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On March 16, 2013, a group of 18th Century, Frontier Kentucky reenactors will gather on the banks of Marble Creek for an annual trek in the “footsteps of Daniel Boone.”
The group has documentation from a number of sources concerning Daniel Boone’s presence on Marble Creek in the year’s prior to settling Boonesborough (circa 1774) and in the year’s after leaving Boone’s Station.
It is believed that Boone and a portion of his family resided in a large double cabin on Marble Creek in 1783 and 1784.
The local residents of the Marble Creek area have located the foundation of a large homestead that dates to this time period and could likely be the site of Boones’ residence. The area is defensible, and would have been large enough to house the some 15 or 16 persons that were part of his household at the time. Other accounts report that there were up to 4 cabins in the area on Marble Creek near its mouth at the Kentucky River.
Supporting the cause to OPPOSE the Proposed I-75 Connector, the reenactors, hosted by Scott and Kristi Heasley, residents of Newman Road and Liz Hobson, Marble Creek property owner, will invite members of the press to a photo shoot and Boone Q&A at the cabin site location.
This group of historical interpreters are highly familiar with the Daniel Boone history of the area and are active participants in battle reenactments, historical education programs, first person interpretations, and other programs involving early Kentucky and American history of the Revolutionary war era at nearby sites such as Fort Boonesborough, Fort Harrod, Martin’s Station (VA), McConnell Springs, Blue Licks State Park, Fort Loudon (TN), Fort Randolph (WV). And other locations in Kentucky, Southern Ohio and Indiana, Southwest Virginia, and West Virginia. Many of these individuals have been involved in historical reenacting and interpretation for 15 or more years. These are folks with full-time careers, families, and many talents, but this is their passion and what they do to leave the stress of their 21st Century lives behind. Among the group there are representatives from careers in printing, computers, human resources, advertising, nursing, accounting, real estate, etc. There are skilled artists, craftsmen, and musicians. It is a true cross section of society, with one thing in common, their love of history, and their love of the land.
The goal of reenactors is not only to recreate conditions as closely as possible to a particular time period and area, in this case, mid to late 1700s, but to educate the public about things not available in textbooks and in doing so continuing to learn themselves and hone their skills of woodslore and craftsmanship. They wear authentic reproductions of period clothing, sleep in period lodges, cook with period correct utensils, and fire period weapons. They cherish the natural areas that still remain, allowing them to spend time in the wilderness and truly experience life as it might have been. The Marble Creek gorge is one such area where this is still possible, and so these folks, who not only live locally, but that will be coming from Northern Kentucky, Southern Ohio and the Louisville area, etc., have thrown their support with the Disconnectors to save Marble Creek, rural Jessamine and Madison Counties, the natural environment and ecosystems in the proposed corridor and most of all the historical significance of an area that would be forever devastated if this proposed road becomes reality.
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