St. Clair Run

Well, the 2009 St. Clair Run turned out much better than the original one of 1791. Not only were there no casualties, everyone had a great time, and funds and historical awareness were raised for the museum. Many good comments were heard after the race regarding the ambience, the raceway, the efficient sign-in, and quick and effective awarding of places and prizes.

The credit for the event’s success goes primarily to event coordinators, Kathy Gonzalez and Kim Niekamp! Thanks also to PJ Minor for tracking entries; Pat Diller for financial accounting; Linda Schoenherr for organizing food donations; Karen Heitkamp and Doug Collins, the race timers; the Rammels and Bechtols for handing out water; and all of the historical society members and museum patrons who helped on race day.

Official sponsors of the St. Clair Run were: WKG Financial Advisors; State Representative, Jim Zehringer; Cooper Farms; Mercer Osteopathic; Nature’s Green; Wabash Telephone; Mercer Health; and JR Manufacturing. Local donors of prizes were: Kelly’s Shoes; FR Lumber Yard; Bihn’s Drycleaning; First Financial Bank: Wangler Ace Hardware; Snap Fitness ; Second National Bank; Mercer Savings Bank; Mary Niekamp; Cooper Farms; Miller’s Dairy Drive In; Mercer Health. Finally, thanks to the donors of water and snacks: Dannon Yogurt, Wayne IGA, Shell, Pac-a-Sak, and Big Als.

Memories of Days Gone By

Stop in and read the memories of the following past and present Fort Recovery citizens:

Lucille Snyder Matchett Linus Hart Cleopha Link Ralph Staugler

Georgianna Meiring Doc Kaup Harold Ranly Ruth Theurer

Florence /Marvin Mott Doc Knapke Paul Smith Rita Zeheringer

Rosie Zehringer Bob VanTrees Betty Dilworth Mary Rose Bergman

Sally Eifert Nell Franklin Robert Freemyer

These senior citizens were part of a statewide Wallpaper (oral history) Project done in 2003, Ohio’s bicentennial year. Members of the FR historical society recorded these folks’ memories, and then they were typed into the booklets. These written recollections are available in the basement of our museum. If you are interested – or if your kids or grandkids need to do history reports for school - stop by and check them out. Fascinating reading!

Thanks to –

Fort Electric LLC (Bruce and Sharon Scott). Bruce has donated many hours of work this summer - getting electricity run to new places, fixing broken wires, finding timer problems etc. We are so very fortunate to have patrons like Fort Electric! They care about their museum and community!

Books/Books/Books – 10% Discount

New = Forts of the Old Northwest Territory, by Jonathan Hall. Numerous forts were built from the time of the first French explorers to the end of the Black Hawk War. Hall’s book highlights those which have been fully, or at least partially, reconstructed. Pages 22-33 of the Forts book are about Fort Recovery!

We have a great selection of books, so if you need a gift, think about giving a book with particular meaning from our museum. We sold 24 of Joe Krom’s books when he was here August 16. We still have three of his autographed books in stock. Remember, as a patron, you receive a 10% discount on all purchases!

Archaeological Festival for Families – October 4

Plans for this big day are really shaping up. We will have a number of artifact displays, also artifact identification, Ball State Archaeologists, mock digs (but with real instruments and metric measurements) for the kids, speakers all afternoon, games, treats and fun! See the attached flyer for details or go to our website at www.fortrecoverymuseum.comfor more details. I can’t begin to tell you how much work and organization Brian Vastano, Ken Sowards, Chris Keller and Don Brewer are doing for this event. Brian, Ken and Chris don’t even live in Fort Recovery, yet they are willing to give untold hours to make this Fort Recovery Event happen. All of our hats should be off to them and to Don.

What many do not know is that even more planning and work are being done for October 3^rd! On that day, we are making it possible for boy scouts to get their Archaeology Merit Badge! A lot is required for this to happen, but with the work of our committee plus the help of flintknappers, Ball State Archaeologists, scout leaders and others, this will become a reality. The Fort Recovery Museum is really proud of this important and educational endeavor. It couldn’t happen without the help of such well qualified and informed volunteers – Brian, Ken, Chris, Don and others!

For a Fun Evening - Auction 2009!

The One of a Kind Auction committee has been working feverishly to complete plans for the best auction ever. It will take place on October 18, 2009. Please mark that Sunday evening on your calendar now. We depend on the proceeds from this auction along with the patron donations to keep our museum in business and to keep Fort Recovery History alive. Soon we will be printing the auction booklet, so if you have an item to donate, please call Sharon at 375-4263, Helen at 375-2308 or me at 375-4384.

Visitor Takes Comment Personally

When I introduce visitors to our historical sites to see, I give a brief explanation. When I point to the fort picture I always mention that we don’t know the exact location because the plans for our fort were sent back to Washington D.C. after the 1794 battle. Then when the British burned the capital in the War of 1812, our fort plans went up with those flames! Without thinking I gave this routine explanation to two British Professors who were visiting. Without missing a beat, the one professor, with his heavy English accent, said, “Ewww, sorry ‘bout that!” We all had a good laugh, and I assured him we didn’t hold grudges! Every day brings interesting and/or fun experiences at the museum!

Calumet of the Three Fires

In our museum we have a replica of the peace pipe (calumet) smoked during the signing of the Treaty of Greenville. This calumet is 3 ½ feet long. The original pipe bowl was made from a red catlinite found in Minnesota quarries. The bowl has multiple inlays of pewter on lead. The long stem is ash and is elaborately carved with a three part, symmetrical pattern.

I have observed this peace pipe every day I work at the museum, but until a recent edition of the Ohio Historical Society publication “Echoes” came out, I had no idea of the symbolism of this calumet. This pipe was brought to the Greenville gathering by Agooshaway, an Ottawa chief, who called this “the Calumet of the Three Fires;” the Three Fires being the Ottawa, the Chippewas and the Potawatomies. In presenting it to Wayne he commented that it had been sent from the “north” to the three tribes. It was to be hidden whenever “anything bad was in motion” and to be displayed “when anything good was contemplated.” The chief willingly offered this sacred token of peace to the general.

The next time you are in the museum, observe the calumet and notice the tripartite stem – symbolic of the Three Fires!

Happy History, Happy Fall,Nancy

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of George Jetter. So many people and organizations were positively impacted by him and/or his life, this museum included. He will be greatly missed. What a wonderful man!

On July 20, two tour buses of Shawnee Indians from the Oklahoma-Texas area visited our museum. For them this was a very spiritual trip. Chief Glenna Wallace spoke poignantly for the group as she expressed her feelings about “coming home.” Fort Recovery was just one of their stops on a two-day excursion through their native lands. The 100+ visitors were friendly and appreciative of the hospitality shown to them. They presented the museum with two signed and numbered prints – one a symbolic print of Tecumseh and the other - their tribal symbols. What treasures for our museum.

As I write this, the flag of the Eastern Band of the Shawnee Indians flies over our fort. What a picturesque sight that made for the visitors as the bright red flag unfurled against the backdrop of dark threatening skies. Many cameras of the Shawnee visitors captured that sight.

An absolutely fascinating true story/historical narrative told from the perspective of Sweet Breeze the beautiful daughter of Miami Chief Little Turtle and from the perspective of her husband, William Wells, the captured American boy (Carrot Top) raised as a Miami warrior. Caught in a clash of two cultures, William and Sweet Breeze have difficult choices to make! Krom includes vivid descriptions of the locations and actions we know so well - the Battle on the Banks of the Wabash, 1791, and the Battle of Fort Recovery in ’94.

Krom’s few remaining books are on sale for $14.00 (for patrons) until the time of the presentation. After August 16, the books will be back to the regular price of $16.50. The cost of admission to Krom’s talk is $3.00 for guests, and of course it is free for patrons.

We’re excited about the events we have planned for this big day. Take a look!

1. Artifact Show -Collections from near and far
2. Artifact Identification – Examined by archaeologists. See it through a microscope!
3. Flintknapping in Action – See how arrowheads/spear points were made in ancient times.
4. Speakers
   1. 12:00 Brian Vostano - The Glacial Kame Culture/Artifacts
   2. 1:00 – Bill Pichard - Fort Pickawilliany
   3. 2:00 – Chris Keller - Education of, and Work of, Archaeologists
   4. 3:00 – Tony Deregnaucourt - Archaeology of Fort Recovery
   5. 4:00 – Ken Sowards - This History and Artifacts of Fort Loramie
5. Hands-on Arch. Activities - Ball State Archaeologists – mock excavations, hand pump lithic drill
6. Displays/Activities in the Cabins
   1. Original cabin resident – Pat Myer Eischen present to answer questions
   2. Early history demonstration by Chris Kramer Ewry and family
   3. Blacksmith’s Shop, (Tool explanation by “pioneer” Jack Hemmelgarn)
   
7. Scout Exhibits, Indian Games, (Discoidal, Atlatl), Food

Many folks driving West into Fort Recovery on St. Rt. 119 have been noticing and wondering about the changes and activity at the point where 119 and Boundary St. meet. That section of land on the point is owned by the John Cheeseman family. Max relates that his dad always wanted that point to be some sort of recognition of the Indian Tribes who lived in this area and were signers of the Treaty of Greenville. Now several years after John’s passing, his wife and children are carrying out his wishes, and Max has taken charge of this interesting and deserving Indian recognition undertaking.

Max has engaged Phil Wood to help him do the research so that all aspects of this park are accurate, educational, in good taste, and reflective of Native American values. Among the points of interest already there or in the planning stages are: (1) boulders, each with the name of a tribe that was represented in the signing of the Greenville Treaty, (2) a four-colored concrete Circle of Life which was symbolic of so many aspects of Indian life, (3) Native grasses and flowers reflecting the colors of the circle and the 1700’s time period , (4) a winding gravel pathway representing the Wabash River which played such a key role in the history of the area, and (5) granite on steel Eagles facing significant directions.

Last week’s Shawnee visitors stopped at this “park in progress” and appeared to be thrilled at this fruition of recognition. (Taking pictures of Chief Glenna beside the “Shawnee” boulder) Supporters of Fort Recovery History/Landmarks welcome this significant, educational and attractive addition to our area’s array of historic sites! This community is once more indebted to the John Cheeseman family.

Lepper’s presentation in July was warmly received by those in attendance. It is just mind-boggling to comprehend the technical understandings and accomplishments achieved by Native American Societies thousands of years ago.

We welcome Carl and Kristin Bueter of Alexandria, Virginia as patrons of the museum. Every patron’s support is important in our twin goals of preserving and publicizing the history of Fort Recovery.

In 1797 Little Turtle met with President Washington in Philadelphia (the capital). Washington presented him with a sword and the chief sat for his portrait. In 1798 he again journeyed to Philadelphia to meet with president john Adams. This time it was to plead with Adams to stop the liquor traffic that was ruining thousands of his people, but NO action was taken. Then in 1801, after Thomas Jefferson had taken office (and the capital was now in Washington) Little Turtle and other chiefs as well (William Wells served as the interpreter) again pleaded with the president.

Little Turtle called for laws prohibiting the sale of liquor to Indians. He pleaded, “Father, your children are not wanting in industry, (they are not lazy-nk) but it is the introduction of this fatal poison which keeps them poor. Your children have not the command over themselves that you have, therefore before anything can be done to advantage, this evil must be remedied.” (Levison, Ohio Was Their Home). Jefferson and Congress agreed to a law to stop the flow of liquor into Indian territories, but nothing was done to enforce it. Little Turtle noted that liquor killed far more Indians than tomahawks and guns ever had.

Thank you to Jeff Pontsler of the Grand Lake Independent for putting together this wonderful video of the museum and the dedication of Red Haired Nance.