‘Sheep to Shawl’ returns to Pricketts Fort, Fri & Sat, May 24 & 25

Visitors to Pricketts Fort on Friday and Saturday, May 24 & 25, will witness an archaic activity from the eighteenth century which, in its essentials, has changed little from Biblical times: the manufacture of a woolen garment from sheep to finished product

First, the shearing of the sheep with hand shears, resulting at the end of the process, in a pile of shorn wool known as the “fleece”.

Next, after the fleece is thoroughly washed and dried, the wool is “picked” — that is, the “locks” of wool are separated into fluff, which prepares it for carding and permits any extraneous debris to fall from the wool.

Next, the wool is “carded”, which pulls the fibers straight and parallel.

The carded wool is then laid carefully into a basket, in readiness for spinning.

The carded wool is then spun (twisted) into one long continuous strand and wound onto a spindle, after which the spun wool is transferred from spindle to shuttle, in readiness for
weaving.

Finally, at the loom, the weaver adds “woof” to the “warp” by means of sliding the loaded shuttle (woof) back and forth through the lengthwise threads (warp), a basically simple process which is actually remarkably complex.

School tours are welcome on Friday. Regular admission applies.

Harriet Tubman to speak at Pricketts Fort, Sunday, May 19

Ilene Evans will portray Harriet Tubman (1820-1913), leader of the Underground Railroad, at Prickett’s Fort State Park on Sunday, May 19th at 2 pm. The program will take place in the park’s Visitor Center and is free and open to all. 

      Tubman was born into slavery in Maryland but escaped through the Underground Railroad in 1849. She became the most famous leader of that network, aiding slaves in their escape to free states and Canada. When the Civil War erupted her underground experiences and knowledge of covert operations made her an invaluable resource to Federal officers. She served as a spy, nurse, scout, and guide for Union troops and was present at the ill-fated assault of Fort Wagner by the 54th Massachusetts in South Carolina.

     Harriet Tubman is one of the many available character presentations offered through the West Virginia Humanities Council’s History Alive! program as a means of exploring history by interaction with noteworthy historical figures. These programs provide audiences with the opportunity to question those who have shaped our history.

     Historical characterization is the vehicle for this program. Humanities scholars have carefully researched the writings, speeches and biographies of the characters they portray and whenever possible, use their original words.

     The West Virginia Humanities Council is a private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing educational programs in the humanities for all West Virginians. For over thirty years the Council has been providing educational programs in the humanities across the state.

     This program is available to interested nonprofit groups such as libraries, museums, and historical societies. For more information call The West Virginia Humanities Council at (304) 346-8500 or visit their web site at: WWW.WVHUMANITIES.ORG

“Traditional Music Day” at Pricketts Fort this Saturday, May 11

                                                             
Enjoy a full day– this Saturday, May 11– of traditional music with musicians scheduled to perform inside the Visitor Center, and informal jamming in the park and on the porch of the Civil War-era ”Job Prickett House” .   No charge for the entertainment. 

As usual, admission to the frontier-era fort and tours inside the Job Prickett House require a ticket.

Hours 10am to 4pm.

For more information call (304)363-3030 or email info@prickettsfort.org

School of the Longhunter returns to Pricketts Fort, Apr 4-7

Once again this year, from April 4 to 7, Pricketts Fort will offer the School of the Longhunter: a weekend encampment with seminars on longhunter skills for the 18th century interpreter, re-enactor or history enthusiast.

2013 School of the Longhunter Agenda

Thursday, April 4

12 – 5 pm ARRIVAL AND SET UP

*CHECK IN VISITOR CENTER

Friday, April 5

9 – 10:30 am, Willy Frankfort: FORT COX DIG

10:30 – 12 noon, Bill Graham and Ed Robey: Making Hominy

12 noon – 1 pm, LUNCH ON YOUR OWN

1 – 2:30 pm, Andrew Gaerte:  Buttons and Buckles

2:30 – 4 pm, Alan Gutchess: A Longrifle by Any Other Name

6 – 7:30 pm, FORT FEAST (Please bring a covered dish)

7:30 pm, 18th century musical entertainment by Morgan’s Glade

Saturday, April 6

9 – 10:30 am, Mark Sage: The Life of Daniel Boone: A Window into America’s Westward Expansion

10:30 – 12 noon,  Doug Wood: Hokoleshkwa’s 1763 Blitzkrieg : The Most Successful Campaign of a War Lost

12 noon – 1 pm, LUNCH ON YOUR OWN

1 – 2:30 pm, Bill Schneider & Kye Jaroz:  GAMES

2:30 – 4pm, (to be announced)

4 – 5:30 pm, (to be announced)

5:30 – 7:30 pm, DINNER ON YOUR OWN

7:30 pm, BENEFIT AUCTION (Please bring a quality period item to be donated)

Sunday, April 7

8:30 – 9 am, Nathan Weaver: SUNDAY SERVICE

12 noon, DEPART FOR HOME

Schedule subject to change.

2013 School of the Longhunter Fees

Pre-Registration Fees:

PFMF Members $50.00

Non-members $60.00

(Fees at the door $65.00)

Cost includes camping and seminar sessions, entertainment, Fort Feast and Benefit Auction.

Sutler Fee $50.00 (must be pre-registered) This entitles the sutler to have one helper/camper stay with him/her. Sutler can have one store tent and one camping tent. Helper must stay in one of these tents. Price includes Fort Feast for the sutler and helper. Helper must be listed on the pre-registration form.

Sutler & Seminar Sutlers who want to attend the seminar must pay an additional $50.00 fee.

Camper Fee (not attending seminar) $20.00 includes Fort Feast.

Visitors $10.00 Visitors who want to stay after 5:00 p.m. must pay a fee of $10.00 to the Visitors center prior to closing. All visitors must leave the park by 11:00 p.m. This is good for all evenings of the seminar. Fort Feast tickets may be purchased for $10.00 if desired. All such paying visitors must be in 18th century period clothing.

Children under 15 accompanying campers or seminar attendees will not be charged for camping, but will be charged $5.00 each for the Fort Feast.

The School of the Longhunter is limited to the first 100 registrants.

For more information, call (304) 363-3030

To register online, click here.

Muzzleloading & Accoutrements Trade Show coming to Pricketts Fort, Feb 22-24

        

           The public is invited to attend a Muzzleloading and Accoutrements Trade Show featuring artisans who specialize in 18th century firearms including: Indian Quillwork, Knives, Axes, Guns, Powder Horns, Accoutrements, Bags, and Frontier Art. Many of the artisans are Contemporary Longrifle Association (CLA) members including: Greg Bray, Pat Davis, Willy Frankfort, Mike Hawkins, Nathan Kobuck, Joe Scott, Bill Schneider , and many more.

          The event takes place February 22 to 24, 2013. Public hours are Friday 1 to 6 pm, Saturday 9 am to 5 pm, Sunday 9 am to 3 pm. A $3 admission will be collected at the door with proceeds to benefit the Pricketts Fort Memorial Foundation.

          Prickett’s Fort State Park is located 2 miles off I-79 at exit 139 in Fairmont, West Virginia. For more information about this or other events visit http://www.prickettsfort.org or contact (304) 363-3030.

 

 

 

Annual 18th-century Christmas Market at Pricketts Fort, Dec 7th, 8th & 9th

Come shop for your holiday gifts in this unique historic setting. Pricketts Fort’s Annual 18th century Christmas Market will run from December 7th to 9th(Fri, Sat, Sun), 2012.

The Market Area will be set up in the park’s Visitor Center and inside the historic buildings. Shopping areas, along with the Museum Shop, will be open free of charge. Guests can browse quality historic crafts products including jewelry, ornaments, handmade items, furniture, stained glass, baskets, books, and toys from both returning and new vendors. Visitors can enjoy a cup of hot wassail from the hearth.

Local musicians Almost a Song, Mountain William Strings, Whake-we-nn?, Motown Psaltry, DAA Strummers, Back Porch Pickers, and Dulcimer Dames will perform seasonal and traditional music throughout each day.

In addition to the Market area, the seasonally decorated Fort and Job Prickett House will be open for a ticketed tour, guided by a costumed historic interpreter.

There is no charge to visit the Market vendors but the guided tour of the historic attractions requires a ticket.  The cost for guided tour tickets is $4 for adults, $3 for seniors and $2 for children between 6 and 12. Children 5 and under and Pricketts Fort Memorial Foundation Members are always free.

Hours are Friday and Saturday 10 to 4:30 and Sunday 12 to 4:30.

Prickett’s Fort State Park is located 2 miles off I-79 at exit 139. Follow signs to the state park.

Scenes from the recent Fall Festival

The weather was just about perfect for the Pricketts Fort Fall Festival this year, which was very well-attended. The candid shots below caught the interpreters during one of the few quiet lulls in the day.

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Cordelia smoking squash & venison

Melanie making candles

Rebecca at her Native camp

Rebecca’s Native blanket

Tom throwing a tomahawk

Melanie & Judy making soap

Benjamin smithing

Field crops inside the storehouse

  

Pole beans drying in the storehouse, “leather breeches”

More fieldcrops in the storehouse

Geese in flight below the Fort