The Mirror Newspapers Reflecting Life Along The Maumee River
BY KAREN GERHARDINGER | MIRROR REPORTER — Bringing together historical interpreters to show the roles of British, American, Native American and French for the August 19 Battlefield Walk was no easy feat.
The afternoon event at the battlefield was just a taste of a year that will include educational events, re-enactments, musical musters and much more.
“The 225th anniversary starts now,” said Julia Wiley, president of the Fallen Timbers Battlefield Preserva-tion Commission (FTBPC), which organized Sunday’s walk with Metroparks Toledo.
“Next year, we’ll have a five-day observation,” added board member Dave Westrick, who was portraying Alexander McKee, an Indian trader and British representative to the tribes.
The Battle of Fallen Timbers, which took place on August 20, 1794, changed the course of history for all involved. Historians and re-enactors worldwide are interested in coming to Maumee for the 225th anniversary.
In addition to a Battlefield Walk, plans also call for Native American groups to share their music, military and musical corps to convene, and a battle re-enactment to take place on the plains along the river.
Some of the upcoming events include:
• The Weapons of Fallen Timbers, on Sunday, September 23 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Fallen Timbers Battlefield Visitors Center, 4949 Jerome Rd. Check out the black powder guns, bayonets, swords and tomahawks used during the battle, and watch historical re-enactors stage musket drills and black powder demonstrations in the free event.
• Twilight Hike on the Fallen Timbers Battlefield is on Wednesday, September 26 at 7:00 p.m. The limited, ticketed event is $20.00 and will include an exclusive, guided tour with a few surprises. Reservations may be made through metroparkstoledo.com.
• Daryl Baldwin, the director of the Myaamia Center at Miami University in Ohio, will speak on Tuesday, October 9, during the FTBPC annual meeting, which begins at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium of St. Luke’s Hospital, 5901 Monclova Rd. A citizen of the Miami tribe of Oklahoma, Baldwin grew up in the Anthony Wayne and Maumee areas. He received a MacArthur Award for language and cultural revitalization for revitalizing the Myaamia language. The event is free to FTBPC members and $10.00 in advance or $15.00 at the door for nonmembers.
• Douglas Brinkley, a CNN presidential historian, author, national commentator, professor of history at Rice University and fellow at the James Baker III Institute of Public Policy, will speak on Thursday, April 25. The place and time are to be determined. Brinkley is a Perrysburg native.
For information or membership, visit www.fallentimbersbattlefield.org.
