Trail of History

By: Gabriel Keith

Posted: 11/3/06

12 hours of rain and 4 thousand visitors into it, the event known as 'The Trail of History' in Glacial Park was canceled at midnight on Saturday after heavy showers turned the grassy encampment into a wet, muddy mess. Fortunately, the McHenry County Conservation District (MCCD) staff was prepared with back hoes and personnel.

MCCD staff started making rounds to all the campsites, letting their occupants know that the event was cancelled and that they would be leaving in the morning. Hours later, while the 'Trail' was still being dismantled and its participants were being shuttled out by district vehicles, people started arriving to view the now unfortunate scene only to be turned away.

"Ten years ago was worse," stated Denise Collins, one of the co-founders of 'The Trail.' Halfway into the event, rain swept through Richmond, leaving 4 inches on the ground and causing many re-enactors to leave their flooded tents in the middle of the night, doubling up with others on higher ground. Evacuation from the site was nearly impossible due to a lack of a road system. There was only a mowed path leading to the event, which was heavily poured on.

Most people had to leave their belongings for the weekend to allow the newly formed quagmire around the park time to solidify. In an attempt to vacate the area, a school bus for the handicapped became wedged in mud up to the door, forcing its occupants to have to wait in order to be shuttled out by the MCCD staff.

Apart from the expected briskness of a late October day, 'The Trail' was more than successful on its first and unfortunately last day this year. Rounding the corner at the end of the one mile trail leading into the encampment, visitors were met with an impressive view of white tents, campfires dug into the ground and all different types of people decked out in their particular period accurate costumes. Some were riding horses while others led teams of oxen pulling carts.

At the many different sites there were engaging activities for people to participate in, including shows with scheduled times listed on the Trail's brochure. Visitors wishing to make the experience an all day event had wild rice soup in a bread bowl, kettle corn, hot cider, doughnuts, buffalo burgers, fish boil, corn chowder, pumpkin bread and more all at their disposal.

At a certain point in the day, a loud boom resounded, drawing more people to a crowd overlooking a battle scene just on the other side of the Nippersink River. Muskets boomed along with a cannon while reenactors feigned death, giving the whole act a very convincing effect.

Directly after the battle, a loud voice was heard over the departing masses, proclaiming the beginning act of the Amazing Budabi Brothers, a juggling show put on by Nick and Eric Jenson. The juggling was impressive, but what made the whole experience worth while was the clever satire interspersed throughout the entire act. One could tell they loved their jobs.

"People who do this, because you have to be dedicated to do it, have, first of all, a passion and love for history, and second of all, a desire to educate others to that history," stated Mike Follin, who portrayed Dr. Balthazar, a one-man traveling medicine show act viewed back in the 1800's on the frontier.

Although quite a turn out, many people still did not get to see 'The Trail' this year; hopefully, the weather will be more accommodating next time around. Knock on wood.

So why would any one want to do this?

"Our history is so rich and so wonderful, and I think we need to understand and respect the people and the past and what they did and what they went through so that we could be where we are at today in our modern life and modern world," said Pat Rogge, who along with her husband portrayed a pioneer couple from 1771.