In Memoriam |
Local Posted on Fri, Sep. 15, 2006 Dacotah Territory Muzzleloaders celebrating its 25th rendezvous From Staff Reports The Dacotah Territory Muzzleloaders are celebrating more than 25 years of existence this year. Established in 1979 by four individuals who loved camping, fishing, canoeing and black-powder rifles, the Dacotah Territory Muzzleloaders have been having outdoor fun ever since. This weekend, the non-profit, social organization will be celebrating its 25th annual Sweetwater Rendezvous near Bristol. Events include shoots, hawk and knife throws, skillet toss, and a pre-1840 primitive bow shoot. Traders are welcome and primitive dress is required. The shooting fee for non-campers is $5 and there is a camping fee of $15. There will be a chili feed tonight and a free breakfast for campers on Saturday morning. The event, which starts at noon Friday, concludes Sunday. The grounds are located from Bristol: 2 miles south, 1 west, 6 south, 6 west, 2 south and west; from Conde: 4 north, 10 east, 1 south and west; from Verdon, 2 south, 10 east, 1 south and west. The land where the rendezvous is held is owned by club members George and Alice Bartell of Webster. "Being outdoors, camping, hunting and talking about guns," said George Bartell when asked what he liked about being a member of the club. "The family things we do makes the club grow. It's family-oriented. Overall, it's just fun." Bartell, a club member since 1982, said the club has a role in retelling history. He said many members do important research that helps tell the story of the people who came to this part of the country to settle it. He also pointed out that the club has many talented members who make some of their own gear, such as their clothing, for outings. While there are individual members, the club has always encouraged family membership. Throughout the years, the club has been very active, participating in centennial celebrations, festivals and various other events. Club members have participated in the Fort Sisseton Historical Festival since its creation more than 25 years ago. The club has also been active in regional and national rendezvous for more than two decades. Rendezvousing is defined as a pre-1840 fur trade era gathering. The principal is basic: If they had it in that era, club members can have it at a rendezvous. Some examples: • Clothing is cut of calico, leather, wool or any other pre-1840 material in frontier patterns. • Wood is standard material for chairs, kitchens and clothes boxes. • Lodges are made out of canvas or hide. • Rifles and handguns must be either percussion cap or flint. • Iron fire grates and tools, cast iron pots and pans and tomahawks are standard camp items. • All cooking is done over open fire. • All food and beverages are served in pottery, bone, wood, brass, copper or pewter dinnerware. • Modern-day coolers and bedding are allowed, but must remain out of sight. This hobby can be as easy or hard on your budget as you want it to be over time. Club membership dues are $10 a year for individuals and $15 for families. As people become more involved, they can acquire things such as a lodge from $50 to $2,000 or more, a muzzleloading rifle from $75 to $1,500 or more and a tomahawk from $15 to $250. The club meets the first Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at the Millstone Restaurant in Aberdeen. It also holds a Cabin Fever party during the winter and canoe trips on the James River. The club holds regular shoots the third Sunday of each month except for September, October and November. Club details: president John Graves at (605) 225-3582; vice president Jim Diestel at (605) 226-3661; secretary John Thelen at (605) 887-3211; or treasurer Pete Mattson at (605) 225-8845. Top of Page From "Storybook Land" at Aberdeen Parks - Storybook Land History ...Beginning in 1981, the Aberdeen Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department in cooperation with Alexander Mitchell Library, the Boy and Girl Scouts, the Boys and Girls Club, Aberdeen Family Y and the Aberdeen Area Arts Council hosted the Youth Heritage Arts Festival. The Festival featured the rich history and culture of the prairie pioneers. The goal of the event was to provide educational and recreational experiences for young and old alike, and travel back in time through the various changes that took place on the prairie. Festival activities included games, demonstrations by artists, crafts, home arts, and demonstrations by groups such as the Dacotah Territory Muzzleloaders and Dacotah Prairie Museum. The event was so popular, it became an annual event. The Aberdeen Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department won a national award in 1994 from the National Recreation and Park Association recognizing the Youth Heritage Arts Festival. The award was the Dorothy Mullen Arts and Humanities Award, which recognize programs that take an innovative approach to the arts, humanities and recreation. Efforts continued on the development of the Land of Oz in 1995. The Aunt Em character was sponsored by Wal-Mart and Gelinda the Good Witch character was sponsored by Aman Collection Service, Tom and Danielle Aman, and Dan and Ardis Moen. The K.O. Lee Company sponsored the construction of the Tin Man’s House and Tin Man character. On May 31, 1995, the South Dakota National Guard hauled 127 cubic yards of rock from the Crazy Horse Monument near Custer to the Land of Oz. The rock came from blasting at the monument and will be used to riprap the stream in Munchkin Land. ...A new Land of Oz tradition began in 1997. The First Annual L. Frank Baum Festival was held at Wylie Park. The festival included various Chautauqua events, strolling storytellers and Oz characters, Wizard of Oz memorabilia and live theatre productions of the play “The Wizard of Oz”. The festival was a great success with several thousand people attending... Top of Page |