By Lindsey Rowland
lrowland@wbcowqel.com
In 1782, Colonel William Crawford led about 500 volunteers deep into Native American lands with the hope of taking them by surprise. However, the Indians were one step ahead and met them with a regiment of their own. At the end of a day spent in battle, Crawford’s men were surrounded and dozens of them found themselves captured.
Many were executed in retaliation for the Gnadenhütten Massacre earlier in the year, in which many of the Native Americans were murdered by American militiamen. Colonel Crawford was taken, tortured, and executed slowly as an example to Americans.
This epic narrative played a huge role in the Revolutionary War of the United States and it took place in our own backyard. Crawford County is the namesake of the famous colonel, who was ultimately executed near Upper Sandusky after being captured less than a mile away from Lowe-Volk Park in Leesville. This fact prompted the Crawford Park District to use this past weekend, which marked to the day that Crawford was captured, to hold their annual Living History Celebration.
Over Saturday and Sunday, Lowe-Volk Park took a step back in time and came alive with people dressed as Native Americans, soldiers, peddlers, and more to celebrate Crawford’s historic event with a full schedule that included a reenactment of Crawford’s capture, musician Johnny Ohio playing music and storytelling, a fashion show, a rifle/musket demonstration, a lantern walk, vendors, and more.
Lynn Ream was one such vendor. Ream carves gourd birdhouses and says that she comes to Living History Day to see old friends as well as to bring a flavor of what a real, old hand craft looks like.
When asked what she thinks the celebration brings to Crawford County, Ream said, “I think as children get farther and farther removed from their grandparents, they don’t have as many stories told about the old days and this is a good way for them to reconnect to their past.”
Bill Fisher, director of Lowe-Volk Park, would have to agree. Fisher says, “It’s important to pass that history on to everybody to give them a sense of who we are and where we came from. It’s an exciting time and it’s a good way to share with the community their history.”
For more information about Lowe-Volk Park and the Crawford Park District, visit www.crawfordparkdistrict.org.