Frontier living re-created

Frontier life was hard work, but slow paced. Living the “way of the west” can be an escape from the day to day stresses of the fast paced technology driven world we live in.

For a group of locals, living and recreating the frontier life has been an escape they have enjoyed one weekend a year for the past two decades.

This is the first year that Mark Morris and friends have held their frontier re-creation weekend in Morrow County. On property owned by Dayle Cass on Twp. Rd. 85, Morris and a group of friends “rendezvoused.”

A rendezvous in frontier times was when people from different areas would meet to trade for a week long trading event. It typically happened twice a year and folks would trade for goods that they would need for the next six months.

Pre 1800’s living consisted of hunting with muzzle loaders, hand made bows, cooking over an open fire and sleeping in tents.

“It’s like a family reunion,” said Rusty Leddick.

The weekend held a shooting contest of targets throughout the woods. Participants laid objects on a rug and the winner got to choose first which item he or she wished to have as their prize.

Dressed in period garb, contestants wound through the woods shooting at various targets. Everyone that participated in the shoot won something back. Later, using hand made bows they shot at 3-D targets.

Participating in the shooting contest were: Mark Morris, Marty & Beth Zeger, Jerry Rumschleg, Mike Keckler, Mike Dull, Tim & Betty Shooks, Wayne Leddick, Dan Utendorf, Dennis & Lauran Baker, Eldor Cohrs and Rusty Leddick.

Morris hopes that they will meet in Morrow County again next summer.

Reach Donna Carver at 419-946-3010, ext. 1804 or on Twitter @MorrCoSentinel.

A frontier camp was re-created on Twp. Road 85. Participants cooked and camped primitively. Shown here is a portion of the camp.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2015/08/web1_0012.jpgA frontier camp was re-created on Twp. Road 85. Participants cooked and camped primitively. Shown here is a portion of the camp.

Shown left to right are Rusty Leddick, Betty Shooks and Mark Morris. They discussed what it was like to live in pre-1800’s era.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2015/08/web1_0021.jpgShown left to right are Rusty Leddick, Betty Shooks and Mark Morris. They discussed what it was like to live in pre-1800’s era.

Frontier re-creationists cooked over an open campfire during their 3-day rendezvous.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2015/08/web1_0041.jpgFrontier re-creationists cooked over an open campfire during their 3-day rendezvous.

This is one of the larger tents used at the frontier re-creation weekend.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2015/08/web1_007.jpgThis is one of the larger tents used at the frontier re-creation weekend.

Some of the frontier re-creationists participated in a muzzle loading shoot. In no particular order are: Mark Morris, Marty & Beth Zeger, Jerry Rumschleg, Mike Keckler, Mike Dull, Tim & Betty Shooks, Wayne Leddick, Dan Utendorf, Dennis & Lauran Baker, Eldor Cohrs and Rusty Leddick.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2015/08/web1_0241.jpgSome of the frontier re-creationists participated in a muzzle loading shoot. In no particular order are: Mark Morris, Marty & Beth Zeger, Jerry Rumschleg, Mike Keckler, Mike Dull, Tim & Betty Shooks, Wayne Leddick, Dan Utendorf, Dennis & Lauran Baker, Eldor Cohrs and Rusty Leddick.

Mark Morris shows one of the hand made bows that was used “hunting” targets over the weekend.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2015/08/web1_035.jpgMark Morris shows one of the hand made bows that was used “hunting” targets over the weekend.