Activities | Directions | Contacts
This is NOT a competition (except for the shooting). This IS an opportunity to learn period skills in an 18th c. setting, to share what you know with others, and to have a lot of fun doing both. We’ll be using a fort with barracks, blockhouse, tavern and chapel all within a stockade. There is lots of indoor sleeping, but just to make sure you have a spot indoors you should contact ;
We can accommodate easily 40 people indoors. You are welcome to bring a tent,
but remember, whatever you bring, pack light, since you’ll need
to carry everything you bring several hundred yards. You can participate in;
Activities:
Live Shooting: Tom Hornbrook and Joe Forte will again run the shooting. We’ll shoot at traditional targets (no paper bullseyes), and you’ll need 30 foil-wrapped live rounds. All shooting will be done on Saturday, none on Sunday. For questions contact Tom (330) 879-2617 , tphornbrook@yahoo.com, or Joe , (740) 474-6183, fortejj4@bright.net.
Bread Making: Julie Watkins is handling this. You’ll use a large, period brick oven that can bake scores of loaves, and other baked items. This is a rare opportunity, since these bake ovens are few and far between. You’ll be learning and helping feed everyone for the weekend. Last year the bread, 3 varieties, was delicious, and more that 60 loaves were baked. For questions contact Julie, (740) 286-7056, jiscoduo@adelphia.net.
Moccasin Making: Howard McDaniel will teach how to
make several types of period moccasins. You’ll need to bring for each
pair of moccasins you’ll make;
- wool lining, pre-shrunk wool, two 18”
squares
- leather; deer, elk, moose, bison, or cow. Again,
two 18” squares for each pair
- Sinew or linen thread. Waxed linen thread is
good
- An Awl and at least one large needle, either
blunt or glovers needle
- Bees wax for thread and water-proofing
- Brown paper for making a pattern. One 18”
square for each style
For questions, contact Howard (513) 677-0508, or orhgm1205@yahoo.com.
Wooden Button Making: Ed Schweinfurth will be teaching this. Last year everyone made wooden combs, and this year I suspect there will be many buttons turned out. For questions contact Ed at edjs50@hotmail.com.
The NWD will be providing the food for our Saturday evening meal, and it will be expertly and authentically prepared by Dave Graham and Tim Iten. (Last year their Virginia ham and hoe cakes were excellent). The NWD will also have period sausages for Saturday nooning, and there should be bread by that time as well. However, you may want to bring some haversack food, such as parched corn, jerky or smoked meat, hard boiled eggs, etc. . . .
We will be running our 18th c. economy from Saturday morning through Sunday,
and you’ll receive replica currency when you sign in to the event. You’ll
use this money to “pay” for shooting, food, cartage, etc. . ., as
well as for refreshment in the tavern Saturday evening.
What Should I Bring ?
1. A Full canteen of water. (There is no water source in the fort, and we’ll
need conserve the water we do Bring in.)
2. Bed roll. (No sleeping bags, unless it can’t be avoided).
3 .Tent, if you aren’t sleeping indoors
4 .eating utensils
5 .firelock and 30 live rounds, if you plan to shoot
6. haversack food
What Should I NOT Bring ?
1. .Any food or beverages in Modern Containers. (No cans or modern bottles,
cellophane or aluminum foil
2. Blank rounds. There will be NO TACTICALS, or wargames.
3. Cigarettes and other modern tobacco products
Directions:
Your destination is 7243 Shaffer Rd., Belleville, Ohio 44813-9085.
The phone number of the property owners is (419) 866-2097,
but please only use this number in case of emergency. Belleville is southeast
of Mansfield, Ohio, off I-71.
- Take I-71 to Exit 165, Ohio
Rt. 97
- Turn East off the exit toward Belleville
- In Belleville, turn Right onto Main St., Ohio
Rt. 13
- Take Ohio Rt. 13 to Bangorville East Rd. (County
Rd. 405
- Turn Right onto Bangorville East Rd.
- Turn left onto Shaffer Rd., and take it to the
end. Look for signs for parking.
If you have a skill, know a game (card playing in the tavern is encouraged) or some other 18th c. activity you can teach to others, please do it. It can be as a class, or simply done “on the fly”. If you have an 18th c. style musical talent (no modern msuc, please) come and entertain. The goals of the event are 1. create a living 18th c. frontier fort for a weekend, 2. share and learn practical skills and period ideas, and 3. have a lot of fun.
If you want to do something special, please contact Bob Cairns so we can work out the details.
Finally, a group from Akron will be filming for a documentary on Fort Laurens.
You don’t have to participate, but if you would like to, please be able
to dress as a member of the 8th Pa. or 9/13th Va., (please bring your blue coats
if you’ve got them), militia, Indians, or King’s 8th. The filming
will take place Saturday afternoon, and they’ve promise to be unobtrusive.
Event Contact: - Bob Cairns, Robtcairns@cs.com