When 18th century land speculator Richard Henderson had dreams of expanding what had been land acquired from the Cherokee at the Treaty of Sycamore Shoals in March, 1775, he contracted with Daniel Boone to blaze a trail from northeastern Tennessee through the Cumberland Gap into Transylvania, as the new land purchase in Kentucky was to be named.
On March 10, 1775, Boone set out with a group of 30 axmen, hacking their way through dense forests and the Gap, an opening in the Appalachian Mountains. This trail, known as the Wilderness Road, would hopefully encourage settlement in the new colony. It took the men almost a month to reach the site of present-day Fort Boonesborough on the Kentucky River here in Madison County where they set up a temporary encampment, and another two months to establish what is Kentucky鈥檚 second oldest settlement.
This year, Boone (in the person of re-enactor Steve Caudill of Winchester) will once again wield an axe, purely symbolic this time, as he leads a group of 30 volunteers retracing the original route. They will begin in Kingsport, Tennessee, and arrive at the fort at approximately 11:00 a.m. on the morning of June 7th, according to Elizabeth Chalfont, treasurer of the Fort Boonesborough Foundation, Inc.
鈥淭his has been a very ambitious project, having taken nearly a year to get all the pieces put together,鈥� says Chalfont, who notes that they have even been able to identify some of the actual places along the route that Boone and his men took.
The re-creation is a key part of the 250th anniversary of the Founding of Fort Boonesborough which will take place over a two-day period, June 7th and 8th. During the two days, history buffs and those who are simply curious about the founding of the settlement will gather at the event site alongside the Kentucky River near the location of the original fort. They will have plenty to keep them occupied.
鈥淭here will be camps set up with re-enactors in period-correct clothes and vendors selling period-correct merchandise such as clothes, guns and powder horns,鈥� says Chalfont. 鈥淭here will be the presentation of colors by the Lexington chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution; several nonprofit historical groups will hand out information, and of course, there will be food trucks to make sure attendees don鈥檛 go hungry.鈥�
The anniversary celebration wouldn鈥檛 be complete without the appearance of Fort Boonesborough regulars Frank and Carol Jarboe of Bowling Green. Carol, a frequent participant in the fort鈥檚 鈥渇ireside chats,鈥� will again assume the identity of her alter-ego, indentured servant Maggie Delaney. Although there is no evidence that Maggie was ever at Fort Boonesborough or was even a real person, the Irish immigrant was representative of those who, in their quest for a better life in the New World, suffered untold hardships on America鈥檚 harsh frontiers.
Carol鈥檚 husband Frank will headline one of two historic re-creations. The first church service in Kentucky was held under a sprawling elm tree at the fort in May of 1775. On both days of the event, Frank will give an informal discussion about the history of the 18th century church service, and he will then follow by preaching a service under the tree.
That same giant elm tree was also the location for Kentucky鈥檚 first legislative session, and a re-creation of that momentous event will be a part of the anniversary celebration.
鈥淲e鈥檙e in the process of writing a script now,鈥� says Chalfont.
If you鈥檙e of a more scholarly bent, archaeologist and former University of Kentucky faculty member Nancy O鈥橫alley, who was in charge of the dig on the original fort, will speak about her team鈥檚 findings. One of those findings was the cornerstone laid for the fort which indicated its exact location. Chalfont says that some of the artifacts found by O鈥橫alley will be on display at the fort later this year.
For those who want to go beyond the myth of Daniel Boone, Winston-Salem, North Carolina native Randell Jones, who lectures and writes books about Boone, will be on hand both days to share his knowledge. Jones鈥檚 talk on the 7th will be entitled 鈥淐oming to Ken-te-kee 鈥� Daniel Boone鈥檚 20-year Odyssey,鈥� and on the 8th he will speak on
鈥淏etween Two Sons 鈥� Daniel Boone During the American Revolution.鈥�
Come celebrate with us this June as our fort marks two-and-a-half centuries of history. Hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. both days and admission is free at the river section of the event. There will be shuttle buses to take visitors to the fort which will have special programming during this time. Regular admission prices (adults, $8; children 6-12, $5; under 5, free) will apply.
For more information on Fort Boonesborough鈥檚 250th Anniversary Celebration and other Richmond attractions, go to visitrichmondkycom.