Serendipitous History Lessons

It's been a time-traveling couple of days and spontaneous time-traveling at that. Spontaneity makes for some of the best times, don't you think?

Our fun started on Thursday morning when I realized I had tickets to the railway museum that are set to expire on Monday. So we packed a bag of refreshments and headed out to North Freedom to check it out. I posted those pictures the other day. The passenger car we rode on was built in 1913 and the track was laid in 1903.

Thursday afternoon Doug called to say that the last concert on the square for the summer would be a Civil War brass band that very evening. So again we packed up for another family outing. A splendid evening we enjoyed! We love our little town.

The band instruments were all restored pieces from Civil War bands. The band members were dressed in period uniforms and ladies dressed in beautiful period dresses handed out programs. We listened to lively music, ate ice cream, and played chess on the courthouse lawn.

  

At the concert I heard part of an announcement about a pre-1840's fur trade reenactment in Baraboo to take place over the weekend. I went home, googled the event , found that admission was a dollar, and was to be held just down the road from our house.

Friday the kids and I braved the heat to check it out. The Baraboo River Rendezvous. The only downside of the whole weekend was that it was so hot that we melted after an hour or so and had to leave for more water and relief. We could have stayed all day! I think next year if the weather is cooler, we will. 

I knew little of the fur trade era here in America. Evidently traders and members from local tribes would meet for a rendezvous to trade furs for other merchandise. The rendezvous would last for up to two weeks. They would trade and socialize. Sing, dance, eat, etc. 

So these rendezvous events that are held today are the stage for people who are interested in this time period. It's not about the money, thus the dollar admission price for the rest of us not in costume. It's about going back in time for the weekend. These people collect these antique items and have learned various trades that they practice over the weekend. The rendezvous participants are basically camping out over the weekend.

Friday morning the kids and I walked around camp checking it all out. We stopped at a number of "lodges" and talked with people. We asked questions about what they were doing, where they came from (in real life and about the historical personality they had taken on for the weekend), and so on. It was a pleasant taste of old-fashioned hospitality. We sat right down in the chairs, made ourselves comfortable, and chatted about life. 

Saturday morning we brought Doug to the rendezvous and had even more fun!! I don't think we've had so much fun in a long, long time. You'll have to visit us over Labor Day weekend some year.

This sweet older couple is selling their lodge. The husband makes bows.

Every lodge Nutmeg went to she'd say "I'm tired." Her sneaky way of inviting herself to lay down on the beds. This kind lady was kind enough to oblige her. This lady raises llamas and uses the wool for her knitting (for real!)

Yum! I wanted to join them for breakfast!

The blacksmith. Once again for real! People bring him their orders and he works the weekend on all his orders. Basil and his friend with the blonde hair were intrigued! On Saturday even Doug got to learn about the trade a bit.

This nice couple homeschooled their kids all the way through. 

A woodworker. He makes canoe paddles but here he was working on a pair of shoes from someone in camp.

Duchess Anna. She showed us what was meant by "one lump of sugar or two?" 

The woodworker showed us how to make a fire. 

He was showing us with his flint. Sorry, not a great shot. 

Watching some boys practice throwing "the hawk." (tomahawk)

Basil got to take some lessons in hawk throwing. We missed the competition later in the day. Too hot!

This spinning wheel was fascinating! This lady, Anne, is the wife of the blacksmith. You can see on the left there, the brown yarn she died with black walnut. Almost out of the picture is yellow yarn dyed with goldenrod.