One of the greatest gifts we experience from demos is the chance to meet some amazing people. It is a real treat to return to a venue a year later and catch up with folks…both visitors and organizers. And, we love to make new friends, too! We work very, very hard at these demos, teaching and inspiring about blacksmithing and history, but we also receive a tremendous amount in return.
The demo at the Nanticoke River Jamboree is one that makes us smile because the people who we interact with there are so special. They are passionate about the history of the area, as the Jamboree is an annual event held at Handsell (a truly amazing bit of land) to celebrate the natural and historic resources of the Nanticoke River area.
I said it last year and the same was true this year — this is one of the most educational events I’ve ever seen. We are there to note the colonial history of the Handsell property but the site’s history is much broader and the other demos reflect the other aspects of the site. This year’s Jamboree featured the life of Harriet Tubman, as the area has strong ties to the Underground Railroad, but also included presentations and hands-on activities about the archaeology of the Handsell site and the Native Americans from the area.
As we forged in the heat (yes, it was very, very hot again at this event, even though they moved it from June!), one of my sons was thrilled to help the archaeologists with their work and even find a Native American celt! My other son participated in a play about the Underground Railroad and had a great time, too. It was another great year at a small, but very special event.
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