Additional writings by Gerry Barker

Gerry Barker now has a blog for his personal writings: http://historyforfuture.blogspot.com/. I hope you will enjoy them.

Hands On History at Quaker Knoll Camp May 11-13 and 16-18, 2011

We are now accepting reservations for May 11-13 and 16-18, 2011.

Hands On History - Sawing

Students participate in sawing a log with a two man crosscut saw. The focus is on the work within the capabilities of young people in constructing homesteads on the Ohio frontier.

Hands On History - Coopering

A look at the role of apprentices in the trades of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries with a focus on the cooper, a maker of buckets and barrels. In this class the students will get a look at the necessity of wooden containers, and how they are made along with the progression of young people into the trades. A hands-on element is included.

Home School Day - Thursday, May 13, 2010 - It's Official!

We are now taking reservations for Thursday, May 13, 2010, Home School Day, Hands On History at Quaker Knoll Camp. Join us and the Four Kings, the oxen, for a day learning about early Ohio life.

Home School Day - Thursday, May 13, 2010

We have not had any home school groups select a day this year, so we are offering Thursday, May 13, as Home School Day. Please contact me ASAP to schedule your family or group.

Farming on the Overmountain Frontier

Keep you eyes out for Gerry Barker's new article "Farming on the Overmountain Frontier" coming out soon in Muzzleloader Magazine.

Muzzleloader Magazine Articles

We are very proud that Gerry Barker has been published recently in Muzzleloader Magazine:

- July/August 2008, page 68, "Build Your Own Adventure"
- September/October 2008, page 60, "At the Speed of an Ox"
- March/April 2009, page 63, "Indentured Servitude"

Hands On History dates May 12-14 , 17-19, 2010

We are now accepting reservations for May 12-14 and 17-19, 2010.

Home School Day 2009

Home School Day will be Monday, May 18, 2009 at Quaker Knoll. If you or your home school group is interested in joining us, we are ready to take additional reservations.

Spring 2009 Program - May 13-15, 18-20

Our 2009 program runs May 13-15, 18-20, 2009. We are not planning a fall program but will consider doing one if there is enough interest.

The program takes about 4 hours, running from 9:00 or 9:30 AM until about 2:00 PM, or as your busing schedule permits. Admission is $5.00, with two adults free per 25 students. Home school families and groups are most welcome.

Frontier Resources in the News

On Tuesday we had a visit from Wilmington News Journal reporter Brandon Smith who wrote this article. Unfortunately the photo in his article is mis-labeled. It actually shows Maria Hummel with the oxen.

Picture of the Oxen at the Hartford City Civil War Event 2007

We thank photographer Linda McMillan for allowing us to post this picture taken at the Hartford City Civil War event in October 2007. The Four Kings are great around cannon. This event several years ago was their first time around large cannon. They had been around other artillery, but nothing this large. The first firing on the line took them a bit by surprise, but with Gerry by the lead team of George and William, and me by James & Charles to reassure them, by the 3rd firing they had settled and have never again really reacted to artillery.

Their calm, quiet acceptance has helped other teams, both horses and oxen, to accept artillery with aplomb.

Spring 2008 at Quaker Knoll - Hands On History

We are looking forward to seeing some of our favorite schools and home school groups again this spring. We still have some room for home school groups on Monday, May 19. We do have another day open should you want to bring your school or home school group on Thursday, May 15.

Spring 2008 Home School Day for Hands On History at Quaker Knoll Campground

We are now scheduling home schoolers for Monday, May 19. If your home schooled family or group is interested in attending our program this spring, we suggest this day. If another day would work better for you, please contact me for availability.

Spring 2008 May 21 full

May 21. 2008 is no longer available for scheduling. We also have a large group coming on Friday, May 16 so could only take a small group if you are interested in that day.

Hands On History at Quaker Knoll Campground May 13-16 & 19-21

Join us again this year for the Hands On History program at Quaker Knoll Campground! We are now scheduling for May 13-16 and 19-21. Reservations are first-come, first-served. Program takes about 4 hours. Schedule is flexible to meet your busing or travel schedules.

We can also arrange to come to your school if you are not able to come to Quaker Knoll Campground. Contact us for details.

Meet Frontier Resources - Gerry Barker

The Wagoner, Gerry Barker has retired from the Army, taught history and managed museums. He holds a MA in Labor History. He has specialized in Living History, taking part in numerous projects such a building forts and homesteads, wagon trains, military campaigns and reenactments of important events in American history. Gerry has written books and articles on frontier history, military history, living history techniques, mountaineering and survival. His current research is into the lives and work of wagoners in Colonial America.

Meet Frontier Resources - Butch Hauri

Dr. Hauri, the Schoolmaster, was born on a dairy farm in a Swiss/German community in Wisconsin. He started his apprenticeship in commercial beekeeping while still in eighth grade. He was drafted in 1965 and after ten years in the Army returned to beekeeping, becoming a Bee Master in 1975. Dr. Hauri ran a commercial beekeeping company with 1500 hives, on 38 farms in four counties in Wisconsin and Illinois. When health problems forced his retirement from full time beekeeping, he devoted his time to living history and became a “Minister at Large" to the community of historical reactors. He received a Doctor of Divinity in 2002, along with the appointment to Bishop at Large.

Currently he is working on second Doctoral degree focusing on the part that the Protestant reformation had on settling of America from a sociological and economic point of view. And, of course, he is still trying to get people to think.

Meet Frontier Resources - Maria Hummel

Maria was new to the field of living history when she joined us. She brought skill with animals, attention to detail, and a strong determination to “do it right” if she was to do it at all. She has a broad knowledge of textiles and textile equipment, and the work necessary to accomplish a frontier homestead. Capable of writing cogent and engaging school programs, her current offering is Children’s Work on the Frontier.