Fort Seward celebrating 150th anniversary with reenactors, events
Jul. 15—JAMESTOWN — Fort Seward celebrates 150 years this weekend with demonstrations, living history presentations and a military ball.
Jen Marks, site supervisor, says about 40 reenactors are expected at the site who will answer questions and conduct demonstrations for the public.
"There's some really excited reenactors coming," Marks said. "They're really going to make the weekend fun."
Fort Seward once was a busy military post that was established on June 3, 1872. The soldiers serving there were charged with protecting the railroad and railroad workers, Marks said.
"Some have said they were almost the first police," she said. "They guarded the area, they protected them and then once the railroad was done their job was kind of finished."
The mission lasted five years. After it ended in 1877, some soldiers remained while others moved on to Fort Totten and Fort Lincoln. But the military's presence helped build Jamestown as a town, Marks said.
Today, the nonprofit Fort Seward Reconstruction welcomes visitors to the abandoned military site that also is a park, Marks said. At the site are the Fort Seward Interpretive Center, Stutsman County Veterans Wall and the largest U.S. flag in North Dakota. The site offers camping and has been used for other occasions, Marks said.
Fort Seward Reconstruction strives to teach the lifestyle and history of the 1870s when the military post was an active site, Marks said. Fort Seward is located at 605 10th Ave. NW.
"Fort Seward is a peaceful spot," she said. "It's just beautiful and peaceful and quiet."
But quiet it won't be this weekend during the 150th-anniversary celebration when history comes to life with reenactors and programs.
"It's all unique things that we don't have all the time (at the site)," Marks said. "This year we are really lucky and we have some Frontier Army of the Dakota members and independent reenactors that are coming up to further tell the story. And so this year we'll have a field surgeon and he'll talk about common ailments of the 1870s and treatments and how these people on the frontier got their medical treatment. We'll have a gentleman that portrays an officer and he talks about the roles and duties of a Union officer at that time."
Reenactors include a laundress, a mercantile who sells clothing, a blacksmith doing work and selling items, soldiers and others making pies and wool spinning.
"When you talk to all of the people that we are going to have you're going really feel like you've stepped back into the 1800s," Marks said. "They're really good at what they do. They'll be here all weekend in front of their tents and they'll be answering questions from open to close. They're available and they love to share their knowledge and their history. They're very passionate about what they do."
Marks said she's expecting about 20 tents with reenactors at the site.
"All weekend it'll look like a little tent city," she said.
On Friday, there will be opportunities for the public to shoot the Mountain Howitzer cannon starting at 5:30 p.m. For $25, the person gets a short safety lesson in shooting it and a certificate for doing it. The fee charged is used for flag repair, purchasing new flags and operational costs, Marks said.
At 7:30 p.m., there will be a large screen showing of a film (the title cannot be publicly announced) that features 20th infantry and other Frontier Army of the Dakota members who were extras in the film. Props from the film will also be on display. Admission is free, and there will be concessions available for purchase, Marks said.
Popular gun demonstrations will be among activities offered on Saturday and Sunday.
Chuck Kellar of Bismarck will provide the Gatling gun demonstration at 4:30 p.m. He will also offer a drilling program for up to 40 kids ages 6-16 each day at 2:30 p.m. featuring different techniques with wooden rifles. Dale Marks will demonstrate and fire the Mountain Howitzer cannon at 3:30 p.m.
Nick Severt of Bismarck will portray a settler with a little store where people can shop and also fire a candy cannon for kids at 3 p.m.
A few women are expected to bake pies over the fire both days, with the pies being auctioned off to benefit Fort Seward. Ann Marks has done this activity for years, Jen Marks said.
"It has turned into a really fun fundraiser for us," she said.
Kathryn Young will provide a short program at 10:30 a.m. on Mary Young, her grandmother. Mary Young was a longtime history advocate in Jamestown before her death in 2015.
Two programs on women's clothing during the 1800s are planned, with one, "Basics of the Basics," showing all the steps it took for women to get dressed.
The military ball starting at 6:30 p.m. with dinner will feature Monroe Doctrine, a Bluegrass band. A few remaining tickets for the ball are expected to be available that day. The cost is $25 for a single, $40 for two and $75 for four. The ticket is for a brisket dinner and to participate in the grand march and the military ball.
The ball will be on the prairie grounds "just like they would have done in the 1800s," Marks said.
There are still a few costume gowns available to wear, Marks said, but she noted that 1800s dress is not required. The public may view the grand march at 8 p.m. but must have a ticket to participate in the meal and ball.
The band will play until 11 p.m. and some period dances are expected. Historic dance lessons are available at 1 p.m. if people want a lesson before the ball.
Sunday morning a small prairie church service will be on the grounds at 10.
"Tea with Mrs. Patterson" at 11 a.m. will feature a small tea party with goodies and clothing. Tea and why it was important to Army wives will be discussed.
A croquet tournament will be played that is open to the public and free. There will be three games and the winners will then play for the championship. Small prizes are planned.
The Fort Seward Interpretive Center is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day and by appointment.
"A lot of the artifacts that we have in the cases were dug up on site by an archaeological team, I believe, from the State Historical Society and NDSU (North Dakota State University)," Marks said. "We also have some things from past members of the 20th Infantry and some current members on display."
The displays are switched out frequently, she said. Fort Seward has clothing and an extensive firearm collection. Marks said the buildings at the site were painted this year.
She encourages people to take in the events at the 150th celebration.
"It should be a really fun weekend and a really good way to kind of celebrate some of the reenactors that have made this a reality for so long and thank them for all their years," Marks said.
----------------------------------
July 15-17
Friday, July 15
5:30 p.m., Mountain Howitzer cannon shots
7 p.m., Frontier Army showing on the Big Screen
Saturday, July 16
10:30 a.m., "Who was Mary Young?" by Katherine Young
11 a.m., "Basics of the Basics: Dresses of the 1870s"
11:30 a.m., "Bonnets and Bustles"
1 p.m., dance lessons
2:30 p.m., Drilling with Wooden Rifles (ages 6-16 years)
3 p.m., Candy Cannon (for kids)
3:30 p.m., Mountain Howitzer cannon demonstration
4 p.m., Pie Auction
4:30 p.m., Gatling Gun demonstration
6:30 to 7:30 p.m., 1870s dinner (tickets required)
8 to 11 p.m., Grand March and Ball
Sunday, July 17
10 a.m., church service
11 a.m., Tea with Mrs. Patterson (gossip on the frontier)
1 p.m., Croquet Tournament
2:30 p.m., Drilling with Wooden Rifles (ages 6-16 years)
3 p.m., Candy Cannon (for kids)
3:30 p.m., Mountain Howitzer cannon demonstration
4 p.m., Pie Auction
4:30 p.m., Gatling Gun Demonstration
