Posted by Berni on August 18, 2001 at 07:31:47:
In Reply to: Fort Boonesboro Needs Your Help! posted by H. David Wright on August 13, 2001 at 10:51:07:
Here is an excellent example of a letter written by two concerned reenactors. The state just needs to know the importance of living history to the public, for education of children, etc... The state is claiming that they are going
to increase support of living history to all who write in. The support of the state, we hope, will "encourage" the support of the people in management at the fort itself to follow through with the living history program. There are people there who have worked there for years that are trying everything they can to undermine the program. They don't want progress. Some good interpreters have left, and we don't want to be the next. But, the state needs to see encouragement from concerned people, they don't need to be attacked, because they are not aware of the problems. They have called a meeting with all involved, so they are doing their part. They are not the "bad guy" and we don't want them to become angry with us. So, anything written to them must be encouraging, please. Thanks for your help and support.
Berni
"Dear Mr. Henson:
We would like to express to you just how impressed and
encouraged we are with the programs and activities that
are now being implemented at Fort Boonesborough State
Park and, through relating to you our first-hand experiences,
encourage their continuation.
We visited the Fort many years ago and were extremely
disappointed when we found that this historical site
consisted of a telephone pole fort full of arts and crafts
demonstrations that weren't even in keeping with the time
period. That was not at all what we expected at a
historical site as important as Boonesborough. We vowed at
that time that we would not bother returning.
Many years have passed since that initial visit and since
that time our family has become very involved in living
history camps and reenacting. Three years ago we had the
opportunity to participate in a living history encampment at
Fort Boonesborough for a weekend. That was the beginning of
a real relationship we have developed with the park. We saw
the interest that some of the management personnel had in
developing Fort Boonesborough into something more than an
arts and craft fair. It has been a pleasure for us to be a
part of that change and to see the interest that others have
taken in that direction also. For the past three years we
have volunteered many of our week-ends doing living history
camps at the Fort. We camp in a tent, sleep on the ground,
cook over the open fire, dress in correct period dress,
start fires with flint and steel, dye clothing and cloth
with natural dyes, do hand sewing, construct shoe-paks or
moccasins, play period correct music, and portray many other
aspects of colonial life, so that the public, especially
children, can see what fort life would really have been
like. We even take extra clothing so that we can dress
some of the younger children in period correct dress to give
them a real feel of how it was to live back then. Not
only have my husband and I taken an active part, but our
three adult children and five of our grandchildren are
involved in living history on a more limited basis. Along
with ourselves, our two daughters, one son-in- law and four
of the grandchildren were involved in the filming of the new
orientation video at the fort.
We have heard many stories of how the number of visitors to
the park were so high in the early years and have now
dwindled considerably. From our own experience, and from
comments that have been made to us by fort visitors, we have
concluded that the majority of people feel the same as we
did - very disappointed. By word of mouth it became known
that Boonesborough was not a creditable historic site.
Boonesborough has been lacking in the historic aspect and
tourism has suffered because of it. Folks came expecting to
see a fort and learn about Daniel Boone, our pioneer
heritage, or the settling of Kentucky, but instead they were
shown arts and crafts. Crafts are wonderful. I am a
crafter & quilter myself. But, they have their place.
Crafts can be found in many places but there is only one
Boonesborough. Boonesborough is as important to Kentucky as
Williamsburg is to Virginia. St. Louis is said to be the
Gateway to the West. Whoever called that one apparently
hadn't heard of the contribution made by Daniel Boone and
our other Kentucky ancestors. Boonesborough and
Harrodsburg are the REAL gateway. There are few places any
more significant in the development of this country than
Fort Boonesborough, Kentucky.
At the present time both of us are involved in a number of
things at the Fort. Dan is caption of the Boonesborough
Militia. He also plays period music on occasion with Berni
New who, along with her husband, is proprietor of the
Transylvania Mercantile at the Fort. They have performed on
various occasions such as the Trade Fair, Fireside Chats,
Militia Muster, or just on a camp week-end. I am currently
president of the Fort Boonesborough Foundation. We are
active participants and volunteers at all the activities or
functions the Fort sponsors.
We have a real interest in seeing the Fort go forward in
the direction it has taken lately. The Siege, Trade Fair,
Fireside Chats, Militia Musters, Woodsman Weekend, and other
activities are real step in the right direction to make this
a historical site that has the potential of becoming as
educational and impressive as Williamsburg, Va. Employing
Bill Farmer as Historical Coordinator and the work he is
doing has been a big plus. Also a big plus are others, such
as Ann Farmer with her wealth of knowledge in spinning,
weaving and dying wool, Scott and Berni New with their
store full of period correct items, and Steve McGee with his
knowledge of firearms. These important employees are all
improving the education and enjoyment the visitors are
receiving at Fort Boonesborough State Park. During the
Trade Fair, we had participants from states such as South
Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Indiana, Ohio, and many others.
Word is spreading about the good things going on at the
fort. Some came just to check it out and have already made
plans to attend next year.
We hope this is a note of encouragement for you, and the
Park Service, to continue to pursue the route that has been
taken in the last couple of years to promote the historical
aspect of the park. We fear that a failure to do so would
mean real tragedy for the future of the Fort. We feel that
without your support, the new programs will cease and there
will be no need for people, like ourselves, who are serious
about living history. It is our wish to continue providing
our support to these programs as well.
Thank you very much for you efforts and for the things that
have been accomplished thus far. Please feel free to
contact us if we can be of assistance,
Danny and Carolyn Hinton"
Once again, here are the contacts:
: Parks commissioner, Kenny Rapier kenny.rapier@mail.state.ky.us
: Secretary of Tourism, Ann Latta ann.latta@mail.state.ky.us
: Head of Historic Parks, Ed Henson ed.henson@mail.state.ky.us
: His assistant, and very influential, Ms. Brooks Howard
: brooks.howard@mail.state.ky.us
: Governor, Paul Patton governor@mail.state.ky.us
PLEASE HELP!