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 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, , 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 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. The group also plans on reality. If you are interested in arrived American immigrants will be working with 4- H to get children information, please contact Julie able to join a new living history group involved and to add animals to the Burpee at 360-258-6314. at Fort Vancouver. The group is camp. interested initially in building up the Other Groups in the Future? interpretation of the Oregon Trail If you are interested in more connections to the fort at events like information about the group or want to Do you see a possible group in your future? How about a Culinary Guild Candlelight Tour. The group is looking join, please contact Julie Burpee at (Kitchen and Bake House)? Any for those who can perform period 360- 258- 6314. reenactors want to start the th Vancouver Barracks Garrison? Founder's Day: August 25 Dream big, work hard, and improve The celebration of the National Park we are looking for volunteers tomorrow! Service's 87th Birthday will be held on interested in helping staff the fort for Monday, August 25th with free the day. If interested please contact Thanks, Volunteers, for everything!! admission. A low- key special event, Becky Railey at 360- 696- 7659 ext. 12.

The official newsletter of the Volunteer in Parks program of Fort Vancouver National Historic Site and the Vancouver National Historic Reserve July-August 2003, Issue 4, Volume 2 A New Face: Sharon Brown VIP Feature: History Day Participants If you are in the visitor center, you may Two of our younger volunteers deserve the experience of having the judges ask see a new face in one of the offices. attention for their work as participants her questions at the competitions will Sharon Brown, an interpretive in National History Day. The goal of help her as an interpreter working with specialist with the National Park History Day is to give students a chance the public. Service's National Trails System, is now to learn the skills of a historian by duty stationed in the researching a topic and presenting their Cassie Anderson agrees with Elly. with an office at Fort Vancouver findings in a variety of creative ways.. "History Day is a wonderful experience National Historic Site. Sharon and her The program is year- long and based on that teaches kids what history is all husband, Kevin Anderson, moved from a theme. This year's theme of National about." Her program, 'Rights and Sante Fe, New Mexico. Sharon's History Day was 'Rights and Responsibilities of Metisse Women in primary duties include working with Responsibilities in History.' the Fur Trade at Fort Vancouver,' was parks, organizations, and communities presented as an individual performance along the Oregon and California Elly Brouhard, age 14, a longtime which incorporated elements of living National Historic Trails to preserve the volunteer, researched the women's history. trails and interpret their legacy. Sharon suffrage movement She developed an has worked as an interpreter and exhibit entitled 'Women, Their Rights, What remains after completion of the historian at several sites in the National and Nothing Less: Women's Suffrage in projects stays with the students along Park system. the United States.' She competed time. Cassie summed it up, "The self- Lewis and Clark Exhibit locally and won an opportunity to go to satisfaction from creating such the state competition at Central awesome projects turns into motivation Closes July 27 Washington University. that inspires kids to investigate history for the rest of their lives. If you haven't seen the exhibit in the Howard House you have only a few According to Elly this program was a more weeks. The exhibit is open good experience for her. "It was lots of GREAT JOB ELLY and Cassie!! You Wednesday- Sunday from 10:00 AM fun and really cool to see what I make Fort Vancouver proud! until 6:00 PM. accomplished." As a volunteer Elly says

Volunteer Opportunities Quarterly Volunteer Meetings New Volunteer Orientation Visitor Center Volunteers The dates have been set for the 2003 The next new volunteer orientation Would you like to have the challenge of Quarterly Volunteer Meetings. These will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday orienting visitors, making bookstore meetings offer a chance to meet fellow September 20th at the Visitor Center. sales and working with very large school volunteers, learn about happenings in The session is a chance to welcome groups all at the same time? The role of the park and ask questions. The new volunteers and give an overview of visitor center host is demanding but meetings occur at the Visitor Center at what volunteers do for the park. Space rewarding as you get to meet people 7:00 PM on: is limited. Please call 360- 696- 7655 ext. from around the world...and lots of 10 to sign up. school kids. If you are interested in Thursday, July 10* more information, please contact Jon Wednesday, October 8th Sinking into a volunteer 'rut?' Climb out! Fort Vancouver will offer Burpee at 360- 696- 7655 ext 15. several new opportunities this year, Upcoming Interp. Training Series Kitchen and Bake House which might be what you, or someone Volunteers Sept. 27 The Process of Interpretation you know, has been craving. Enjoy baking or cooking and sharing (pre- requisite for all other courses). history with the public? We are Oct. 4 Effective Interpretive Talk Administration Volunteers The park headquarters is in need of recruiting volunteers to wear period Oct. 11 Effective Conducted Activity clothing, prepare period recipes Oct. 18 Effective Living History volunteers who want to work a few hours a week. Duties would include (receipts) and tell the stories of the Oct. 25 Interpreting Historic and kitchen and bake house workers at Fort Archaeological Resources. clipping newspaper articles and filing For additional information please Vancouver to visitors. Please contact All courses start at 10:00 AM in the Indian Becky Railey at 360- 696- 7659 ext. 11. Trade Shop. Please call 360- 696- 7655 ext. contact Elaine Huff at the 10 to sign up. Space is limited. administration building at36o- 696- 7655 ext. 12 The deadline for the September-October Express is August 15 volunteer Dispatch 2 New Junior Rangers Archaeological Lecture Series Every year, hundreds of young visitors complete the requirements to earn a This year's lecture series focuses on Thursday, July 17,7:00 PM. The Junior Ranger Badge. A few of the latest archaeological sites in the Pacific North­ Archaeology of Pioneer Logging: the Junior Rangers include: west. Seating for these lectures is limited, Wind River Lumber Company's + Tyler Burnett, age 10, Lakeside, CA and is offered on a first-come, first- Camp 3. O.O. Howard House * Brian Burnett, age 4 'A,Lakeside , CA served basis. Rick McClure will discuss pioneer + Christopher Lunden, age 7, Stockholm, This lecture series accompanies the logging in the Pacific Northwest, Sweden annual archaeology field school at the sharing his preliminary results from * Jared Schiff, age 12, Enumclaw, WA Vancouver National Historic Reserve, investigations at the ca. 1902 Wind * David Schiff, age 10, Enumclaw, WA which is a partnership between the River Lumber Company's Camp 3 * Heidi Osborne, age 9, Vancouver, WA National Park Service, Portland State near Trout Creek in Skamania * John Ryan, age 13, Melbourne, AUSTL University, and Washington State County, Washington. * Rachel Ryan, age 11, Melbourne, AUSTL University - Vancouver. * Sarah Ryan, age 8 h,Melbourne, AUSTL Thursday, July 24,7:00 pm - Panel * Daniel Murphy, age 7, Vancouver, WA Thursday, July 10, 7:00 PM. In Pursuit of Discussion: Kenneth Ames, Virginia * Julie Purnell, age 8, Houston, TX the Wild Vaccinium—Huckleberry Butler, Brian Harrison, Steven Weber, & * Ian Purnell, age 10, Houston, TX Processing Sites in the Southern Douglas Wilson Lewis & Clark in * Claire Seder, age 9, Portland, OR Washington Cascades. O.O. Howard Context. Vancouver Barracks + Gabriel Zarate, age 12, Napa, CA Auditorium House * Anna Zarate, age 10, Napa, CA * KayCee Gassaway,age 10, Vancouver,WA This panel will explore the Cheryl Mack will discuss archaeology in * Erin Fryar, age 9, Rio Rancho, NM relationships between the search for the Cascade Mountains, exploring the * Cole Still, age 11, Grandview, WA sites associated with the Corps of types of sites associated with the * Timothy Williams, age 9,Oregon City, OR Discovery and our understanding of collection and processing of Vaccinium * Quinlan Nielson, age 6, Portland, OR (huckleberry) by Native Americans. archaeology in the Pacific Northwest. * Abigail Naftz, age 7, Arvada, CO

National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Upcoming Events - 2003

July 4 Independence Day Celebration & Fireworks July 12 Kid's Dig Fort Vancouver National Historic Site is a premier July 10 Quarterly Volunteer Meeting historical and archaeological site that shares and Archaeology Lecture preserves the history associated with the Hudson's Bay Company's Fort Vancouver and the U.S. Army's July 17 Archaeology Lecture Vancouver Barracks. A part of the Vancouver July 19 & 20 Soldier's Bivouac (Living History) National Historic Reserve, we value working with July 19 1860s Vintage Base Ball (Living History) partners and the public to bring this special history July 24 Archaeology Lecture to life. July 26 Kid's Dig

Fort Vancouver National Historic Site August 9 Volunteer Picnic Vancouver National Historic Reserve August 16 1860s Vintage Base Ball (Living History) 612 East Reserve Street August 25 Founder's Day (Living History) Vancouver, WA 98661 -3811 September 11 Remembrance Event September 12 &13 Candlelight Tour (Living History) Phone September 20 New Volunteer Orientation 360 696-7655 ext. 10 September 27 "Process of Interpretation" Training Session Web Site Address October 4 "Effective Interpretive Talk" Training Session www.nps.gov/fova/home.htm October 8 Quarterly Volunteer Meeting October 18 Ghost Stories The National Park Service cares for the special December 13 Christmas at Fort Vancouver and the Vancouver National places saved by the American people so that all may experience our heritage. Historic Reserve (Living History)

For additional information about these and other programs offered in the Vancouver National Historic Reserve and Fort Vancouver National Historic Site please visit our website at www.nps.qov/fova/home.htm or call the Visitor Center at 360-696-7655 ext. 10 or 1-800-832-3599 ext. 10.

Vancouver Express 3 The Vancouver Express is published every two "Living History Events" months by tort Vancouver National Historic Site. It is named in honor of the tried and true (continued from page 1) methods of communication used by the Hudson's Bay Company: the annual boat that i86o's Vintage Base Ball • 'Fair-fouls' - Any ball that touches carried communications to the Company's headquarters at York Factory was called 'the fair territory before going out of the express.' The Volunteer Dispatch is named For the soldiers stationed at Vancouver playing field is a live ball. after military dispatches that were sent to posts Barracks garrison duty was often and troops throughout the Pacific Northwest. • No fielder may use his hat to catch tedious and boring. Base ball and other the ball. Editor athletic events helped keep the morale Jon Burpee of the troops in good shape. Other Opportunities

Chief of Interpretation th Greg Shine On July 19 at 6:00 PM, i86os-style base Living history demonstrations occur ball will return to the Parade Ground. daily in the Blacksmith Shop and are Contributors The ballists (players) are members of increasing in the Carpenter Shop. On Brenda Blair Jon Burpee the f Oregon Volunteer Infantry and most Saturday afternoons at the fort David Larson the town team, Vancouver Occidentals. site, blackpowder weapons are Bob Roney They will play under the rules adopted demonstrated. Throughout the in i860 by the National Association of summer, living history events will occur NPS Photographers Sarah Bernstein, VIP Base-Ball Players. A few of the more at the fort and on the parade ground unique rules include: culminating in the site's signature event, Comments? Write to: Candlelight Tour on September 12 & 13. Jon Burpee Fort Vancouver National Historic Site • The ballists play barehanded. No On page three of the Vancouver 612 East Reserve Street gloves allowed. Express, a schedule of events highlights Vancouver, WA 98661 -3811 • The hurler (pitcher) pitches the a few of these programs. For more [email protected] ball instead of throwing complete information stop in at the (underhand not overhand). Visitor Center, or visit the park web site • A ball caught on the fly or the first at www.nps.gov/fova/home.htm. bound (bounce) is an out. 4 Vancouver Express

National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

Fort Vancouver National Historic Site Vancouver National Historic Reserve 612 East Reserve Street Vancouver, WA 98661-3811

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