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Living in the past
Re-enactors offer first hand look at early days
By Wesley Sinor - Staff Writer
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Re-enactor Steve Thomas teaches students at Frontier Days about rifles used in the American and French Revolutions. -- Herald Photo/Wesley Sinor
Students, parents and chaperons from all four corners of the state have visited Fort Toulouse this week for Wetumpka’s 13th annual Frontier Days, a celebration of the city’s rich history.
Hundreds of re-enactors taught visitors what it was like to live in the area from 1700 to 1820.
“It’s going great,” said staff director Jim Parker Thursday morning. “The weather is beautiful - there’s no rain, which, for us is a good thing, and all the kids seem to be well behaved. I’m glad to see more Birmingham folks making it down this year.”
According to Parker, 11,000 tickets were sold for the three-day event, which started Thursday, and he expects and additional 2,500 people to show up today, in which anyone can come.
The 14 stations that have been laid out across the site are as follows: information and lost and found, blacksmith/cloth dying, woodworking, Indian village and hunting camp, Fort Toulouse 1751, visitor center and archaeology exhibit, nature trail and Bartram arboretum, farm animals and wagon rides, stage, Fort Jackson, 1814, Indian games, naturist William Bartram and 19th century Indian camp.
Re-enactor Joshua Arney from Dothan plays the part of an early 1800s Irishman, showing students how tomahawks were thrown.
Steve Thomas teaches visitors about French and American revolutionary rifles, while Eric and Susan Scites played traditional folk songs on glass goblets.
Steve Abolt, a Texas native with 27 years of experience, plays the role of an 1812 commanding officer in the 7th infantry, also known as a Cotton Baler. He explains how Fort Jackson was constructed.
Rick Strickland reenacted the firing of a rifle throughout the day, Christine Drost spun wool and “Rodney the Younger” performed magic tricks.
LittleHawk, who performed a Creek stomp dance from the 1750s, has been coming to Frontier Days for five years.
“I love it,” he said. “But the kids enjoy it more than I do, which is what’s important.”
A sword swallower, storytellers and music performers are also performing this year.
Ned Jenkins, who was park manager from 1984- 2000, started Frontier Days and is now the archeologist. He said he believes this year is one of the event’s best.
“It’s fun to see the kids having lots of fun by learning from first-class educators,” he said. “There are a lot of good people here and old friends.”
The money raised from this year’s event will help turn Frontier Days from a three-day event into a four-day event in 2008.
Today is the last day to attend. Tickets are $6 for students and $7 for adults.
The presentations begin at 9 a.m. and end at 4 p.m.
