Winter Encampment set Saturday at Fort Griffin

By Sam Waller

History buffs can get a glimpse of what life was like on the frontier Saturday, Feb. 18 at Fort Griffin State Historic Site’s Winter Encampment.

The event, scheduled for 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., will feature living historians who will fine-tune their skills while they portray a frontier winter encampment. Assistant site manager Eric Abercrombie said the event is similar to the site’s Living History Days held each October.

“It’s a lot smaller than our Living History Days, but it is comparable in some ways,” Abercrombie said. “There will be encampments set up but less extensive demonstrations, and we won’t have the artillery.”

Among the demonstrations will be Dutch oven cooking, bullet casting, paper cartridge crafting, rag rug making, knife and axe sharpening, and general day-to-day activities typical of a military frontier encampment.

“We’ve got some guys planning to do a pig roast over an open fire,” Abercrombie said.

Abercrombie said the event was started to give reenactors a chance to practice their skills and improve their interpretation.

“We decided that while they’re all here, let’s open it up to the public on Saturday for everybody to come and see what they’re doing,” he said.

Stargazing Delayed

Abercrombie said the site’s star gazing event will not be held this month despite being posted on some social media outlets.

“We will try to get star gazing going soon, probably in April,” he said. “It’ll be a little warmer, and there might even be a chance to see more of the Milky Way later in the night.”

For information on the Winter Encampment and other upcoming activities, contact Fort Griffin State Historical Site at 325-762-3592.