To all,

In regards to thinking about event locations and possibilities I would like to propose Ft. Wilkins at Copper Harbor, MI as location to be considered.

The Fort is operated by the State of Michigan as a State Park, but it is managed by the Division of History Arts and Libraries as a historic interpretive site. I do several presentations on Civil War Topics yearly and the Regional Director for HAL would love to host a weekend of quality reenactors that would re-create garrison life of the post-war fort.

The Fort was constructed in 1844 to police the newly started copper mining in the area. It was abandoned just two years later as the mining near the fort proved less lucrative as the larger copper strikes further south on the peninsula. The fort was re-garrisoned from late 1866 to the end of 1869. The majority of this second occupation was by the 43rd U.S. Infantry (Veteran Reserves). Today Fort Wilkins is a well-preserved example of a mid-19th-century fort in the northern frontier. There are 19 buildings - 12 of them original structures dating from the 1840s.

There are some very interesting possibilities as the staff at the park are very receptive to having a quality group garrison the Fort and use some of the buildings for these purposes.

Well, the floor is open for discussion.....<br><br>Post edited by: jrmoore, at: 2007/12/10 15:49

I don't know how this was posted twice, but I appologize for this happening.

A few websites that have some information about Fort Wilkins: http://www.michigan.gov.hal/0,1607,7-160...595_18604---,00.html
Another would be the Natural History Association: www.fortwilkinsnha.org/



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Mr. Moore,

It looks like a dandy location. I am sure we could pull off a top notch event there. My concern is that the Uppermost part of the UP is hardly what I consider local. From where I live, I could get nearly to Atlanta in the time it would take me to get to Ft. Wilkins. Sorry but If i have to choose I will go to Picketts' Mill or Pea Ridge instead. I will not speak for the ONV as a whole but I think many would agree. I believe that the desire would be to do an event that had a somewhat central location. To The Suckers &amp; Iowegians the UP aint local. Maybe some of the Upper layer cheesers would be interested.

Just my .02

PS - Just some thoughts . I went all the way to Upper cheesonia for the Hold the Rails event

I would be interested in doing an event here, as it is
not such of a hike for those of us who live a little
further north.
What did you have in mind as to dates and scenarios?

Dates are open for discussion right now. The park doesn't meet until April to finalize dates for the year so we have time to communicate with them regarding a proposed event.

I would suggest something around July 26-27 as this would be avoiding other events that the ONV has on the schedule and the annual mainstream encampment at the Fort. My other thought for this is that those that would make the trip north for this event would be escaping the heat for a weekend to the cooler Lake Superior temperatures - fairly nice in July. However, other suggestions are more than welcome.

Senarios would be based around post war garrison of Ft. Wilkins by the 3 companies of 43 US (Veterans Reserve)1867-69.

Although garrison duty at a fort is not as glorious as battles in the field, it was a very real part of military life of the day - and locations where we can actually do this are few and far between.