Welcome to the Painted Stone Settlers’ School Day Program! We hope you will enjoy our program as much as we enjoy bringing it to you.

Note: We will instruct all groups to combine around 11:00 – 11:30 am (approximately) for a group presentation at the bleacher site. A program introduction will be given at this time to familiarize your class with the history behind Painted Stone Station. While students are assembled at the bleacher area, a cannon demonstration will be given to offer students a look at military tactics in the 18th century.

Teachers, please instruct your students NOT to touch items unless a re-enactor tells them to do so. Many items are authentic (meaning they are very old or hazardous to those unfamiliar with them). Some stations, such as the Blacksmith or Yarn Dying, might be using a real fire.

Students will have approximately 10-15 minutes at each station. These 10-15 minutes includes travel time to the next station. All stations are broken down into categories based on the following topics: Survival Skills, Home & Hearth Skills, Entertainment and Native Ways. Time has been built into your schedule to have a lunch break and bathroom breaks – several Port-A-Johns are placed throughout the encampment and at the front entrance along with a hand-washing station.

Section #1: SURVIVAL SKILLS:

The stations that fall under this category depict many of the skills employed by frontiersmen. Many times settlers were farmers during crop growing seasons, and would take to the woods after harvesting their crops to produce additional income by trapping. Often they would be gone for months or even years on hunting or scouting expeditions, thus earning the name Longhunters. Kentucky provided prime hunting grounds for this type of occupation. Our re-enactors practice the skills and dress as their 18th century counter-parts would have done.

SECTION #2: HOME & HEARTH:

These basic skills were common to every family on the frontier to keep a household running smoothly. Oftentimes skills were gender specific – children learned the same tasks as their father or mother. Children might have the opportunity to earn a living practicing these skills once they matured. These stations provide a greater insight into the colonial way of living and daily routine experienced by the settlers. 

SECTION #3: ENTERTAINMENT:

Entertainment, or leisure time in general, was scarce on the frontier. We have provided you with an overview of colonial era entertainment to give you a taste of 18th century arts and humanities. Entertainment was usually in the form of singing or playing a musical instrument on the frontier. This was a simple way to convey ideas not written down, a creative form of storytelling. Annual colonial “Trade Faires” were a common site throughout the 18th century in larger towns east of Kentucky. A carnival-like atmosphere would often accompany these faires.

SECTION #4: NATIVE WAYS (NATIVE AMERICAN CAMPSITE):

Native American re-enactors will be on hand to speak to students about the Native American way of life. Students will gain a better understanding of how settlers often relied on the Native American society to survive. Tribes in Kentucky in the 18th Century were referred to as Eastern Woodland Indians, primarily a mixture of Shawnee, Mohawk and Iroquois. These tribes lived in the eastern part of the United States. As forest dwellers, they lived and learned from the land. Even though settlers and Native Americans clashed at this time, in previous centuries in America (Jamestown) settlers had learned valuable ideas and adopted ways of doing things (such as crop planting) from the Native American culture that helped them to survive.

                                                                                The Stations

Station 1: Songs of the Frontier. Colonial Balladeer Jonathan Hagee will demonstrate the value of music in the 1700’s, long before radio, Alexa and iTunes were invented. Songs were not merely pleasant to the ear, but also used as a method of handing down traditions, recording history and a creative means of storytelling. These ballads and pub songs traveled from Scotland and England made their way into Northern Ireland, finally ending up in the American Colonies. They then accompanied settlers making their way across the Appalachian Mountains into Kentucky.

Station 2: Native Cooking - Foodways and Practices. Re-enactor Tina Hagee will demonstrate what types of food Native Americans ate and how they prepared it. Over time, Kentucky settlers incorporated many Native American staples into their diet such as: “The Three Sisters” (corn, beans and squash), natural fruits and berries, and hunted game such as deer and buffalo. They also preserved meat in the form of jerky and pemmican.

Station 3: Native Wigwam Building. Native American re-enactors Mariah Riley and Morning Glory will instruct students how tribes such as the Shawnee, who lived in the Ohio River Valley, used wigwams as their primary form of temporary shelter. They were often made from birchbark and covered with mats, providing a functional living space. Wigwams were utilized during the hunting season and perfect for semi-nomadic lifestyles, allowing tribes to adapt to the changing seasons and use the natural resources of their environment for shelter.

Station 4: Native Storytelling. Enhance your Native knowledge by listening to some Native stories from re-enactor Russell Morris, who portrays a Native American of the Shawnee tribe. Storytelling was a rich oral tradition within the Native culture and a way to keep the important cultural aspects of the tribes alive from one generation to the next. They relied on storytelling as a way to document their history, instead of writing it down. Russell will demonstrate Native storytelling and singing. Note: Russell is of Shawnee descent.

Station 5: British Weaponry. British weaponry during the American Revolutionary War period was a mix of traditional muskets and artillery. The popular Brown Bess was the standard military issue musket for the British Army, having decent accuracy. You will learn from re-enactor Christ Zagst who will explain such things as how a lead musket ball was used as ammunition before bullets were invented. You will learn what the British soldiers used against the American Patriots in their fight for freedom from Great Britain, and how it different from tactics employed by the colonial militia. Weaponry was used for defense and as a trade good with the Natives.

Station 6: Magic Dave. Master magician Jimmy McKnight from Shelby County will astound students will his slight of hand tricks. Magic in the colonial era was a form of street entertainment. In Europe, itinerant performers traveled the countryside as magicians performing cup & ball (colonial game), coin, and card tricks.

Station 7: Homemaking on the Frontier. Re-enactor and author Eddie Price will take students back in time to experience homemaking on the Kentucky frontier “from the ground up.” After clearing timber from the land, fencing off pastures, and planting crops, homemakers involved themselves in every aspect of building a home from whatever materials were available. Learn how frontier folk cultivated and preserved their food, made their clothes, doctored their families, and still found time for recreation and religion.

Station 8: Blacksmithing. A blacksmith was an essential figure on the frontier. Join re-enactor Hank Gevedon as he demonstrates a blacksmith’s skills, and see why this trade benefited many in the community. A blacksmith made agricultural tools for farming (hoes, rakes, and axes), barrel hoops for wooden barrels, and household items such as pothooks, locks and utensils. Some tools employed by a blacksmith were: forge anvil, hammer, tongs, vise and file. NOTE: Beware of any fire at this station and do not get too close.

Station 9: Surveying. SAR member Scott Giltner will show how colonial surveyors provided accurate descriptions that enabled the government to grant land to settlers moving westward. As the American colonies grew and settlers claimed more land, the need for land surveyors increased. Many famous men in American history - John Henry (father of Patrick Henry), Peter Jefferson (father of Thomas Jefferson), and George Washington - at one point in their life were employed as surveyors. This presentation explains what a land surveyor in colonial America would have done and the hardships they many times encountered. Reproductions of various types of 18th century surveying equipment and tools are presented and their usage explained, as well as units of measurements. A demonstration of running a chain, with assistance from the students, is included in the presentation.

Station 10: Fort Boonesborough Iron Collection & Elk Antler. The Frank T. Barnes Iron Collection is on loan for the day from the Fort Boonesborough Foundation. Frank T. Barnes spent 40 years collecting 1,368 pieces of ironwork dating from 1680-1860. The Friends of Fort Boonesborough Foundation now owns these items, and loans them out from time to time for special exhibits and programs. In addition to this collection, a special replica of a rare elk antler with an interesting inscription, “D BOON 1778,” will be on display. Members of the Foundation were assisted by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation to obtain a grant to carbon date the original antler. Learn its story from Foundation members Elizabeth and George Chalfant.

Station 11: Frontier Toys. Re-enactors Kristi and Scott Heasley will demonstrate toys of the time period. With no modern conveniences, toys were often hand-made, many times of wood. The Game of Graces was a popular game enjoyed by children, if they were lucky enough to find spare time to play it when not doing chores. Dolls, miniature soldiers, dice and checkers were also games enjoyed by children.

Station 12: Bullet Molding & Buckskin Uses: Before there were ready-made bullets, you had to make your own. Re-enactor and SAR (Sons of the American Revolution) member Richard Quire will instruct students about the process of melting lead in an iron pot then pouring it with a ladle into a bullet mold. Militia men did not waste their bullets, but made each one count. After you shot a deer with your bullet, what could you use it for? He will also inform students of the uses for this soft sueded leather made from the hide of a deer.

Station 13: Fire Starting. How did you start a fire before matches and lighters? Junior re-enactor Shep Quire and Steve Vest, both SAR members, will skillfully demonstrate a skill known to man since pre-historic times. Necessary in any type of weather and a necessity for any campsite or cabin dwelling, firestarting (without matches) is achieved through a certain technique and diligence.

Station 14: Petticoat Warriors: The Roles of Women: Explore the vital roles women served during the American Revolution with re-enactor Sheri Davis. Learn about the ladies who donated food to the cause, those that prepared the meals for the soldiers, and what rations they received while “on the strength of the Army”. From laundresses to soldiering, from spying to commanding militias, women played a pivotal part in freeing colonial America from British rule.

Station 15: Squire Boone. Known as the founder of Painted Stone Station, Squire Boone was the typical frontiersmen called to perform many duties: trapping, hunting, exploring, be a law maker, militiaman, and Baptist minister, as well as performing many other duties. Similar frontiersmen accompanied Squire Boone to Painted Stone Station and were involved in the Long Run Massacre. Re-enactor Dean Phillips will introduce you to the man responsible for Shelby County’s largest early fort, which was evacuated in 1781 due to constant Native American harassment.

Station 16: Leather Working. SAR member Melvin Rowe will demonstrate the craftsmanship that goes into making leather goods. People in this trade included tanners, shoemakers, coach makers, breeches makers (men of the frontier wore leather leggings), bookbinders and upholsterers. Leather was used to make a variety of products such as gloves, harnesses and saddles, shoes, possible bags and equipment used by soldiers (cartridge boxes). Leather workers were also kept busy with repair work.

Station 17: Inkle loom. Re-enactor Debbie Jenkins Bales will demonstrate her handiwork on the inkle loom, a period tool for producing strips/bands of hand-woven warp-faced cloth. These decorative strips were used for belts, bag handles, headbands or straps to tie items together. When sewn together, the strips could be turned into bags.

Station 18: Spinning. Re-enactor Lisa Nicholas will demonstrate spinning. During the American Revolution, when Americans could not acquire goods from England, weaving and spinning became a necessity. The spinning wheel is a device for spinning thread or yarn from natural or synthetic fibers, which are then turned into clothing. Since every piece of clothing had to be made by hand and spinning was often a household chore learned as a child.

Station 19: Militia Life. Re-enactor Jack Bowling will have on display common trade goods and currency from the period. He’ll explain the clothing and equipment of the colonial militia, which was an effective tool in the war against Britain. The militia often provided defense when frontier forts were attacked and went to the aid of other forts and settlements when needed, carrying out military duties.

Station 20: Storytelling. Join Storyteller Mandy Dick as she spins a good yarn about the Colonial Period. In the 18th century, storytelling was a valuable way of teaching and learning in a time when not everyone could read or write. Oral traditions saved history for the next generation and in part, preserved the story of the settlers of Painted Stone Station.

Station 21: Textiles of the 18th Century. Fellow re-enactor Brian Cushing will explain clothing of the 18th century. During the early colonial period and into the new republic, most commercial fabric was imported from England. That said, settlers on the Kentucky frontier generally had to make everything by hand and dress without the modern-day conveniences of velcro, sewing machines, and material purchased from a nearby store, or pre-made clothing. Textiles were a necessary commodity and could be part of a time-consuming process to make.

Station 22: Horse Sense. Re-enactor Larry MacQuown will demonstrate his knowledge of horsemanship. Horses were very valuable as a means of packing supplies used by longhunters and bringing back hides from hunting trips. Horses were useful when moving into Kentucky, via the Cumberland Gap, as they could be loaded down with household goods, etc. if not ridden. They were also a valuable trade item.

Station 23: Crafts with the SAR. Members of the Governor Isaac Shelby Chapter of the SAR (Sons of the American Revolution) honor our Revolutionary War patriot ancestors by promoting patriotism, serving our communities and educating and inspiring future generations about the founding principles of our country. Join their Outreach Education‘s Rae Ann Sauer and others to make a craft relevant to the 18th century time period.

Station 24: 18th Century Schooling. Re-enactor and SAR member Reed Martin will show how important the art of learning was and stress that it was to be taken very seriously. You’ll learn about the nature of schools, schoolmasters, and period educational materials. It was considered a mark of intelligence and good social standing for one to write beautifully and legibly. Practice, practice, practice is what it took to have good penmanship and to write those long documents, like the Declaration of Independence, and sign them with your “John Hancock.” The more you knew, the more you could do to better your station in life.

Station 25: Frontiersman Camp: Re-enactor and SAR member John Doss will display different accouterments that a common frontiersman, or longhunter, might carry with him, explaining the purpose of clothing and equipment. Men such as Daniel Boone and his brother Squire were typical frontiersmen, many times called to perform many duties: they trapped, hunted, explored, were surveyors and law makers, part of the milita, and performed many other duties. Many frontiersmen accompanied Squire Boone to Painted Stone Station and were involved in the Long Run Massacre.

Station 26: Pack Horse. Re-enactor and SAR member Kris Hawkins will demonstrate what a settler venturing into Kentucky would bring with him. Horses were very valuable as a means of packing supplies used by longhunters and bringing back hides from hunting trips. Horses were useful when moving into Kentucky, via the Cumberland Gap, as they could be loaded down with household goods, etc. if not ridden. They were also a valuable trade item.

Station 27: Frontier Weaponry during the Revolutionary War. Re-enactor and SAR member Lee Muncy will discuss weaponry, such as the longrifle and muzzleloader, used in Revolutionary War era battles. Frontiersmen often crafted their own rifles, and needed to know how to repair them as well and become gunsmiths. Many militia men accompanied Squire Boone to Painted Stone Station and were involved in the Long Run Massacre, no doubt using longrifles or muzzleloaders. Perhaps due to this heritage, Kentuckians became known as sharpshooters who used the “Kentucky longrifle”.

Station 28: Quill Writing with Oak Gall Ink. Let SAR member Robert Brooks show you how the colonials wrote a letter, documents, kept a journal, etc. He will demonstrate how a turkey feather can be carved into a quill and how Oak Gall Ink was made and what purpose it served. This special ink has been made since the time of Egyptian Pharaohs through the writing of our American Founding Documents. He will have on display quill and calligraphy items, as good penmanship was an exquisite art form.

Concessions Area. Located near the camp entrance/at top of the hill.

 Selfie Station: Let your students get a photo while dressed in t8th century clothing.