Underneath the chickee, just a few feet away from the Visitor Center of the Fort King National Historic Landmark in Ocala, a group of women from Florida Frontiersmen Inc. gathered to showcase the skills of yesteryear during the Fort King Women’s History Weekend and Pioneer Games.
Samantha Jarvis, City of Ocala Outdoor/Historic Resource archaeologist at Fort King National Historic Landmark, said the free, two-day event on Friday and Saturday was a great way to share moments of history and illustrate pioneer skills that still can be used today.
“There’s not a lot of history on file of what women contributed to the fort, but clearly we know that women have a huge impact on our society,” she said. “After we did our first official program last year, it seemed to spark a growing interest for more women’s history and pioneer skills in general.”
The Florida Frontiersmen Inc. is a nonprofit organization based in Homeland that focuses on preserving pre-1840 history. At least eight members of the women’s group participated in the weekend’s event, demonstrating such skills as weaving baskets, removing seeds from cotton and making scrap fabric rugs.
Paulette Bates Boyette, of Tampa, was stationed just outside the chickee, a traditional Seminole dwelling, depicting the life of her fourth-generation great-grandmother, Elizabeth Bates.
Holding up a photo of Elizabeth and her husband, John, Boyette explained the various ways Elizabeth and other women from that era would make money.
“Women back then didn’t have a job,” she said. “I had 10 children. I may get some of the rations from my husband’s salary as a soldier. He would maybe make $5. I would sell my veggies, the eggs, or make and sell bread. I also did laundry for people or sewed clothes.”
When asked what she enjoys most about reenacting, Boyette said, “It’s the history.
“Giving people information and sharing with them the history of our ancestors,” she said. “I made all my clothes so it would be authentic. It took me two days to make this shirt where it would take them one day back then.”
Jarvis said the event was an exciting educational opportunity for local youth, as students from Marion and Lake county public schools were on spring break. On Friday, several city busses brought kids to the fort to experience the living history.
Betty-Lou Seager, of Lady Lake, spoke with a group of children, sharing the practice of reusing and repurposing old fabrics by making scrap fabric rugs.
“When you live on the prairie, you don’t throw anything away,” Seager said. “All these rags are made of old clothes.”
Terri Davies, leader of the Florida Frontiersmen Inc.’s Stitch This Sewing group, showed attendees how to use a cotton gin machine to remove the seeds from cotton bolls.
“We are also called the Sew Cranky Society, because we use hand-crank sewing machines,” she said. “We make all of our clothes. What I am wearing today was based on what a German immigrant would have worn back then called a dirndl.”
Davies, who has worked as a reenactor for about 25 years, enjoys sharing history.
“I grew up reading ‘Little House on the Prairie,’” Davies said. “I said I wanted to do that and now I do. I wanted people to learn history from a woman’s perspective. Women’s history in textbooks is essentially blank. There’s not much information, although we did 99% of the work.
“It’s about the children,” she said. “When they see some of these, the kids are so amazed. To let them know that they had to use their imagination back then, not electronics. They had to use their hands and there was very little play. Everyone, all ages, had to work.”
Andy Warrener, City of Ocala Outdoor/Historic Resource program coordinator, demonstrated the art of blacksmithing — making a spoon and a hook — and explained how wood charcoal was used at Fort King.
“I love to do living history,” Warrener said. “I dress in reenactment wear from the 16th century all the way to the Civil War. I’m an amateur leather worker, amateur woodworker and an amateur blacksmith. I try to pick up these skills so it adds different elements to my living history work.”
Lori Schaefer, of Wesley Chapel, and Gail Finken, of Port Orange, shared various teas and dishes inside the Visitor Center.
Margot Murphy and Patricia Holt spent the first half of their Friday at the fort and were two of the earliest arrivals for the afternoon.
After mingling with the women under the chickee and participating in the program inside the Visitor Center, the friends and neighbors agreed they had a good time and were entertained during the event.
“For the kids to experience this history and the little tea cups, it’s all wonderful,” Holt said. “The staff and volunteers are doing a great job of setting everything up and providing hospitality.”
To learn more about the Fort King National Historic Landmark, 3925 E Fort King St., and its programming, visit ftking.org.
