Bushy Run battle reenactment draws crowds for living history education

Over 1,000 visitors were present by 1 p.m. Saturday and between 1,500 and 5,000 people were expected throughout the weekend for the 260th anniversary of the Battle of Bushy Run, following a year of deliberations over whether the annual reenactment event would be allowed to continue.

Organizers with the Bushy Run Battlefield Historical Society said the event’s 90 reenactors this year represent a stronger showing than in past years. Supporters and participants celebrated being able to commemorate the battle.

“This is a big day — 260 years. It’s just so wonderful, and an important part of our history,” state Sen. Kim Ward said. “We appreciate what you are doing, and how you are keeping history alive. … We don’t want to lose our history, and we don’t want it to be changed.”

The reenactment, traditionally held the first weekend in August, portrays a 1763 clash between the British and Native Americans during Pontiac’s War. Vendors and living-history educators talk to visitors and showcase craftsmanship and historical details of the era.

The reenactment was cancelled in January when the Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission created a “no force-on-force” policy, adopted from the National Park Service. The commission reversed course on the decision in March but required all reenactors portraying Native Americans to consult with members of the relevant tribes to ensure historical accuracy in dress, gear, lodging and practice.

The commission, which governs Bushy Run and all other state-owned historic sites, approved a final version of its living history policy Monday, allowing “historic weapons demonstrations, tactical exercises and ‘force-on-force’ reenactments depicting combat between opposing forces.”

“We’ll have to see how it all plays out, but we think it’s a reasonable policy,” said Rob Malley, a new commissioner with PHMC and a board member at Bushy Run.

Safety is a priority at Bushy Run, he said.

“If there’s any tweaks that need to be made (to the policy), then the new commission has the opportunity to do that.”

History, education stressed

Matt Adams, manager of the Bushy Run Museum, said he saw visitors arriving at the site as early as 7:30 a.m., particularly those who were looking forward to talking with reenactors.

“A lot of (the reenactors) put a lot of time and effort into this. Some people spend the entire year working on this. Even for the reenactors, this is a reunion for a lot of these guys,” he said. “It’s really important for us to be able to do it, for the community to be able to come in and see the history. And it’s really important for them to be able to come out and do this and teach people and see each other.”

Brian Harris, who portrayed a British soldier during the reenactment, is battlefield chairman at Bushy Run. He organized the battlefield campground this year, and laid out the battlefield scenarios and how the camps are set up.

As an educator, he tries to draw people in through conversation, interacting with kids and families.

“I do it on a personal level,” he said, emphasizing that reenactors are historians who spend a lot of time studying details, like the composition of uniforms, for accuracy. “(Reenactors’) love of history — not dress-up — is what brings them out here.”

Reenactor Dave Graham of Ohio, who portrays a colonist who was captured by Native American Lenni Lenape forces, says he values history.

“If you’re going to shut Bushy Run down, No. 1, the revenue is going to drop like crazy. And No. 2, the kids aren’t getting enough history in school as it is right now,” he said. “You’ve got to know the mistakes you made in the past in order not to repeat them.”

Vendor and reenactor Jack Barna of McKees Rocks showed replica wampum belts he had made to visitors. He attends other events from Ligonier all the way to Fort Niagara, he said.

“It’s the camaraderie of the event,” he said. “That’s really what brings me back, the people — we’re all students of history. It’s not that we love the history, but we understand it, and we know how it supports how our life is today.”

Visitors show interest

Some visitors came from across the country, while others hailed from right across the street.

Alex Olive of Seattle was visiting the area and decided to check out the battle reenactment. As a military history enthusiast, he said the authentic gear drew him to the event.

“I have a big passion for firearms and historical firearms, and this was the first stand I saw,” he said after looking at flintlock long-rifle maker Allen Scherb’s stand.

Gina and Jeff Gelpi live five minutes over the hill from the battlefield.

“We’ve heard about it every year, but we just never made it here,” Jeff said. “This is the first year we have made it here.”

“We just always wanted to come,” Gina said.

Jeri Houser of New Derry brought her family because of her grandson Patrick’s love of reenactments.

“He’s really into the history, so we thought it would be interesting,” she said. “I’m really glad to see it’s back, I really am. I heard about it last year, with it almost getting canceled, and now it’s back. I think we should really continue to do these kinds of things. This is how the younger generation learns about it, and to actually see how they did things.”

Jean Bohince of Level Green came out to show support for the event because she felt “strongly” that she wanted it to continue.

“It’s a beautiful site, and we want to preserve the history,” she said.