‘As authentic as possible’ Fur Trader Encampment to be held in Ada

ADA TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — The Averill Historical Museum in Ada is bringing people back to the 1820s and 1830s this weekend with its Fur Trader Encampment.

This year’s encampment, held Friday through Sunday, will be bigger than previous years, with the reenactors “making this event as authentic as possible,” Jeanne Ferro, an Ada Historical Society board member, said.

“It’s a reenactment, so all of the participants will be in their full period dress,” Ferro said. “Also, these folks will be camping on the museum grounds. Once they set up … they will be sleeping in their tents — which also will be in the period — sleeping on the ground. They will have the benefit of showers every day at the fire station and food. We will bring in food for them, as well.”

One of the leading reenactors, Tom Robinson, is a descendant of Rix Robinson , one of the first settlers in the Ada area.

Visitors to the encampment will be able to chat with the reenactors, learn about open-fire cooking and starting a fire from scratch, watch knife making and see musket shooting.

“The reenactors just really make history live, and it’s sort of Ken Burns Come Alive with these folks. Almost a documentary that is live… Those questions that I may have had of (those) days, can come out and be answered,” Ferro said.

She added that it’s a wonderful opportunity for people to come to learn about the past so they can appreciate what Ada is today.

“Like almost anything in the world now, if we don’t know where we’ve come from, if we don’t know how our town has come about, we’re not going to appreciate the way it is now. I think it is just really vitally important, and I think that history has kind of taken a back seat to a lot of current events. But as in any conflict or any good that has come about, knowing how that came about, I think, is just vital,” she said.

The event will be open to the public on Friday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Parking will be available at the post office and on the street near the museum.

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