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Kentucky couple host ‘first Thanksgiving’ reenactment

By TIM THORNBERRY
Kentucky Correspondent

PLEASUREVILLE, Ky. — Thanksgiving is uniquely American and began, as most of us know, by way of the Pilgrims of Plymouth in 1621; it was their way of giving thanks for a successful harvest, an English tradition.

It wasn’t until 1863, however, that it became a national holiday thanks to President Abraham Lincoln. Since then it has become the kickoff to the entire holiday season, complete with parades and football games.

But, residents and schoolchildren in and around Henry County had a chance to experience what life was like during the first Thanksgiving, compliments of Sam and JoAnn Adams, proprietors of the Low Dutch Six Mile Meetinghouse.

The facility is a combination of the original structure built in the area in the 1820s and new, authentic-like construction used to complete the meetinghouse on the Adams farm. Since the couple finished the project, they have hosted numerous events that include wool spinning, since they raise sheep on their farm. They also sell crafts and products made by area producers.

The event is in its third year and started as a way to have an event after most of the other fall festivals were over, said Sam Adams. Last year, the couple invited local school groups for the first time.
“They really seemed to like it. Some said it was the best field trip they had ever had,” he said.

Reenactors were on hand to demonstrate primitive weapons, techniques of hunting, throwing tomahawks, cooking over open fires and to communicate just how life was nearly 400 years ago. There were also demonstrations on wool dying and spinning. At the event were a dairy cow – so visitors could get the feel of how early settlers got their milk – and sheep, to pet.

The atmosphere made one feel as though they had stepped back in time. “This event is to enlighten (those who attend) about how the first Thanksgiving would have really looked. It was pretty primitive. You would have eaten what you killed that morning or the night before, and cooked over an open fire,” Adams said.
“It’s all pretty authentic,” he added.

It was an eye-opening experience for the hundreds who braved the elements to come out and get a feel of what their ancestors possibly went through in order to survive those times.

Liz Hart, a fourth-grade teacher at Campbellsburg Elementary, accompanied her class for the second year to the meetinghouse on a field trip designed to correlate with her classroom activities.
“This connects with our curriculum in Colonial days and it also connects with their arts and humanities lessons, so instead of just hearing about it in class, they actually get to see demonstrations and it takes them back in time,” she said.

Hart added the cold weather put a more real perspective on what people from that era must have endured in their everyday lives. She also said despite the fact many of her students live on or near farms, some have not been around animals, so this was educational for them.

“We’ll go back to the class and we’ll talk about this and compare today’s Thanksgiving to how it was years ago,” she said. “They get to see how much easier it is today and how difficult it was in a more primitive time. It’s a great learning experience for the kids.”
JoAnn Adams, a teacher herself, provided the wool-spinning lesson in the warmth of the meetinghouse, complete with a discussion of early American arts and crafts.

While most of us will enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving dinner over the holiday in the comfort of our homes, those who attended the reenactment witnessed a realistic view of how our ancestors lived and survived in a time of few conveniences – but were thankful, nonetheless.

11/26/2008