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Newsletter
of the Idaho Company, American Long Rifle
Association
Volume 1, No. 1 March 2007
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 Lieutenant's
Message:
Hello Fellow Idaho ALRA members,
We
have made great strides over the last few months. Formed up and made
a State Company. Decided on the leadership roles and have already
completed our first activity, the Winter Encampment.
I would like to
compliment
everyone on how well we all got on the bandwagon and got all of these
things rolling so smoothly and quickly. You should all be proud.
We have had our
first event, Ken
Stanley, our Sergeant at Arms, sponsored a Winter Encampment in
Southeastern Idaho. I have not heard yet, but assume that all went
well.
James
Stone has
taken his position of scribe and treasurer seriously and has
forthwith put out the first State Newsletter. He is keeping record
ofall of our
accomplishments and will be holding the dues for usage.
We
have a couple of new prospective members working on their personas
and bibliographies. Everything seems to be still in the go mode. Keep
up the good work.
We
now need to address the dues issue. From now on, we will need to
send our dues to James Stone. It will be $20 and the State Company
gets to keep $5 of it the other $15 will go to the National Factor. As
of this time, all I foresee the State's dues being used for is
mailing, however, I am sure this will change as we grow.
Talking
of the future, Ken Stanley, our Sergeant at Arms is setting up our
first Idaho Gathering this June. I hope everyone will make a
concerted effort to attend. These happenings are why we have a State
organization.
Once
again, Thanks to all for getting this all together.
Hope
to see you over the fire,
Lloyd
Moler
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About the Idaho ALRA
To
some history is simply a bunch of boring dates and places stuffed
into a set of dusty volumes to read and soon be forgotten. To the
members of the American Longrifle Association, history is something
to be relived. The American Longrifle Association (A.L.R.A.) is an
organization designed for those people who want to do more than only
read about the early years of our country's history. It is an
organization that encourages its members to experience the lives of
common colonial people.
Welcome to the Idaho Company of
the American Long Rifle Association. The Idaho Company was formed in
November 2006, and established a Yahoo Group website on December 8,
2006 at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/idahoalra/
And
by January 18 of 2007 the group had three officers.
Enjoy
this first edition newsletter!
 ADVERTISEMENT
Andrew
Dexter,
Who keeps the CHEAP STORE, near
the Mill-Bridge,
acquaints People in general, and particularly such as have been often
disappointed and deceived, when allured by pompous Advertisements,
they have gone to Auction-Rooms, to purshcase either at public or
private Sale, that he has just received by the last ship from London,
a fresh Parcel of GOODS, which for lowness of Price, are not to be
described by Language in common use among
Traders; a Part of which Goods, every Body who will please to come to
his Shop, he hopes will be induced to buy; and he is very confident
they will not have the least Reason to repent of it afterwards.
--Boston
Gazette, 1774
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Winter
Encampment
2007
The Idaho Winter
Encampment was held February 17-19 just off Interstate 15 near the
Utah State border at Cherry Creek. Sergeant at Arms Ken Stanley
organized
and hosted the event, and filed the following
report:
Hello
all,
Our
camp went off without a hitch! I arrived on Friday afternoon about
4:15 or so. I noticed another wagon on my way in. As my "team"
was better equipped I traveled further before tying off. While I was
getting my gear together for the walk in, the landowner’s hired man
came by on a little yellow pony with four wheels of black. His son
attached to said pony also. I informed him of our plans and we parted
company.
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Utah’s
Lynn Kalan tests equipment and his mettle against the mid-February
elements of a southeast Idaho winter.
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Upon
my travel into the camp area I ran into Greg Hansen of the Utah
Garrison, American Long Rifle Association. We greeted and headed on.
Upon arrival I set to making camp. Greg started to gather wood for
the fire. We talked as I made dinner and alas at about dark he stated
he had to travel back to the settlements. We said our goodbyes, and
as he strolled out my friend Roy Hanse--aka Crazy C'yot--showed his
scowling face. We talked as he fetched his dinner to the fire. As his
dinner simmered another friend, Wynn Ormond showed up at the fire. We
talked long into the evening, as we had not seen each other for a
spell.
In
the morning coffee and side pork were shared as we waited the arrival
of more hunters. As I decided it was time to go for a walk we ran on
to James Chandler, Lynn Kalan, and Steve Gish of the Utah Garrison.
They traveled into camp as Wynn and I performed our scout. Upon
return to camp we saw that the boys had found their spot. We said our
goodbyes to Crazy and Wynn, as they had obligations at home and were
off. That evening was jovial and the stars were bright, but I was not
after a sleepless night before. I retired early. The boys stayed up
and conversed around the fire while I dozed. In the morning we ate
our fare and proceeded to have a meat shoot. We shot at a 10"
gong. The idea was to shoot from 25 yards and if you missed you was
through. I watched as the yardage increased to 35 where Lynn was
eliminated. One step back and both remaining competitors missed (I
did not shoot but for to hit the target as I have still not sighted
my weapon in. Procrastination to the end!). The two stepped back up
and both hit the gong. Stepped back further and James was left
standing—winning the event. We then shouldered our packs and headed
out.
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Steve
Gish, James Chandler, Ken Stanley and Lynn Kalan at the Idaho Winter
Encampment,
February 2007
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Ken
Stanley, Idaho ALRA Sergeant at Arms and host for the Winter
Encampment, reloads.
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Thanks
to Steve Gish for the pictures.
YMHOS
Ken
More to
Come!
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Summer
Encampment
Mark your
calendars for
the Idaho Summer Encampment coming June 7-11, 2007
Fine
Gentlemen and
Ladies
of the American Long Rifle Association,
You are
invited to
attend
the first "Idaho Company of the ALRA" encampment. The dates
for said camp are the 7th through the 11th of June 2007. Longer if
you like. At this camp you will have the opportunity to pass off any
shooting requirements in the bylaws. There will also be a 30 miler
over a three-day period. Completing the 30-mile journey counts toward
the Hunter level of advancement. This journey will be completed out
of a base camp so our families can attend. The camp will be in
southeast Idaho near Afton, Wyoming. The drainage is Beaver Dam
Creek. Wood and water are available. Water will have to be purified
or bring your own. The camp is at 7000 feet. Bugs can be a problem.
It is not a drive and dump camp, however it is only about 75-100
yards from the road.
Access is by
a
Forest
Service that is good until the last 2 miles. It then has ruts and if
wet can be very slick. It can be navigated by sedan if you are
careful, however I recommend a four-wheel drive.
The 30 miler
will
cover
some very rugged country. We will be hiking Friday-Sunday. Topping
out at 9700' it will be a very taxing 3 days. Be advised there will
possibly still be snow in the top of this scout. Bring your ice
creepers if you have some. The first day will be the most extreme,
covering 14 miles and the highest elevation gain of the scout. The
second day will not be as steep as the first and will only cover 11
miles. The third day is the easiest only covering 8-9(who said it
only had to be 30) and is the lowest elevation gain. But has one of
the steepest climbs attached. The way this is set up you can
participate 1, 2, or 3 days of the scout if you wish. If any ladies
wish to participate you are welcome. NO ONE WILL GO AWAY
DISAPPOINTED! Sore, yes. The views are incredible! If the days are
clear you can see the Grand Teton Mountains on days 1 or 2.
I encourage
anyone
needing
to fulfill these requirements to please attend. The Salt Lake airport
is only 2-2 1/2 hours away, and the event will also serve as the June
meeting for the ALRA Utah Garrison. As such shuttle service I am
sure could be arranged for any one from out of the area.
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I would like
to
have a
potluck dinner on Saturday, providing the scout has not met its
demise. I will need to be notified of a head count by May 1st. As
this is on National Forest and need to know for permit sake. All
heads in your camp. There will also be a schutzen target shoot on
Monday. There is plenty of notice so put these dates on your
calendar. Once again, you will not be disappointed! For further
information, including shuttle arrangements, contact me at
208-851-1770 after 6pm mst.
YMHOS
Ken Stanley
#138
Idaho
Sergeant at
Arms
1030 Gray
Pocatello Idaho
83201
Small map to event at the
end of the document; large map is here
Other upcoming
events:
Colonial
Encampment
Northwest Colonial Reenactors Association, will be
held August 22-26 at a private location near Randle, Washington. Randle
is west of the Cascade Mountain crest along Highway 12 between
Yakima, WA and Interstate Highway 5.
For
further
information contact Kevan Bowen at 509-764-7301, e-mail kgb@gemsi.com Or
visit
their website at http://www.lewisriver.com/colonial/ Kevan is the Mayor of the
Colonial Encampment for 2007.
Fort Bridger
Rendezvous
Fort Bridger Rendezvous Association, will be held
Labor Day weekend, September 7-10, 2007. For further information
contact the Secretary/Treasurer Traci Hardy, PO Box 9, Woodruff, UT,
84086, (435) 213-5133 or visit their website at
http://www.fortbridgerrendezvous.net/
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From the
Pages of History
Resources, Tidbits and
Trivia
On the
Idaho ALRA
Yahoo
site: Research
Documentation
Resources
One of the useful
tools on
the Idaho ALRA Website is a collection of links to a wide assortment
of documents and sites useful for people who are doing research on
their bibliographies or who want to broaden their personas. The
materials vary: Some are links to period paintings, some cover
clothing history and and materials, and others are scanned in books
and transcribed documents from the period. Today I'd like to
feature one section in the section: Primary
Documents - Newspapers,
journals and ephemera.
There are a number
of
sites online that have pieces and parts of newspapers. Some of these
are scanned images, some have been transcribed, but all contain
useful information about the dress, the events, and the times of the
18th Century. Here are some of
the links
we have to the following:
Transcribed and easy to use, this
site
focuses on England and people who have gotten in trouble with the
authorities – many who would end up being transported later.
Scanned
images – with all the vagaries of 18th century spelling.
Runaway
Slave Advertisements from Virginia Newspapers, 1736-1776
http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/subjects/runaways/allrecords.html
Extremely
useful in
discovering documentation to back up the items in your kit. The site
is both transcribed and searchable.
This
is one of the
largest selection of texts I have found, and the index is very
helpful if you are patient for discovering references to an amazing
assortment of facts and advertisements. Some pages scanned very
poorly, though, and you need to keep that in mind.
On
Home Furnishings and Food in Frontier Settlements
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Reverend
Joseph Doddridge writes in 1824 about his childhood in the
(mostly)1770s:
The furniture for the table, for several
years after the settlement of this country, consisted of a few pewter
dishes, plates, and spoons; but mostly of wooden bowls, trenchers and
noggins. If these last were scarce, gourds and hard shelled squashes
made up the deficiency.
The
iron pots, knives, and forks were brought from the east side of the
mountains along with the salt, and iron on pack horses.
These
articles of furniture, corresponded very well with the articles of
diet, on which they were employed. “Hog and hominy” were
proverbial for the dish which they were the component parts. Jonny
cake and pone were at the outset of the settlement of the country,
the only forms of bread in use for breakfast and dinner. At supper,
milk and mush were the standard dish. When milk was not plenty, which
was often the case, owing to the scarcity of cattle, or the want of
proper pasture for them, the substantial dish of hominy had to supply
the place of them; mush was frequently eaten with sweetened water,
molasses, bears oil, or the gravey of fried meat.
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Every
family, besides a little garden, for the few vegetables which they
cultivated, had another small enclosure containing from half an acre
to an acre, which they called a “Truck patch.” In which they
raised corn, for roasting-ears, pumpkins, squashes, beans, and
potatoes. These in the latter part of the summer and fall, were
cooked with their pork, venison and bear meat for dinner and made
very wholesome and well tasted dishes. The standard dinner dish for
every log rolling, house raising and harvest day was a pot pye, or
what in other countries is called “Sea pye.” This besides
answering for dinner, served for a part of the supper also. The
remainder of it from dinner, being eaten with milk in the evening,
after the conclusion of the labour of the day.
In our whole
display of furniture, the delft, china, and silver were unknown. It
did not then as now require contributions from the four quarters of
the globe to furnish the breakfast table, vis. the silver from
Mexico,; the coffee from the West Indies; the tea from China, and the
delft and porcelain from Europe, or Asia. Yet our homely fare, and
unsightly cabins, and furniture, produced a hardy veteran race, who
planted the first foot steps of society, and civilization, in the
immense regions of the west. Inured to hardihood bravery, and labour
from their early youth, they sustained with manly fortitude the
fatigue, of the chase, the campaign and the scout, and with strong
arms “Turned the wilderness into fruitful fields” and have left
to their descendants the rich inheritance of an immense empire
blessed with peace and wealth.
From: On
the
Settlement
and Indian Wars of the western parts of Virginia and Pennsylvania,
pgs, 108-109
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Map to the Summer Encampment
Click on map for larger image
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