By Emma Bowen Meyer, For The Herald Bulletin
PENDLETON — While some people are content to leave their love affair with time travel at the movie theater, others are gearing up to live in a bygone era this weekend at Falls Park in Pendleton.
This weekend, history lovers will walk back in time to the “Encounter at the Falls,” a camp setting featuring reenactments of the pre-1840 and the Civil War eras.
A similar event, on a much smaller scale, occurred last year when residents who travel to such events around the state invited members of their reenactment groups to Falls Park due to the historical significance of the area.
“We go all over the state of Indiana and Ohio, but we like the Pendleton park particularly because of the history that’s there,” said Gary Riddle, 55, pre-1840s reenactor and booshway (organizer) of the camps for the event.
“It’s centrally located for everyone around us to come to and I get to see the people I know as they come through,” he said.
With the backing of the Pendleton Historical Museum, Spring Trails, Pendleton Community Public Library, Pendleton Falls Park and Saint John’s Health System, the event stretching from May 1-3 is much larger in scope than last year’s.
“We dress in the clothes and we live like they used to live,” said Sharon Riddle, 60, Gary’s wife and co-booshway.
“We live in the tents and cook over the open fire and there’s no electricity. We use candles and lanterns. We do archery and throw tomahawks. Some of the guys get into gun fights just for fun. We enjoy talking with the public, educating the public as to what we are doing. It’s just a fun time for us,” she said.
The park will be divided into three sections: a modern-day area, a place for traders and sulters (retail people of the time that sold wares from mobile campsites), and the regimen of soldiers.
The public is encouraged to walk through camps, talk to reenactors, and visit the tables of the traders.
Among events, a debate between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas will be reenacted and a barn dance will be hosted at the red barn by the north entrance.
“The entertainment and barn dance will be a lot of fun,” said Jo DeWitt, museum board member. “Contra dancing was a form of called dance with the music that was played at that time.”
The barn dance will be free to anyone in period clothing. A nominal fee will be charged to those wearing modern-day clothes.
Although the museum is usually closed on Fridays, a special opening will be hosted that week for participants in the reenactment. The Indiana Historical Society will be displaying “Faces of the Civil War” in the military section of the museum.
“We were thrilled when Saint John’s agreed to fund this event,” said DeWitt. “There will be no charge for the public at the park or the museum – that’s why the funding was so important. The park is open and belongs to the town and so we wanted to welcome anybody in.”
Visitors to “Encounter at the Falls” should be aware of the addictive nature of this particular hobby.
Gary admits that his journey began with a simple Christmas gift – a muzzle loading pistol. After building it, he began visiting Friendship, Indiana, for the shooting competitions and even competed on the national level.
“It got in my blood,” he said.
That was in 1973. Today he and his wife travel to a dozen reenactments a year.
“I look forward to these. This will be the first one this year for us. This is like a big extended family so I’m excited to see some of the people I haven’t seen in a while,” he said.
“It’s something I truly enjoy and I would dress like that all the time if I could,” Sharon added. “I just love it. I’ve met so many wonderful people. We laugh and cut up and people like coming out and talking with us.”
—
Have an “Encounter at the Falls”
The schedule for the weekend’s reenactment camp and other Civil War-related events center around Falls Park in Pendleton.
Friday, May 1
5 – 7 p.m.: Chicken & Noodle Dinner at the Community Building
7:30 - 8:30 p.m.: Concert at the Gazebo with John Boyer & The 4’s
Saturday, May 2
9 a.m. – 2 p.m.: Edwin Forbes Civil War Copper Etchings presented by Gerald Boram at the Community Building
11 – 11:30 a.m.: Frederick Douglass portrayed by Dr. Boniface Hardin on the Museum Porch
12:30 – 1 p.m.: Sharing Family Pictures with Mrs. Lincoln presented by Debbie Holcomb at the Museum
1 – 2 p.m.: Textiles Demonstration by Susan Markle Hart, with the Trading Post for Fiber Arts, at the Museum
2 – 3 p.m.: Billy Yank, Common Soldier for the Union, performed by Kevin Stonerock at the Community Building
3 - 5 p.m.: Civil War Battle at the Trader Area
3:30 - 4 p.m.: Dulcimer Music at the Museum
5 – 6 p.m.: Lincoln – Douglas Debate presented by Bryce & G.D. Owens on the Museum Porch
7 – 9 p.m.: Barn Dance with Harold Klosterkemper on the fiddle at the North 40 Barn
Sunday, May 3
10 a.m.: Church Service at the Lance Stevens Kiwanis Shelter
1 – 2 p.m.: Civil War Battle at the Trader Area
For information, visit www.pendletonhistoricalmuseum.org.
