Vancouver Express
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National Park Service Park News U.S. Department of the Interior Vancouver Express Living History Events at the Vancouver National Historic Reserve "History never looks like history when yon are living through it." ~ John W. Gardner For many, history doesn't look like standard, boring history when experienced at a living history event. The National Park Service tries to bring history to life at Fort Vancouver and the Vancouver National Historic Reserve. "Living history, or costumed interpretation, allows the visitor a chance to get a glimpse of the past and the people who called this place home," according to Ranger Jon Burpee. "We want to make the stories come alive in an exciting way. The „. , _ . , „,. r Private Jeremy Eakman of the 1 Oregon Volunteer Infantry strikes at a ball at an earlier game. Reserve is a wonderful setting for living on July 19 and August 16, the 1st Oregon team will take on the Vancouver Occidentals on the history proCTrams." Parade Ground playing under 1860s rules. At Fort Vancouver, daily living history the year. Highlights of a few upcoming overseas. Soldier's Bivouac brings that demonstrations in the Blacksmith and programs are included: history to life and highlights the Carpenter Shops help visitors Soldier's Bivouac significant eras of the post's history. understand not only the crafts of the fort, but also the interesting lives of the On May 13, 1849 the United States On Saturday and Sunday, July 19"' and craftsmen. The interpreters wear Army arrived at Fort Vancouver to 20*, volunteers portraying troops from period clothing as they create usable establish a new post that eventually the post will encamp upon the objects for the fort's program. would be called Vancouver Barracks. Barracks' Parade Ground giving For much of its history, the Barracks demonstrations about the lives of the As the park staff and volunteers make was headquarters for US Army posts soldiers. Visit soldier's camps and hear efforts to increase the amount of living in Alaska, Washington, Oregon and the stories about what it was like to live history programs offered on a day-to Idaho. It was a pivotal post during the at the post. The Bivouac is a great day basis, large living history events frontier period and its soldiers activity for the family and is an annual continue to engage visitors throughout impacted the history of the West and event. (continued on page 4) "Base Ball Played a Role at "Archaeological "Upcoming Events - 2003" Vancouver Barracks" Lecture Series" page 2 page 3 page 3 The official newsletter of Fort Vancouver National Historic Site • July-August 2003 Issue 4, Volume 2 A Message from the Fort Vancouver Superintendent Base Ball Played a Role at Vancouver Barracks It is summer at your national park! The staff and volunteers of Fort Vancouver National Historic Site and the Vancouver National Historic Reserve are incredibly busy preserving and sharing this incredible place and its history. Within the fort walls the Counting House is beginning to take shape. The maintenance crew and volunteers are reconstructing the building which originally was built in 1845. They are using lumber cut from donated trees from Mount Rainier National Park. Stop by throughout the summer to see their progress. To the west of the fort, excavations are revealing clues about the Village and how its residents lived. The 2003 Archaeological Field School is a partnership between Portland State National Park Service volunteers portray the 1" Oregon Volunteer Infantry who were University, Washington State stationed at the Barracks during the Civil War. University-Vancouver, and the st Fort Vancouver, December I "The base ball fever has taken hold of National Park Service to give students a first-hand knowledge of "I spent the day visiting the town and the privates at Vancouver Barracks, archaeology. Students from around garrison, and in playing ball." and the old club is reorganized for the the country are participating. The Private William Peck, 1858 coming season, in shape to be heard digs are open to the public Tuesday- from favorably." Saturday. Vancouver Independent, April 4,1888 For almost as long as soldiers have July 19 & 20 brings the return of called Vancouver Barracks home, Vancouver Barracks continued to field soldiers to the Parade Ground of references reflect the role baseball teams from at least that point on until Vancouver Barracks. A large number played as a pastime and a welcome the end of World War II. Local of volunteers portraying the soldiers respite from the tedium of living in opponents included town teams, high from the post's past invite the public into their camps to experience a bit garrison. Routine duties included school and college teams, and of Army history. At 6:00 PM on the drilling endlessly on the parade industrial teams. After the opening of 20th, the soldiers of the 1st Oregon ground, construction duty, kitchen Camp (later Fort) Lewis, annual games Volunteer Infantry will again face the duty, and guard duty. Since were held between the two posts. ballists from the Vancouver opportunities to leave the post were Occidentals in a match of vintage rare, soldiers found ways to entertain Baseball, as well as other games, played base ball - 1860s style. These are themselves on-post. an important role in Vancouver wonderful events to take the family Barrack's past. Today, the National and experience a bit of the past that The earliest reference to playing mall' Park Service strives to bring this past to makes this such a special place. at the Barracks reflects its informal life. If you are interested in finding out Whether it is your first time visiting nature as a pick-up game. No more information about the park's or you visit regularly, have a historical references to a formalized active vintage base ball program please wonderful time in your national post team have been found until the contact Jon Burpee at 360-696-7655 park! mid-i88os. ext. 15. You can visit the park At the shop you can find a reprint of the Tracy Fortmann Visitor Center and the i860 Beadle's Dime Base-Ball Player Superintendent Northwest Interpretive including the 'Revised Rules' of i860. The Association book shop shop also carries Past Time: Baseball as to get more information History which contains an enlightening on historic base ball. series of essays about our national game. 2 Vancouver Express The Volunteer Dispatch Guilds and Groups A Garden Update Fort Vancouver NHS has benefited from a partnership for a long time. For years, the The garden is planted and we are taking on a project to create a garden Blacksmith Guild has helped direct the waiting for the sun to do its work. This guide, with descriptions and pictures. shop and has allowed for a greatly year we are growing some new historic This guide will meet ADA standards, so expanded amount of interpretation of this vegetables like, Georgia Rattlesnake that visually impaired visitors can use important trade to the history of the fort. the guide to learn more about the Recently the Guild has expanded to include watermelon, Purple Sprouting broccoli, the Carpenter Shop. This incredible group Speckled lettuce, D'algiers melon, and plants we grow and why they were has inspired other groups to form. the Purple Hyacinth bean that got so important to the residents of 1845 Fort much attention last year. Old Favorites Vancouver. Les Engages des Fort Vancouver like Cardoon, Amaranth, Moon and Stars watermelon will still be there to We have some new benches in the Recently, a small group of volunteers impress the visitors, volunteers, and garden. The old ones were in need of and staff formed a living history group staff alike. replacement Along with the new dedicated to telling the story of the benches we have added extensions working class at the fort. The goal of the group is to accurately portray the Bill Green had his class of 2nd graders onto the hops arbor to create a small laborers and their families. Les Engages here to plant beans. The kids had a lot sitting area that will be shaded. meet once a month and has an on-line of fun and did a wonderful job, the Hopefully we will find many people component that allows the group to beans sprouted within a week. this summer stopping and spending a communicate and share ideas on the few quite moments in the garden. web. If you primarily portray a Some of the garden volunteers are —Submitted by Brenda Blair working class person at the fort and are interested in joining, please contact Jon Burpee at 360-696-7655 ext. 15. Volunteer Picnic is on August 9th Oregon Trail Immigrants The annual Park Picnic will be held on If you are interested in attending please Another group of living history August 9* at 7:00 PM at the Picnic call the Visitor Center at 360- 696- 7655 volunteers are discussing the possiblity Shelter. The picnic will feature fun ext. 10 to sign up. If you are interested of forming a group to improve the games, good food, and great friendship. in helping or have ideas on how to interpretation of the Oregon Trail and All volunteers and staff are encouraged improve the picnic please call Jon its connections at Fort Vancouver. The to attend. The Picnic is potluck. Burpee at 360- 696- 7655 ext 15. group is looking at how to best interpret the Oregon Trail camp at Candlelight Tour. Several energetic The Emigrants of '45 to Form into Living History Group and creative volunteers are taking the lead in forming the group but need Living history volunteers who are crafts, tell stories, and interact with the more volunteers to help it become a interested in portraying recently visitors.