Lincoln's New Salem: Fall Harvest Feast Nov. 2-3

[Robert Braun]

Two items.

First, the schedule of events...

HARVEST FEAST SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

10:00 A.M. FLAG RAISING CEREMONY (LEAVE FROM HERNDONS).
10:00 A.M. CORN SHUCKING CONTEST.

10:30 A.M. SHEEP HERDING DEMONSTRATION. (MILITIA NOT ALLOWED AT THIS DEMONSTRATION)

CARDING MILL DEMONSTRATION.

11:30 A.M. DRILL DEMONSTRATION. (FORM UP AT FLAG POLE)

1:00 P.M. CORN SHUCKING CONTEST.

1:30 P.M. MUSKET DEMONSTRATION. FLAG POLE.

2:00 P.M. SHEEP HERDING DEMONSTRATION. (MILITIA NOT ALLOWED AT THIS DEMONSTRATION)

CARDING MILL DEMONSTRATION.


2:30 P.M. DRILL DEMONSTRATION. FLAG POLE.

3:00 P.M. CORN SHUCKING CONTEST.

3:30 P.M. MILITARY PARADE FLAG RETREAT. FORM UP AT HERNDON'S.

ALL MEALS WILL BE PROVIDED. HEARNDONS, CLARYS, OFFUTS AND MAYBE ONE OTHER BUILDING WILL BE OPEN FOR SLEEPING.

JIM AND I WILL BE AROUND FRIDAY AFTERNOON FOR THOSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME EARLY AND PUT IN A CLAIM FOR FLOOR SPACE.

LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING ALL OF YOU.

DON FERRICKS


Second, the weather... it appears to be holding. Partly cloudy both days.. lo to mid 50s during the day; mid thirties at night. We'll know better by mid-week.

Bob.

[Greg Carter]

Looks like I am out. Change of schedule at work. I am still game for the Lincoln Lib. event.

GMC

[Greg Carter]

Let me retract my last statement! I am in as of today. I love the FAA! Anyway, I will be there early Saturday morning, but I will have to leave before noon Sunday. I hope that is alright.

Bob, could I borrow a blanket if you have an extra available? If not it is ok.

GMC

[Robert Braun]

All righty then... I take it you is goin'?

I will bring an extry blanket.

I hope to ask Shorty if we can vary Sunday's routine with a corn-herding demonstration...

Shucks, that's too corny! ;D

See you Sat. AM. Get up early and drive safely!

r.

[Rusty Ayers]

We'll be there too, probably on Saturday morning. Will there be enough room to sleep in a cabin someplace? Diane may want to stay at her folks' house, but after our breezy night out at Garfield Farm the thought of sleeping inside an enclosed structure (with or without heat) is exciting. Greg, I may be able to bring an extra blanket for you.

[Robert Braun]

I have contacted the site, who have reportely reserved Herndon's Bros. cabin for us. You are clear to land for Saturday night.

And with "Almanac" there, we may have a return visit on Saturday night from his mysterious "girlfriend in white!"

For those that missed the wind at Garfield Farm, we'll keep the doors and windows OPEN for ya!

Bob.

[Laurel]

Don't even joke about leaving the doors open. And I might add that there may well be need of a "fire capable of smelting ore" before the weekend is over.

Laurel
Sauk War Goddess

[Robert Braun]

I have already consulted the LNS wood nymphs.

I am advised that there is not enough firewood in Sangamon County to feed a "Laurel Fire" for the weekend!! ;D

[Greg Carter]

Thanks Bob and Rusty for the volunteering of blankets. I do sincerely appreciate it.

I am leaving work and driving down afterwards so I will be there at the crack of dawn on Saturday or so. Denice will be coming down too, but staying in a hotel somer's near by.

Since I have a truck, maybe I could sneak down enough wood for building a top-secret lead smelter fire! Very hush-hush sort of thing, an everythang.

Corn herding? Sounds like something only an Incan sun-priest with an obsidian sacrificing knife, one hiking boot and a turtle-shell codpiece would do on his off-time.

Enough of that "girlfriend in white nonsense!"

G. Carter

[Robert Braun]

Well.. it looks like the weather will moderate enough to spoil our attempts at "arctic antics" at LNS. Except for a predicted low of 29 Fri night, temps should range from upper 40s - low 50s, with upper 30's at night... all very seasonal. A 60% chance of showers Sunday.

GMC... looks like Laurel won't need that 80 cords of addiitonal wood, and the forests of Sangamon County are safe for another season. Well... maybe.

And... about that whispy damsel in white at Herndon's...Happy Hallowe'en!

[Greg Carter]

Well....

Nevermind me going. Does anyone else on this board have a sadistic boss they would like to shoot with a rhino dart and sell the to the circus? I know I do right about now.

GMC

[Robert Braun]

I'm reminded of a classic line...

"Forshame, Doc! Huntin' wabbits wit an elephant gun!"

But this ain't no laughing matter! I see you've been "Perryvilled" like I was. GRRRrrrrr!

Looks like it's my turn to bring you back a souvenir. GMC, some "Black Betty" will be raised in your honor!

Regards... Bob.

[Chris Gordy]

You may want to contact Zeno's Carnival of Culture. They might be able to use a sadistic boss.

[Greg Carter]

Zeno,

Unless you are casting for Star Wars- Episode 4, then you don't want this boss. Trust me.

OK. It is now 10:45 PM CST here in Illinois. I know somebody must be back from LNS by now. Let's have the skinny on the event!

GMC

[Robert Braun]

We're back, and what a great event it was!

We arrived at LNS and Herndon's at about 9:45 p.m. to find Ann and Karl and a cheery fire abalzing in the fireplace. The temp was a balmy 29 degrees. Even with a fire, sleeping on a puncheon floor was not picnic...but I slept warmer than expected, and never got cold feet. Getting up at 5 am to stoke the fire was a bitter pill, but it was necessary!!!

Saturday was bright and beautiful-- a perfect fall day. Breakfast was sumptuous, and we had plenty of company at Herndon's for the preparation and eating thereof. The ranks of the militia swelled to 24, counting Captain Paul Galloday. Flag raising, drills, and so forth came off very well, with Andrew carrying the militia flag on Saturday, and Rion Urven carrying it on Sunday.

Ann, Karl, Betsy, and Mary did a very nice job with interpretation and chatting with the public... who seemed to be streaming into and out of Herndon's at a constant pace. Happily we were joined by Rusty Ayers and his trusty shotgun by mid-afternoon. Heck, we militiamen even had an opportunity to work out "pile arms," which was great fun.

Supper was prepared on-site... pork loin prepared in tin "kitchens" before the fire, sweet potatoes, green beans, cider-- it was enough to warm the heart of any up-land Southern lead digger! And wonderful pies for dessernt, including a special persimmon pie baked by Mary Patton!

Sat. night wasn't nearly as cold as Fri., with a cloud cover and seasonal temps. The 60% chance of "mostly afternoon showers" arrived by 6:30 a.m. We got a pretty good dose, but the rain subsided enough to allow most activities to commence after another fantastic Jim Patton breakfast.

Lots of activities... music, hot cider and kettle corn, corn shucking, sheep herding (in fact Rachel made a new freind--Stanley the sheep-- who obligingly walked around with Rachel on both days. Our thanks to shepherd Steve Riddle for his freindship and accomodation!) a "Temerance Lodge" offering wassail, and numerous other interesting activities and displays.

We renewed many old freindships and made new ones. My only suggestions for next year would be a.) involve the militia in more activities connected with such musters, and b.) that some of our militia comrades consider upgrading their accouterment to a more 19th Century venue. In truth, Rev. War accouterment would have been outdated by more than 50 years by the timeperiod of the New Salem militia muster! In contrast, it was gratifying to see more U. S. Muskets and good quality rifles in the ranks at this muster!

All in all, we had a wonderful time! We hope budgets will allow the Harvest Feast next year! And we look forward to rejoining the New Salem Militia at the Lincoln Library dedication in two weeks!

r.