This coming weekend marks the 35th anniversary of the start of the fair and participants are planning a fun-filled weekend to celebrate. The fair is going strong and better than ever.
My family has been a part of the Fair at New Boston since we moved here from California in 1993. That was when we first walked under that banner at the entrance to George Rogers Clark Park and said, “Wow.”
We were not new to living history. We’d managed to catch smaller events in 10 different states. However from the beginning we could see that the Fair at New Boston was different, better, more accurate, growing and we wanted to be a part of it.
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And so for 24 years we have been involved with the fair and the George Rogers Clark Heritage Association (GRCHA), in just about every capacity. My husband has been fairmaster four times, and President of GRCHA for 10 years and has the gray hairs to prove it.
Members of our family have painted, sewn, repaired, set up, and torn down canvas as well as any circus troop. We know the ropes, literally, and can put up all sorts of canvas and 18th century structures. During the Fair we have been in the play, served at the coffee house, and taverns, rode horses, mongered fruit, shot the cannon, danced in the streets, fought in the battle reenactments on all sides, constructed wigwams, made presentations as 18th century personas, and generally have had the times of our lives.
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Our youngest daughter and her husband met at the fair. A few years later, dressed as a frontiersman, he proposed to her in her frilly colonial dress. The crowd shouted “Huzzah” and raised their tri-corner hats. Now you have to admit that was cool.
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Our grandbabies have all worn little white shifts and caps to their first Fair. We have a closet; okay a room, full of costumes in various sizes to fit family and friends of all ages. During the Fair our house is a hub of activity with family and friends staying with us. Being a part of the Fair has been fantastic. New Boston has become our hometown.
Over the years people have asked us how to get involved.
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Well, you don’t have to be an expert to be a part of the Fair at New Boston. All it basically requires is a love of history, and willingness to learn and be as accurate as possible.
My husband and daughters got involved before me, because I was intimidated by the costuming. How could I, a denim-wearing child of the 60s, ever accurately look the part? But when I finally could resist it no longer, I was pleasantly surprised by the new friends who led me through the process. The costume closet that new volunteers can access before they get their own “period appropriate” attire has been wonderful.
With assistance, we’ve made some of our clothing in the GRCHA sewing rooms, but we have also purchased used period appropriate clothing or had someone make special items for us. We learned that wearing contacts instead of glasses made us look more authentic and that it is always a challenge to find comfortable shoes that look the part. And we learned that cell phones can be shut off and not missed for a couple of days.
Volunteers who want to wear modern clothing are able to work at the gift shop or at the gate. Helping to set up or tear down the fair is also a good way to start.
Many folks’ first costumed Fair at New Boston experience is spent serving at the coffee house or one of the taverns, if they are over 21. The camaraderie makes even the work fun.
If you want to train to be a part of the fair, you can be one of the dancers, or in the play. Some prefer to learn how to portray an 18th century soldier, how to sew accurate attire, or how to shoot the cannon.
Yes, there are very serious classes to learn how to fire and care for the full-sized cannon. Laws of physics don’t care which century you are in, so safety rules must be learned and followed.
Education Day is the best part of the Fair at New Boston. After all, education is our mission at the George Rogers Clark Heritage Association, which presents the Fair at New Boston.
Education Day is always the Friday before the fair. That is the day that we invite more than 1,000 local elementary students to spend a free day in the 18th century with us. I love seeing the expressions on the faces of the fourth and fifth graders as they walk into a magical place that brings their history books to life. When I was a teacher I got to bring a class to Education Day, and I’ve been the parent chaperone also. But being an appropriately attired interpreter and speaking to the students just cannot be beat. I love it.
Many of our volunteers are retired teachers who enjoy being able to go into more detail than the curriculum schedules allowed. While keeping to standards and benchmarks, we get to tell the rest of the stories that are cut short in the classrooms. We all hope the students go back to the school excited about history and ready to learn more.
The Fair at New Boston has been presented by unpaid volunteers for 35 years. Yes, there are a few paid professional actors, musicians, artisans, and performers among us, but for the most part New Boston residents are volunteers.
All-volunteer events are rare in today’s world. I think this one works because of the camaraderie, and family attitude of the volunteers, and the enrichment we receive learning about the local past. Living History is a pleasant escape from the worries of the modern world and helps us appreciate simpler times and the work of our ancestors. It is something unique that a family can experience together.
If you are interested in becoming a resident of New Boston or a member of GRCHA which puts on this event, we’d love to meet you, especially if you want to help us tear down on Labor Day.
However if you’ve already got a full schedule and would rather continue to be a visitor, please take a bit of local history home in your heart to savor. Don’t take the efforts of our ancestors for granted. Remember they were hard-working people with dreams just like you. Be thankful for the freedom we have to live as we will …and for that electricity too.
No matter how you spend it, be safe this Labor Day weekend.
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