The Peddlers Grove Scenario
he year is 1852. The "Tent City" of Peddlers Grove has been in existence for approximately 6 months. The land that the town site occupies was, until recently, the homeland of the Hochunk or Winnebago Indians. The Hochunk tribe gave up the lands in the treaty of 1851 and the Minnesota Territorial Congress opened these lands to homesteaders just this spring. The Hochunk Indians are still about the area and many families of them come to Peddlers Grove to trade. Most of the town site’s inhabitants view the Hochunk as friends and neighbors and treat them accordingly. However, some view them with suspicion, fear or even open hostility. More than a few towns folk are veterans of the Black Hawk War scarcely 20 years previous and remember quite well some of the horrors from that time. The US government hired these Indians and their brothers the Lakota, to track down and annihilate Black Hawk and his followers, which the Lakota did with much delight just north of the Wisconsin town of Prairie Du Chien. Some of the Winnebago’s, on the other hand, misled the Army on several occasions and were evicted from their homelands in Wisconsin at war’s end after being found guilty by the United States government of duplicity.
his is harvest time and there are many Traders/Peddlers present at this time of year. Some of these Traders travel about all year, stopping at different sites for up to a week at a time and then moving to the next site. There is some talk of several peddlers perhaps building a permanent Mercantile at this site.
e will interpret the current "Tent City" as a "Replica" of a typical Prairie town site during the early to mid-1850’s. The town is situated in Steele County, Minnesota Territory. Other nearby towns include St. Mary and Empire. (The town of Waseca does not exist for another 14 years!) The stagecoach runs through town from Owatonna to Mankato twice a week. One time each way!
ur "Gathering" (i.e. Rendezvous) is actually a jamboree of the various traveling traders, craftsmen, hunters, plainsmen and adventurers that were characteristic of the era. Most clothing worn at Fur-Trade era Re-enactments (1820-1840) can be worn here! We ask that French/Indian and American Revolution specific clothing, i.e. Tricorn’s, knee pants for men, and brocaded coats not be worn.
ublic days are Saturday and Sunday only, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. We publicize as a six day event for the reason that we are allowing early setup Wednesday evening after 5:00 PM and late tear down the following Tuesday. The camp fee is $15.00 whether you stay all six days or just the weekend. We encourage everyone to settle in for as long as they like at this encampment, but please have all modern items out of site during the hours of 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM on the weekdays, as the Farmamerica site is open for daily tours between those hours. Also, no modern items in evidence from 10:00 PM Friday until 5:00 PM Sunday.
Potluck dinner is planned for approximately 7:00 PM Saturday night. All costumed interpreters from all time lines at the Farmamerica site are invited to join in. Bring your own eating utensils and a dish to pass and enjoy what was, last year, a dinner to remember.
his is an agricultural setting and there are many on-site animals present, including oxen, cows, horses, piggies, chickens and sheep. Many of the animals are free range. For this reason we ask that if you bring pets, please keep them leashed at ALL times. We also request an up to date copy of Veterinarian Shot Records for your pets. Dogs must also be leashed and kept out of close proximity to the visiting public during Tour Hours (10:00 AM – 5:00PM). They will be either leased behind or inside your lodge.
separate entrance and parking area for re-enactors has been established. (Click to view Map) Please do not drive through the 1850’s farm site! Peddlers Grove is adjacent to, but not a part of, the farm site. We ask that vehicles only be in camp for the amount of time needed to unload due to restricted driving lanes. When setting camp, please do not run over, cut or damage native trees and bushes. Entering and exiting of the site will be allowed only at pre-determined times, see schedule below:
Special Note: Farmamerica asks that if you are "setting camp" during the weekday "Tour" hours (10 AM – 2 PM) that you remove your vehicle from the encampment and temporarily park it behind the berm next to the 1850’s Farm Site until the tours are completed. A Farmamerica staff member will inform you when the tours have ended for the day.
