Living History - Memorial Day Weekend at Fort Larned

There's nothing more fun to do while visiting a historic site than to imagine what it was like back in its heyday.  Over Memorial Day Weekend at Fort Larned National Historic Site, you don't have to imagine very hard, as over 70 reenactment volunteers truck in from Texas, Colorado, and all over Kansas to bring the place to life.

Fort Larned's Giant Flag

Although the Fort's use expands well beyond the civil war era, the 1860's is what we went back to over Memorial Day.  All of the park employees partake by dressing up in period gear (which means wool - yes, even in summer - infantry uniforms for the guys and billowing dresses for the girls) and assuming a character.

Chaz, Nathan, and Mike as Soldiers

All of the buildings are open with someone in period dress to talk to you about what went on there back in the day, but my favorite two special events took place outside.  First, it's important to point out that Nathan has a pretty cool job, because he got to do this:



There were also other rifle demonstrations throughout the day.

Rifle Demonstration

Second, a hobby vintage baseball team rolled into town to play the soldiers (park employees) in 1860's-style baseball, complete with a leather ball, no gloves, and old rules like if you catch a fly ball after the first bounce, the batter is out.  I found it pretty interesting to learn some of the jargon and facts from the day.  For instance, most of the reenacters are, by definition, civil war nerds, which makes for some pretty useless baseball players.  In vintage baseball, a person who tries really hard, but still stinks is called a muffin.  Spectators would sit really close to the game with no fences for protection.  If a ball happened to roll under a woman's skirt, depending on which team she was rooting for, she may or may not choose to lift her skirt and make it easy for the players to find the ball.

 Nathan Catching - One of the only experienced baseball players out there

I had a pretty good time at the event and am looking forward to more living history for July 4th weekend (more reenactments including potato sack races) and Labor Day weekend (if I'm not actually in labor).

Location Integration

There are a lot of things I've neglected to blog about this new and interesting location, so as we approach summer's halfway mark, you'll be seeing a few catch-up blogs.  Today's, however, is going to be current.

I went back to Rochester, MN last week to work, see everyone, have an amazing baby shower, and close on our house.  (Yes!!  House is gone and rent is cheap - whoo!)  I find it ironic that while in Rochester - not Kansas - Rochester, I ended up being 1/3 of a mile from an actual tornado that touched down in town on Thursday night.  Here's a photo of the tornado's path put together by one of my co-workers.  (I was staying at a friend's house just slightly off the map to the Northwest, where tornado sirens never went off.)

I had a great time seeing everyone, but it reminded me of just how much I don't know about my new community (and how many people I don't know either)!  Hence, I returned to Kansas with one goal: integrate!

I would say this weekend has been a major integration success!  First, I found out our community has its own little newspaper that comes out on Tuesdays and Fridays called The Tiller & Toiler.  I picked one up Saturday and learned that we have a community garden near our house that you can help weed, then take home your pick of fresh produce.  Not bad!  I also discovered that we have a Farmer's Market every 1st & 3rd Saturday through August.  Good.  Found a place to find out what's going on in town - check!

We'd also heard Great Bend has a Farmer's Market every week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.  We happened to be in town Thursday so checked it out.  Five vendors with mostly zucchinis.  Sad.  And I thought Rochester, MN's Farmer's Market stunk after coming from Madison.  It doesn't.  In fact, we not only got a zucchini from a local hippie selling produce from his trunk, he also treated us to a bible lesson on why he doesn't sell produce at the Saturday market.  I'd decided right then and there that the Saturday market, the one with all the heathens, was definitely the one for me!  So, I returned Saturday and found 12 vendors with fresh eggs, bread (it's wheat harvest time!), and met a farmer who sells grass-fed beef and chicken, which we can pick up from their farm fresh on slaughter day.  Excellent.  Found some good, organic, local foods - check!

Next, I visited the Great Bend library, which is WAY better than the one in Larned and allows you to check-out more than one book at a time.  Found a place to stock up on kid's books for the munchkin - check!

Friday, we invited everyone at the park over for brats, burgers, and bocce.  It was a really fun night until the mosquitoes came out and broke it all up.  Found a way to make our own fun with some excellent people - check!

So, I'm feeling better about this place already.  It's no Madison, WI (probably the best place I've ever lived), but it'll work for now.