Published: October 08, 2008 11:00 pm            

Ever render bear fat? See how it’s done at Pricketts Fort

FAIRMONT — It’s easy to stand on the banks of the Monongahela River as it flows peacefully past Pricketts Fort State Park and imagine how life was like here for the residents of the 17th century refuge fort.

The fort is gearing up for its last three big events of the year.

The annual Fall Festival, set for Saturday and Sunday, will highlight traditional crafts, antiques and fall activities from the 18th century, said Melissa May, executive director of the Pricketts Fort Foundation.

Regular admission applies.

“Quite a lot will be happening,” she said.

That includes apple butter making (“the centerpiece of the weekend,” she said), which will be demonstrated both days; plus live music and antique vendors inside the visitor’s center.

Artisans will demonstrate candle and soap making inside the fort, in addition to tinsmithing and bear fat rendering.

“An area will be set up for tomahawk throwing for people to take part in,” she said.

An Indian encampment will offer special activities, including a “warrior’s walk” (learning to navigate a trail) and an Indian attack re-enactment, which will take place at 2 p.m. both days.

“It will be a very busy weekend,” she said. “This is a time we bring out additional activities surrounding the harvest, such as apple butter making, and soap and candle making, which they did in the fall in preparation for winter.”

The new blacksmith shop will be dedicated at 11 a.m. Saturday.

Activities in the visitor’s center are free of charge. Regular admission applies for all other activities, “including those taking place on the lawn,” she said.

Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and $3 for children age 6-12. Members and children under 6 are admitted free.

The 18th century rendezvous will take place Oct. 24-26.

“It’s a chance for people who do re-enacting as a hobby to get together and have a camp for the weekend. It benefits the general public in that the camp will be available to walk through. You can talk to the re-enactors and see how a temporary camp of that time might have looked like.

“Everything is as authentic to the time period as possible,” she said. “That’s one of the requirements.”

She recommends you come on Saturday to see the camp.

“On Sunday, some people start to pack up and leave.”

The annual 18th century Christmas Market will take place Nov. 28-30 and Dec. 5-7.

It will be a little different this year, she said.

“There will be no admission charge. We’re going to put period interpreters and crafters inside the fort demonstrating and selling their own crafts.

“This will make the experience of looking at items more meaningful.

“Modern crafters, those not in the 18th century-time period, will be in the visitor’s center.

“There will be live music at the Job Prickett House and hot wassail at the fort.

“We’re hoping that no admission cost encourages people to come out and enjoy the decorations and speaking with craft people while they’re here.”

She said that the programs at Pricketts Fort State Park are “competitive regionally.”

“For example, several of our staff spent time over the last year or two traveling to other sites for comparison. We do an excellent job.

“Our facilities have grown and, most important, our staff itself is excellent, well-trained and very authentic.

“They take their research role seriously.

“They’re also very friendly and easy to talk to, and convey information to visitors readily, while being authentic.”

Now in her sixth year as executive director, May is “particularly proud” of how the fort balances history with modern technology.

“I have really worked to modernize our approach, using the most up-to-date interpretation methods and technology while not sacrificing the historic approach.

“If you travel to other sites, you’ll find that not everybody is as far along in that as we are, whether it’s an interpretive kiosk or a video.”

For more information about Pricketts Fort State Park, call 363-3030 or visit info@prickettsfort.org.

E-mail Debra Minor Wilson at dwilson@timeswv.com.

        

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