 On The Line -- Issue 607 -- November 3, 2006  Online News and Views of Life in San Benito County with Herman Wrede Published by HollisterOnline.com -- Copyright 1995-2008 HollisterOnline.com
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On The Line -- Issue 607 -- November 3, 2006 Online News and Views of Life in San Benito County with Herman Wrede Published by HollisterOnline.com -- Copyright 1995-2008 HollisterOnline.com
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In the past 15 years re-enactment of historical eras have become increasingly popular in the Central Coast. San Juan Bautista's regular first Saturday of the month presentations have been around much longer than that, with volunteers demonstrating how life was in the mid-19th Century.
From time to time people who are caught up in the saga of the mountain men, dating roughly from 1807 to about 1850, have appeared in the San Juan presentations. Civil War battle reenactments have also been staged at Casa de Fruta and at the San Benito County Historical Park. Another group of actors has staged the Renaissance Faire at Casa de Fruta on weekends during the summer. It depicts the glory of England during the reign of Elizabeth I, an era that saw the island kingdom emerge as the most powerful nation in the world, with exploration, creation of a mighty navy, and a golden age of literature among its accomplishments. It would be difficult to assess which is the most accurate portrayal of a time because all groups mentioned include people who are pains taking about their particular history, including the costume, equipment and paraphernalia that accompanies it. The mountain man and the ?49er who succeeded him as an icon seem to fascinate Central Coast residents more than characters of Elizabethan England because much of their history shaped California and other Western states. It is thrilling to watch knights jousting or to observe Sir Francis Drake or another figure of the earlier time but to many of the Central Coast the mountain man and the prospector are more real; certainly, traces of their existence still abound in this area. Hollywood and television have presented many sagas of their time but the interpretations on the big and small screen are often plagued with the producers' purpose of often portraying them other than what they actually were. It is a shortcoming frequently found in novels or alleged histories of them. Political correctness often dictates putting 21st Century concepts and attitudes into the minds of 19th Century characters. Sometimes seemingly trivial things like songs sung in 1830, for example, not having been written until the middle of the century. When the observer or reader comes across such errors that could have been checked easily it makes him wonder what other inaccuracies may be presented under the guise of fact, and diminishes the credibility of the book or production. "It's more than just being accurate; you have to have the proper mind-set when you're portraying someone from 150 years ago," said Larry Brown several years ago when taking part in a mountain man rendezvous. Jack Swallow concurs. "If you're meeting with other mountain men, you're limited in a way by using only the type of equipment they used and even in your meals. You stay pretty well within a menu of the food that was available to them." Brown, Swallow and others demonstrated some skills the weekend of Oct. 28-29 at an open house at San Benito County Historical Park, under the auspices of the Historical Society. The mountain men and a few of their wives dressed for the part, put up their tents or wigwams and were accessible and amenable to questions of visitors. It was Barbara Boyd's first time there on Saturday, she said as she alighted from a late-model car in her circa 1850 garb. "Some of my friends enjoy it so I thought I'd give it a try, too," said the San Juan Bautista resident. Clyde Adamson of San Jose stood in the middle of the encampment, smiling as visitors approached. He "has been doing this for many years, about 30 to 35" he said, noting that his mountain man persona was "Iron Dollar." Mark Hatfield smiled and waved and Bob Larsen (Napping Bob) looked up and smiled. Gordon and Jeanette Campbell were appropriately dressed for the occasion and seemed very much at home. Even period costume could not obscure the familiar warm smiles of Glen and Jean Koehl who waved a friend over to their camp. Mrs. Koehl was knitting and Koehl waved the friend to sit down. A coffeepot was on the fireplace "but it's not done yet," he said. Swallow was engaged in conversation with his daughter, Michaela Arthur, her husband, Jack Arthur, and the nine-month old scion of the Arthur line, Grant, whom she held in her arms. Grant was taking everything in and because he has had little experience with life so far was perhaps assessing how Grandpa in unusual clothing, campfires and tents fit in with television sets and a comfortable bedroom with which he is more familiar. But because his parents and Grandpa were there and at ease indicated that it was all right. Besides, a fellow has much more to think about, including the prospect of dinner soon and the subtle movements of his own fingers. After the Arthurs departed -- Grant waving bye-bye -- Swallow explained some of the accoutrements inside his tent. He sad, "If it turns chilly tonight, I've got my buffalo robe." When asked if his wife was going to spend the night, he said, "Phyllis is a city girl." Larry Brown was at an outside table working on a strip of cloth with a needle. When asked what he was making, he pointed at a headpiece, a hood with ears. He had a picture of it to give him direction. Watching the progress of his work were John Wrobel and his teen-age twin sons, Patrick and Gailen. They had attended the National Boy Scout Jamboree in Virginia in the summer of 2005 and enjoy each other's company. The boys were attuned to the jokes of the men and evidently enjoyed the talk but were also attentive and courteous when an adult addressed them. They smiled as at an old joke when their father said, "They're a matched set," even though they are not identical twins. Bill Martinie got much attention from participants as well as visitors for his buckskin clothing. He even deigned to pose for photograph shot through a telephone, although the dust of Kit Carson and Jim Bridger must have stirred in protest in their graves. Preparations were about to begin for supper with venison stew to be the entrée. As is the custom, a few will see to the stew while another group will take care of the beans, and another, the biscuits. A visitor who had other business had to leave before supper, although invited to stay. He said to Swallow, "Will you be able to tell the time change tonight by the position of the sun tomorrow?" Swallow, founder, owner and manager of Phone Jack, looked around, smiled and lowered his voice. "The time change kicks in automatically on my cell phone. But keep that to yourself." |
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