breeze off the lake and a beautiful place to camp. And the fun was non-stop with a battle both days that raged on land and sea and plenty of cannon fire to back it up. More photos now loaded.

Logan’s and Kellar’s Company of the Illinois Regiment Visit Fort Boonesborough

From this Website to a billboard....

Visitors traveling through Ohio to the Labor Day weekend Event - Fair at New Boston may spot this billboard. It is located near Wright Patterson Airforce Base and contains the message “1790 is only minutes from WPAFB”. Says Pam Cottrell of the George Rogers Clark Heritage Association, “We were looking for a photo that might attract some of today’s military to our event. The Air Force Base is only minutes from the fair and many of the military stationed at the base will have a long holiday weekend and be looking for things to do. Since many of those posted at the base are not local folks - we thought this billboard would be a good way to attract them to the fair.” This photo was taken by Graphic Enterprises and first appeared on the website in 2007.

If your children like to march and make believe they are soldiers - The July Militia encampment at Fort Boonesborough was the perfect setting. Members of the group read a proclamation looking for soldiers, had them sign up and then let them march and drill with wooden muskets. Obviously a crowd pleaser because the parking lot was full to overflowing most of the day. Photos now loaded!

The Jane Austen Festival
at Locust Grove

Indiana Territory Festival Celebrates 4th of July in downtown Corydon

Saturday and Sunday July 18th & 19th brought a group of well dressed ladies and gentlemen to Historic Locust Grove in Louisville, Kentucky. The second Annual Jane Austen Festival had something for all the Austen Fans. From a fashion show of early 19th century (fashion show participants pictured above) to having tea, and shopping for hats, shoes and more. Visitors ranged from re-enactors dressed in the time period to women and girls of all ages dressed in 21st century clothing. But all were fans of the 19th century British author who lived from 1775-1817 and who’s most famous novels were Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility.
 Click here for photos and a slide show of The Regency Style Show.

Although the 4th of July was a rainy one, the square in downtown Corydon was filled with camps and visitors. With a tree covered square, sutler tents to enter and shop and a re-enactment of the signing of the Indiana State Constitution inside the historic courthouse visitors had plenty of opportunities to dodge the rain drops. Photos Now posted!

Old Fort Harrod Hosts First Re-Enactment

Fourth Annual Discussion on Religion Held at Red River Meeting House

The replica Fort at Harrodsburg, Kentucky was built in 1927. But June 13 & 14th saw the first re-enactment in recent memory. And both re-enactors and visiting public were delighted with the site - shaded camping inside the fort, and a newly built rampart for shooting over the fort walls. Click Here for story and photos.

It was a diverse group that met under the trees at Red River Meeting House on June 20-21. The site was where the Second Great Awakening took place in 1800, and the weekend drew those interested in the “Discussion on Religion” both from the re-enactor community and the general public. Click here for more photos

 Libby Lazdins

It is with much sadness that we report the passing away of Libby Lazdins of Kankakee, IL September 15 around noon. As some of you knew she had been battling cancer. She had a chance to visit with all her family before  her passing, and also her best friend Diane Poole. For those of you who knew Libby, she was a very strong-willed woman (many of you can attest to that!!) and remained so till the end. She was very adamant about her wishes after she had passed on.   So ... according to those wishes,  there will be no funeral.  There will be a memorial service.

Salt River Longrifles
 Announce
 New Trade Fair Dates

February 26th and 27th, 2010 will see a new look for The Salt River Longrifles Annual Trade Fair. The fair will move from it’s early December dates to late in February. In addition the show will combine both the Revolutionary time period and The Civil War time period in a new larger better lit venue at Eagle Creek Convention Center near Frankfort, KY.  Click here to see the flier on the Salt River Longrifles Web Site.

Memorial Service: The memorial service will be Wednesday, Sept 30 at 2 pm. Visitation will be 1:30-2pm. It will be at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Kankakee. St. Paul's is located at 298 South Harrison Avenue in Kankakee, Illinois. It is right on the corner of South Harrison and East Station. Look for the church with the red doors.

A Visit to The Red River
 Meeting House

A Trek Along
Marble Creek

Although the sluggish economy has forced the closure of historic sites in several states, re-enactors are ready to gear up and hit the road with the approach of spring and warm weather. Some hardy souls ventured out in last weekend’s unseasonably cold weather to travel along Marble Creek near the Kentucky River. Some accounts say that Daniel Boone lived in a cabin along Marble  Creek after  leaving 

Boone Station. There are two caves along the creek that surely sheltered Boone and other early settlers from both inclement weather and Indian raids.

The Red River Meeting House hosted a spring event on April 4-5. The meeting house is located in Logan County, Kentucky and it’s history is tied to The Second Great Awakening of 1800. Click here for story and photos.

Click Here for more photos and story by Kristi Heasley.

Night at The Museum - Springfield, Ohio

March 21, 2009 marked a very successful event in Springfield Ohio. It was a cooperative venture between The George Rogers Clark Heritage Association and The Clark County Historical Society. The GRCHA provided over 50 people in costumes from a variety of eras. The historical society provided the venue - The Heritage Center of Clark County and additional volunteers.

The waiting area featured tables about historical venues in the area.  Says Pam Cottrel of the GRCHA “Teddy Roosevelt was outstanding. We also had a great Orville Wright. Some familiar faces from The Fair at New Boston could be seen in totally different time periods but we still had the Ratcatcher and the Shuirrs set a tavern next to the original Black Horse sign. The GRCHA Liberty Dancers performed in the entrance hall! When we put on the Fair in September the historical

center volunteers will help us out with additional manpower. I think cooperation between historical groups is really important in this economy.” Learn more about Night at the Museum on their website at www.grcha.org

Battlefields can’t be moved. Big boxes can.

This simple and powerful sentiment concluded an editorial in the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star on February 19th about a resolution passed by the Vermont Legislature which calls for the preservation of the Wilderness Battlefield in the face of Wal-Mart developers. Vermont is taking a stand against this development because the First Vermont Brigade suffered over 1,200 casualties in the Battle of Wilderness, further illustrating the national significance of this hallowed ground.

No one dismisses Orange County’s need for revenue or Wal-Mart’s right to grow. But must the store occupy historic ground? As the Vermont resolution says, “The story of the Battle of the Wilderness is one of valor for both armies that fought there.” Now, will commerce recognize that and take a second seat?

Lincoln Essay Winner
Announced on
Lincoln’s 200th Birthday

Learn More

Click Here for Details