Nathan Logsdon

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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


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Re-Enactor of the Month

Nathan Logsdon

May 2005

By Jim Cummings

This month’s re-enactor is a student from Corydon, Indiana. He is young in age but wise beyond his years. His knowledge of history is vast and varied.

You can see him almost everywhere you go in a several state area. From the Long Run Massacre in Shelbyville, Kentucky to Manskers Station in Tennessee, to Martin’s Station in Virginia. He travels as much as I do going from one event to another.

Nathan Logsdon is our Re-Enactor of the Month for May 2005. Nathan is a dedicated re-enactor and is just as much at home in the Renaissance as he is in the American Civil War and most every time period in between.

You rarely see him without a smile on his face and that great laugh. When he speaks, 75% of the time it is about history, re-enacting, clothing, or horses and if that isn’t enough he is a spokesman and a pitchman for The Frazier Historical Arms Museum in Louisville, Kentucky.

Nathan has a well rounded knowledge of history. He can talk knowledgably about almost any time period. This past winter he even took a trip and learned the seagoing ways of The Lady Washington off the California Coast.

I thought I knew pretty much about Nathan and then I saw him on horseback at Martin’s Station as part of the mounted militia both during the battle and afterwards. Another surprise. The kid’s not only got guts he’s talented too. Kind of reminds me of myself at that age. (Yea, in a pig’s eye.)

Logsdon belongs to a re-enacting group in Southern Indiana called The Scurvy Dog Clan. They are a bunch of fun loving men and women who are seeking historical bliss through living history re-enacting. They are a great bunch of people and they start with strong historical roots.




	Nathan clowning with his aunt at Brunerstown I first met Nathan, several years ago at a little living history event called Brunerstown, being held in Jeffersontown, Kentucky. Brunerstown was the original name of this early town when it was quite a distance from Louisville. Jeffersontown (commonly referred to as J-town) is now an incorporated city within the city of Louisville, which has grown up around it.

Nathan’s family is always there to support him

Nathan’s granddad (a fine man) was the local historian and ran the local museum in J-town. So with his grandfather’s backing Nathan gathered up The Scurvy Dog Clan and some of his sutler friends and put on a nice living history event to attract attention for the museum. We covered the event for The Pioneer Times and were surprised upon arriving that a student had put together the event. It drew a lot of local interest from the community and continued on the next year. (photos of last year’s event are at our website. Click on Brunerstown).

Nathan Logsdon would probably still be hosting this event had it not been for the passing of his grandfather. The new museum folks limited his budget and showed less interest in the event so Nathan decided against continuing it. I’m sure too, some of the spark seemed to go out of it without his grandfather. For as Nathan told me it was his grandfather who first sat him down at the age of five and said “let’s watch a movie together.” Well what kid wouldn’t want to watch a movie with his grandfather? Only then did Nathan learn that instead of the expected cartoon or kid’s movie his grandfather expected him to watch WW II movies from National Geographic. “And it was kinda’ cool,” he said. That first started his interest in WW II and helped develop it into a life long passion for history.

This is why we selected Nathan Logsdon as Re-Enactor of the Month. His knowledge is varied and he puts back into the community with dividends, what he takes out. He not only put on the Brunerstown event but he is active in others as well. He has helped with the Revolutionary War event at Preston Plantation in Bedford, KY as well as developing ideas for The Frazier Arms Museum.

His latest project is a 4^th of July event in his hometown of Corydon, Indiana called “The Indiana Territory Festival – The Making of a State.” The event runs from July 1^st - 4^th with demonstrators, first person presentations and a live signing of the Indiana State Constitution. Nathan is working with The Harrison County Conventions and Visitor’s Bureau, and other sponsors in Corydon. Corydon was the first capital of Indiana and is rich in history. It is also the home of Squire Boone Caverns the final home and resting place of Squire Boone (Daniel’s brother.) For more information about the festival contact Nathan Logsdon at springwater@peoplepc.com

Spreading word of the attack at Martin’s Station with the mounted militia

Nathan is a mover and a shaker. He is a lead, follow or get out of the way type person. He not only knows what he wants he also seems to know how to get what he wants done. You can always count on Nathan and if a crisis arises he would be there in the blink of an eye to lend assistance.

He’s great with the younger re-enactors. He really communicates on their level. But unusual for a young man, he is just as good communicating with the public and the older re-enactors. He definitely has what I always look for – he walks the walk and talks the talk.

Nathan wants to see living history events grow and get more people involved. Nathan was home schooled by his mother until he entered Indiana University Southeast. He said one of the advantages were “really great field trips.” Unlike a school class that tries to hurry an entire class or two through a museum or historical site in an allotted time period he and his mother would spend the day at it. They would take their books to the site, read about it while they were there and could ask questions, take photographs and continue the lesson at home when they got the photos back and he would write a story or report about what they had seen and experienced. That really is the kind of involvement he likes. I’ve met his mother (and his grandparents and aunts too!) and he is a credit to their teaching.

Fiancée and business partner Andrea Robertson at Mansker’s Station

At Locust Grove in the fall of 2004 working for the Frazier Arms Museum

Taylor Rose Historical Clothing combines all their knowledge and interests. They will make custom clothing at reasonable prices and also plan on renting historical clothing.

Dueling at an event at Preston Plantation in Bedford, KY an event Nathan also helps coordinate

We all know of that big decision to invest in clothing to start re-enacting. Well, Taylor-Rose Historical Outfitters will outfit you with what you need to try re-enacting before you make the big plunge. For more information go to http://taylorrosehistorical.tripod.com/

Playing a role at Long Run

Nathan Logsdon is one of those people that you never know where you’ll see him next. A friend of mine saw Nathan at a renaissance fair recently. No surprise. His journey upon the 18^th century schooner The Lady Washington drew the envy of all who knew him.

When I saw Nathan and Andrea just a few days ago they were picking up some authentic historical military uniforms to repair them. And they had just attended a time line event in Civil War personas where they had met some re-enactors who do Spanish American war… “Fascinating” was Nathan’s comment. “I’ve always wanted to do Spanish American…..”

So wherever you see him – from 1066 to 1865 this re-enactor truly knows his history. He just hasn’t decided which part of it he loves the most.