Tornado damage forces cancellation of Bushy Run battle reenactment

After tornado damage left much of the battlefield site unusable, the 2024 Bushy Run battle reenactment, previously scheduled for the first weekend of August, has been officially canceled.

“The board has concluded that the site cannot be made reasonably safe and accessible by the scheduled date of the event,” said a statement on Facebook from the Bushy Run Battlefield board of directors.

“In the end, the board has decided that the solution that makes the best sense for the safety of our volunteers, reenactors, and visitors is to cancel this year’s event.”

The EF1 tornado that blew through the Penn Township battlefield with wind speeds of up to 110 mph on June 26 left downed and uprooted trees across the property along with woodland debris that blocked trails.

No one was hurt on the property, and no buildings were damaged, but Bushy Run Manager Matt Adams said the damage could take months to repair.

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Since the storm, the property has been closed to the public and to volunteers while cleanup efforts, under the supervision of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, restore the site. Tree removal company Paul Bunyan of Dayton, Ohio, started work on Monday.

“In addition to cleaning up fallen and damaged trees, the entire property must be assessed for safety before it can be opened to the public,” the statement said. “According to the preliminary timeline we’ve been given, the cleanup and assessment will not be complete by the reenactment weekend and the site must remain closed.”

The decision to cancel the reenactment was tough, Adams said.

“We appreciate all the kind words and the support from everybody. We know it’s tough news, but everyone we’ve talked to has responded really well and been super supportive,” he said.

According to Saturday’s statement, many of the areas damaged by the tornado were to be utilized for the reenactment, which portrays a 1763 clash between the British and Native Americans during Pontiac’s War.

Typically, during the event, vendors and living-history educators talk to visitors and showcase craftsmanship and historical details of the era, culminating in a reenactment that takes place on several parts of the battlefield, including in the woods.

Last year, the reenactment initially was cancelled when the Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission created a “no force-on-force” policy, adopted from the National Park Service. The commission reversed course on the decision, allowing the reenactment to take place, but required all reenactors portraying Native Americans to consult with members of the relevant tribes to ensure historical accuracy in dress, gear, lodging and practice.

“Anyone who has followed Bushy Run for the last couple years will understand how important the reenactment is to our organization,” the statement said. “The decision to cancel does not come lightly or without significant consideration.”

The battlefield plans to hold a different living history event sometime in the fall, according to the statement, and will provide updates, as well as information on the status of other planned events, when the reopening timeline becomes clearer.

“We don’t know exactly what the timeline looks like,” Adams said. “We don’t want to pin anything down just yet with dates or exactly what we want to do for that event. But we want to do something where we can invite at least some of the reenactors out.”

Those interested in supporting the museum can donate online, Adams said. The museum is considering holding its History Speaks lecture series at other locations in the community, and if any community organizations are interested in donating space, Adams said, they can contact the museum.