The Long Hunter's Journal
The newsletter of the Utah ALRA
March 2007
Muster
Grant Davis, Lieutenant, James Chandler, Sergeant of Arms, Steve Gish, Scribe, Terry Pendley, Gregg Hansen, John McCann, Kirk Davis, Duane Dyer, Kevin Molett
Elections
The current officers will stay in place for another term.
Changes for 2007
The meeting schedule was discussed. A couple of caveats of Grant's accepting another term were changing the regular meeting week to the third weekend of the month. Due to Grant's work schedule he can't attend meetings on the first weekend. The second item was to decrease the number of times we meet during the year to five or six times a year. This way we can provide higher quality events. The Lieutenant also called for members to step forward to host camps or events (such as Ken Stanley has done, see below). If you are interesting in organizing a camp or trek, please let Grant know and he will work with you to promote it.
Dues
Dues are now past due. Please send your dues as soon as possible. They are $25 for the year. $10 state and $15 national. Please send a check made payable to Grant at:
Grant Davis
1083 N 300 E
Layton, UT 84041
2007 Calendar
Official Utah ALRA Events
Apr 6-8 Fort Bueanaventura Spring Rendezvous - The assumption right now is that we will have a group camp again at the Rendezvous and that those who want to will be doing demos. More information on this will be forthcoming shortly. http://www1.co.weber.ut.us/parks/fortb/events/spring.php
Jun 7-11 Idaho Family Camp - Fine Gentlemen and Ladies of the American Long Rifle Association, You are invited to attend the first "Idaho Company of the ALRA" encampment. The dates for said camp will be the 7th of June through the 11th of June 2007. Longer if you like. At this camp you will have the oppurtunity to pass off any shooting requirements in the bylaws. There will also be a 30 miler. This will be completed out of a base camp so our families can attend. The camp will be in South East Idaho. Closer to Afton Wyoming. The drainage is Beaver Dam Creek. Wood and water are available. Water will have to be purified or bring your own. The camp is at 7000 feet. Bugs can be a problem. It is not a drive and dump camp, however it is only about 75-100 yards from the road. The road is a good Forest Service. Until the last 2 miles. It then has ruts and if wet can be very slick. It can be navigated by sedan if you are careful, however I recommend a 4wd. The 30 miler will cover some very rugged country. We will be hiking Friday-Sunday. Topping out at 9700' it will be a very taxing 3 days. Be advised there will possibly still be snow in the top of this scout. Bring your Ice creepers if you have some. the first day will be the most extreme day. Covering 14 miles and the highest elevation gain of the scout. The second day will not be as steep as the first and will only cover 11 miles. The third day is the easiest only covering 8-9(who said it only had to be 30) and is the lowest elevation gain. But has one of the steepest climbs attached. The way this is set up you can participate 1,2,or 3 days of the scout if you wish. If any ladies wish to participate you are welcome. NO ONE WILL GO AWAY DISSAPPOINTED! Sore, yes. The views are incredible! If the days are clear you can see the Tetons on days 1 or 2. I encourage anyone needing to fullfill these requirements to please attend. The Salt Lake airport is only 2-2 1/2 hours away and as this is also going to be the Utah June meeting. Shuttle service I am sure could be arranged for any one from out of the area. I would like to have pot luck on Saturday. Providing the scout has not met its demise. I will need to be notified of a head count by May 1st. As this is on National Forest and need to know for permit sake. All heads in your camp. There will also be a schutzen target shoot on monday. There is plenty of notice so put these dates on your calender, once again you will not be dissappointed! YMHOS Ken Stanley Idaho SGT. at arms #138 1030 Gray Pocatello Idaho 83201 208-851-1770 after 6pm mst
Aug 31 - Sep 3 Fort Bridger Rendezvous http://www.fortbridgerrendezvous.net/
Dec 8 Christmas Party
Other events to come…
Other Events of Note
Jun 16-18 Historical Encampment/Rotary Event at Fort Buenaventura
Jul 4 Kaysville City Parade, Gregg Hansen & Family and anyone else who would like to join in
Jul 6-15 Rocky Mountain National Rendezvous, Vipond Park, Dewey, Montana http://www.rockymntnatlrendz.com/rendezvous2007.html
No monthly Gatherings will be held at Fort Buenaventura until the Insurance issue is resolved. It was agreed that the Utah ALRA would not purchase an insurance policy. Grant will meet with the Fort one last time to explain our position.
Cherry Creek
A few hearty souls attended Ken Stanley's Cherry Creek Winter camp. In attendance from the ALRA were Ken Stanley, Steve Gish, James Chandler, and Lynn Kalan. Crazy and Wynn from the AMM also attended. Day time temps and weather were good, but I understand it got down right cold at night. Below are some pictures from the camp:
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Announcements
June 15-18 - Rotary Time-Line Event at Fort Buenaventura The Rotary Club will host an International Event in Salt Lake City June 2007. In cooperation with the Fort and local reenacting groups, a Historical Time-Line is scheduled at the Fort. The groups participating are Mountain Men, Civil War, Indian, Mormon Pioneers, and Colonial. Trade blankets are encouraged. The Free Mountain Trappers are setting up a shooting and tomahawk range for visitors to try. Grant and Gregg have already committed. Kirk and Terry expressed interest. Sue is coordinating this event.
Gregg has invited anyone interested to participate with his family in the 4th of July Parade in Kaysville. Lyle has told Gregg that he is nearly finished with the New England fowler he is making for Gregg's son-in-law who will now be able to work on his Bibliography.
Historical Notes
After our discussion following the meeting about horn being used in lanterns making, I did a little search in the Virginia Gazette. Some of us remember the horn panes used in the lantern we saw at the recent Western ALRA Gathering made by Randy Pewtress. This dates the use but provides no description.
Virginia Gazette Page3, Column 1, 1774-10-27
When doing that search, I found several references for Horn Pounce Boxes during the same time period. Not knowing what pounce was, I checked with old Mr. Webster. Pounce is "a fine powder, as of cuttlebone, formerly used to prevent ink from spreading in writing, as over an erasure or an unsized paper, or to prepare parchment for writing."
With the recent news that the Postal Service has the right to open your mail, I discovered the follow as well.
Virginia Gazette Page 2, Column 2, 1770-03-08
I recall seeing recently on the RFD channel, a burp about Rural Farm Delivery. That's when the folks in the country felt they should be treated like townspeople and have their mail delivered to them as well. Seems, sometime their mail stayed in the Post Office several weeks to a month before they could get to town to collect it. Where is this leading, well, they forgot about the Post Rider. Here's what I found.
Virginia Gazette Page 4, Column 1, 1738-04-28
Just for Fun
You Might Be a Reenactor:
If your $30,000 car sits out in the weather so your $1000 tent can stay in the garage...
You have to find something else to wear on Halloween, because your uniform just doesn't feel like a costume anymore...
If you drive by some open land and think, "What a great place for a Battle!"...
If most of the clothes you own went out of style over 200 years ago...
If you've made a vehicle purchase decision based on how well it can accommodate your tent poles...
Your coworkers seem a little concerned that you're planning a "period" party, and you're male...
Cleaning your gun is not only an entire evening's work, but an entire evening's entertainment!
If you've ever uttered the phrase, "only 68 more days til our next event"...
If sleeping in a leaky tent in the rain and mud or freezing cold is your idea of a fun Saturday night...
If you've ever worn wool when the temperature tops 100 repeatedly...
If you can't sing without a mug of something (grog) in your hand.
If you've ever fondled your musket lovingly.
If your employer says " Oh you're going out to play that Rev War crap again."
If dinner guests see one of your uniforms and ask " Are you in a theatre production ?"
You've stockpiled lots of candles by the back door as a reminder not to forget them.
If you mumble the dialog in the movie "Last of the Mohicans" or the "Patriot" to yourself before it is spoken.
If you've received cuts, burns, pulled off ticks, been infested by chiggers, gotten poison ivy, dysentery and still look forward to camping out.
If your house needs a coat of paint.
If your living room is adorned with your flintlocks and leathers.
If in the middle of summer, you dread wearing a short sleeved shirt in your air conditioned office, while you can't wait to get to the next event, where you can dress in a long sleeved shirt, with a vest, wool coat, a hat, and then relax next to your cookfire.
If there are half-completed sewing projects decorating your furniture...
If you've ever made a career decision based on its impact on your reenacting weekends...
If your friends refuse to attend any historic movie dramas with you...
If you win Halloween costume competitions - hands down...
If you can spot 100% wool or linen at 30 yards...
If your kids can correct their history teachers...
If your mailman is confused as to what rank you hold in the reserves...
If you earn a good salary, but are always broke.
If you have been asked at a gas station (or parade) if you're Amish.
If your birthday and Christmas list reads like a quartermaster's request for supplies.
If you believe that your moccasins are the most comfortable shoes that you own.
If you spend a lovely summer afternoon in the fabric store hunting for the perfect lace to trim your uniform.
If your swords are more polished than your silverware.
If you're insulted if someone refers to your garb as a "costume".
If you know what a baldric is.
If you secretly (or not-so-secretly) long to own a cannon.
If you have named and have slept with your flintlock.
If you have more closet space devoted to reenacting clothes than "real" clothes.
If you have replayed the Discovery Channel's Rev War series 25 times in a row just to see your foot in the left hand corner of the screen.
If you consider black powder and beer essential to life.
If the power goes out you click into 18th century mode.
If you travel over 1,000 miles to sleep in a tent.
If you spend more on a pair of reenacting shoes than you do on "dress" shoes.
If you spent more then $800 on a gun that still needs a sharp rock to work.
If you spend more then $50 on the sharp rocks.
If you know what black powder tastes like.
If you can talk about cocks, balls, ramrods, and lube without getting embarrassed!
If you wear a corset and you actually enjoy it.
If you remember exact dates of battles in the Revolutionary War, but can't remember what you had for breakfast.
If you know the difference between a spontoon and a spatterdash.
If you have to "un-decorate" your house to pack up for an event.