Return to frontier days: Museum, reenactors will recreate 1700s this Saturday

By Terry L. Hapney, Jr.
The Ironton Tribune

Ironton is transported back in time—to the mid- to late-1700s—this Saturday at the Lawrence County Museum.
Mary Jo Martin with the Lawrence County Museum and Historical Society is coordinating the event scheduled for 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Saturday at the museum, 506 S. 6th St. in Ironton.
A living historian and reenactor of more than three decades, Martin said other Historical Society members and she were discussing America’s upcoming 250th birthday.
“Some of the other members asked me if that was my time period,” she said.
A variety of reenactors are coming from across the Tri-State to present the culture and events of the 1700s, including Lord Dunmore’s War.
“Most of them have as much or more experience than I have,” Martin said. “I have people who will do butter churning. One is going to use dogbane plant to finger weave cording like Native American women did. Medical and edible plant.”
There is also a man scheduled for the event who makes shooting pouches.
Martin portrays Mary Draper Ingles. She said “a gentleman will portray Tommy Ingles—one of the sons who was taken when she was.”
“He spent 13 years with the Shawnee,” she said. “This guy will portray him as an adult, as a scout for the settlers and the Army.”
Another reenactor portrays Will Ingles who was Mary Ingles’ husband.
“He was a commissary agent for General Andrew Lewis and the Continental Army,” Martin said. “Different people are coming to do different things.”
Martin said most of the activities Saturday are hands-on.
“You can come out and try your hand at churning butter,” she said. “We’re very big on hands-on. That way people can experience it. Us telling you about it isn’t the same as us handing it to you and letting you see and feel it and know how it works.”
Dressed in historical clothing, reenactors will give as much information as people want to hear.
“We love to share information,” Martin said. “We will share all kinds of information.”
Reenactors, according to Martin, answer questions in character but are also willing to step out of character to answer questions as themselves.
“If someone has a question about something I’m wearing, I can explain a little bit about it from the perspective of back then—how it would’ve been made versus today,” she said.
Martin, who lives in a house built in 1850 in Guyandotte, said her reenactors are “excited.”
“They’re invading Ohio,” she said. “That’s what we were joking about. None of them besides myself have been to the Museum. They’re looking forward to it.”
The event is free and open to the public.

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