Imagine a time long ago when people bonded together to share all of their resources and to protect themselves. a time when every man was your brother, and you could depend on him. that time was recently commemorated and celebrated at the Ozark City Park during the Fourth Annual Delaware Trace Free Trapper’s Rendezvous held June 15-17.
"It was a slower, better time," said Raymond Heying of Ozark, better known as Devel to the mountain man re-enactors in the camp. "A man’s word was his bond," he added.
For the entire weekend, Ozark City Park became an avenue lined with dozens of hand-crafted shelters. Under the roofs of these open-sided shelters, merchants displayed their goods, bartering and selling items amid storytelling from a time nearly forgotten. These frontier era structures consisted of large, white canvas tents, wooden wagons and ornately decorated teepees. Within the walls was a myriad of items. Trinkets, jewelry, pottery, artifacts, flintlock and caplock rifles, tools, leather goods, wrought iron items, and, of course, furs made up the staples, along with an eclectic array of other hard-to-find frontier items.
According to Heying, the name given to the gathering reflected the fact that Delaware trappers and Delaware tribes were common in the area from 1750-1840, the time represented by the encampment. Heying also said the trappers followed traces, or American Indian trails to deliver furs and other valuable goods during the beginning of westward expansion.
The free trappers "weren’t owned by a fur company," Heying said. Trappers working for the large companies of the day were furnished with all of the necessities of life by were often paid very poorly for their furs. On the other hand, free trappers desired independence from these companies. As a result, they had to furnish their own rifles, shot, clothing and other basic needs for survival, but they received higher prices for their furs." They had more control over the price they got for their furs," Heying said.
The Booshway, or "man in charge," of this year’s event was Greg "Copperhead" Graham. He convincingly portrayed a Scottish immigrant forced to come to America to fight for King George, who, like most Scots of the time, he disliked. Graham deftly spun a tale of how he managed to escape form the English army to become a free trapper. He celebrated his independent lifestyle and Scottish heritage by wearing his preferred rendezvous garb, the kilt. His long red-hair and thick Scottish accent also reflected his ancestry.
Although the actual Rendezvous event was designed to reflect the 1820-1840 time period, the costumes at the gathering represented times as far back as 1750. Styles ranging from Midwestern to Southwestern to Northeastern adorned the participants.
"We need to educate Americans on their glorious past, If you don’t know where you’ve been, you won’t know where you’re going."
...James Landolph as
George Washington
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Education is an important function of the rendezvous. Students from both the Ozark elementary and secondary summer school programs visited the event of Friday morning. On Saturday afternoon General George Washington, portrayed by James Landolph of Springfield, and Colonel Davey Crockett, portrayed by Jeff Germann of Springfield, visited the encampment. This duo taught authentic history to school youth through a program called "American Leaders: Where History Lives."
Both were well versed in the lives of the two famous men. "I’m compelled to do this," said Landolph. "It is important that students understand the values that formed our country." He identified these values as having faith in God, helping our neighbors and practicing an independent spirit.
Graham’s father, Gary, is known as "Banker," a named earned from his dapper appearance and willingness to make a sale. "He sold me a belt right off himself once," said Germann. The elder Graham quickly responded that "the belt wasn’t cheap, either," giving a hint to his rendezvous name.
Christian Count resident Barbara Wilson, known as Bread Lady because she makes homemade rolls for the mountain men, said the event is something that her family shares. "There is a lot of teaching here," she said. "Even the kids (of the reenactors) have more understand and respect."
Although the sense of camaraderie developed among the reenactors was the main aspect of the gathering, these rugged individuals had a strong, recurrent message for the people fo the 21st century. Landolph, portraying George Washington, summed it up. "We need to educate Americans on their glorious past," he said. "If you don’t know where you’ve been, you won’t know where you’re going."
