NEWS FROM FULTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC.
37 E 375 N
ROCHESTER IN 46975
PHONE 574-223-4436 E-MAIL: fchs@rtcol.com
Website: www.fultoncountyhistory.org
Redbud Trail Rendezvous April 30-May 1
Re-enactors from five states are gearing up for the Redbud Trail Rendezvous April. 30-May 1. Every spring it
is one of the first outdoor events of the season. This event is brimming with frontier history and often brings surprises for
the participants and public. New this year we will be offering Apple Dumplings like the ones served at the Trail of
Courage.
The April weather varies from chilly to warm – we are hoping for warm - but always the redbud trees and wild
flowers in the woods are in full bloom and it is a lovely natural setting. Wild ducks and wild turkey nests are seen on the
grounds of the Fulton County Historical Society where the event is held from 10 to 5 on Saturday and from 10 to 4 on
Sunday. FCHS grounds are four miles north of Rochester on U.S. 31 Rain or Shine the festival will go on.
Over a hundred historic re-enactors set up camps and live outdoors for the event, demonstrating traditional crafts,
frontier life ways, and pioneer skills such as cooking over wood fires, muzzle loading shooting and tomahawk throwing.
The event is educational and fun, showing authentic frontier history as re-enacted by real people.
Music and dance will be performed on a stage in the woods, a different program every half hour in the afternoon.
Unless otherwise stated they will happen both days. Programs include Mark Gropp with bagpipe music, Frontier Frolic pioneer dancing by the teenage re-enactors, Liza and Mark Woolever – music and songs, and Indian dances. Kim Hoover
of Hoots to Howls Wildlife Rehabilitation, Star City, will show wild birds and animals she rescued on Saturday and
Shirley Kern Needham will show a red-tailed hawk named Phoenix and a red-shouldered hawk on both days. Marsha
Glassburn, Rochester, will also be doing storytelling on the west side of the woods at the storyteller booth.
People dressed in authentic pre-1840 outfits demonstrate many traditional crafts. Crafts included are
flintknapping, bow making, beadwork, spinning and weaving, leather, wood carving, blacksmith, blade smith, scrimshaw,
fingerweaving, and much more.
Members of the Seven Years War time period will be set up in the Living History Village and will be doing
training demonstrations such as marching, canon firing and horse training. They will be working on the basics of the
manual of arms, and also do some programs on field fortifications and battalion exercise. They will march around the
grounds applying their learning to a series of obstacles and scenarios. On Sunday they will have a competitive shoot using
muskets, pistols, bayonets and swords, as well as swivel guns and mortars at the shooting range in Chippeway Village.
Before you leave the festival grounds be sure to stop and listen in on their training and see some of their demonstrations.
Many trade goods and hand-made items used for frontier living will be offered for sale or barter in merchant’s
historic marquee tents and by blanket traders. Many of the traders have Indian ancestry. Traders come from Indiana,
Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and other states.
Muzzle loading shooting contests will be held. Earl Whittaker, Peru, and John Pratt, Indianapolis, are the range
officers. Both are members of the Me-to-cin-yah Long-Rifles, which portrays woodsmen of the frontier with a camp by
the river and conducts pioneer children’s games. They will host the Chippeway Village Trading Post.
Foods cooked over wood fires will include ham and beans, vegetable stew, buffalo burgers, sassafras tea. - Fulton
County Historical Society booth; Apple Dumplings – FCHS Dumpling booth; and potato chips at FCHS Chip booth,
Carmel Corn - made in big iron kettles by Dennis Thompson, Converse; homemade fudge and cookies - Mark Gropp,
Hudson, Ind. For more information, see the web page at www.fultoncountyhistory.org
Admission is $3 for adults ages 12 and older, $1child (age 6-11), 5 and under free. Proceeds enable the historical
society to operate the museum and preserve history.
There is no admission charge to see the Fulton County Museum and Round Barn Museum at the north end of the
grounds. Volunteers can earn free admission to the Redbud Trail Rendezvous by working half a day. To volunteer, call
the museum at 574-223-4436. Free parking is provided on FCHS grounds. The grounds are handicapped accessible.
Plenty of free benches are available to sit and rest.
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Redbud Trail Rendezvous Schedule Apr. 30-May 1, 2011
Chippeway Stage – Sat. & Sun.
10:00 (Sunday only) – Frontier Worship non-denominational service –
Schedule for both days unless otherwise stated:
11:00 – 12:00 Sat. only Kim Hoover of Hoots to Howls Wildlife Rehabilitation, Star City, wild birds and animals rescued.
12:00-12:30 Fashion Show – reenactors telling about their different outfits.
12:30-1:00 Mark Gropp, Hudson, Ind. – Bagpipe music
Subject to change.
1:00-2:00 Shirley Needham, Rochester, Ind. – Red-tailed Hawk & Red-shouldered Hawk – Habitat, hunting traits, and
spiritual importance to the native tribes.
2:00-2:30 Mark & Liza Woolever, Plymouth, Ind. – music
2:30-3:00 Mark & Liza Woolever, Plymouth, Ind. – music sing-along for children of all ages
3:00-3:30 Frontier Frolic, dance called by Shirley Willard, Rochester, music by Woolevers.
3:30-4:00 Indian dances & stories – participants will tell about their heritage and outfits.
4:00-4:30 Stan The Banjo Man
Marsha Glassburn, Rochester, Ind. – Storytelling various times
Muzzleloading shoots start at 10 a.m. each day – blanket shoots
Traditional Crafts demonstrated and sold by:
Michael Allen, Sedalia, Ind. – weaving sashes
Bruce A. Eltzroth, Lagro, Ind. – Children’s games and toys
Linda Fife, Delphi, Ind. – Spinning & Carding wool
Lea Jeffrey, Delphi, Ind. – beading
Adam Missler, Conroy, Ohio – Traditional cooking
Dale Pace, Rochester, Ind. – Flintknapping
Mark Thomas, Markle, Ind. & others, - Blacksmithing
Jeff White, Galveston, Ind. – blacksmith – bladesmith
Bill Willard, Rochester, Ind. – finger weaving of Indian sashes
Foods cooked over wood fires – in the Chippeway Village in the woods.
Fulton Co. Hist. Soc. – Buffalo Burgers, ham & beans, cornbread, vegetable stew, lemonade, coffee, sassafras tea.
Breakfast: Biscuits and Sausage Gravy.
FCHS Dumpling booth – Apple Dumplings.
FCHS Chip booth – Potato chips.
Mark Gropp, Hudson, Ind. – Fudge and cookies.
Dennis Thompson, Converse, Ind. – Carmel corn made in big iron kettle, & root beer.
Seven Years War Training – held in Living History Village by museum
Demonstrations by Haverhill Militia and Haverhill Militia Troop of Horse. Cannon demonstration and weavers.
Funding from this event helps to keep the museum open and preserve history. Have a great
day at the Redbud!
FULTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC.
37 E 375 N
ROCHESTER IN 46975
PHONE 574-223-4436 E-MAIL: fchs@rtcol.com
Website: www.fultoncountyhistory.org