The 3rd Nanticoke River Jamboree will be held in October 5,  2013.  With the theme “Waterway to Freedom” the NHPA will join all of Dorchester County to commemorate the 100th year of Harriet Tubman’s death.  Tubman, born in Dorchester County, led over 300 enslaved people to freedom through the fields, woodlands and marshes of the Eastern Shore as she headed north to Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey.  Along with our usual Environmental Displays, the 2013 Jamboree will feature Harriet Tubman and others through living history re-enactments, as we all learn of the struggle of those who sacrificed so much to find freedom along the Underground Railroad Byways.

Harriet Tubman

Every year at this all-day family-friendly event, you can paddle along a protected and pristine Eastern Shore creek, ride a bike on country roads and enjoy displays from more than a dozen nonprofits.  In 2013 we have an exciting schedule planned:

Ongoing throughout the day: 

1.  Environmental Exhibits by groups such as, but not limited to Dorchester County Master Gardeners, Dorchestery County Citizens for Planned Growth, Nanticoke Watershed Alliance, Eastern Shore Land Conservancy.

2.  “Origins”, a native American presentation by Daniel Firehawk Abbott at the newly constructed Longhouse at Handsell.

3.  “African American Story of the Indiantown”Tent presented by the NHPA Native American Sterring Committee, exhibits and discussions with family members.  Also “Voices of the Indiantown”, with Audio and Visual interviews displayed on a computer of descendants of slaves and sharechroppers of the Indiantown area.

4.  Living History Re-enactors including Art Malestein, 17th century re-enactor of Christopher Nutter, early owner of Handsell trading post; other re-enactors include blacksmithing and basketmaking and other tradespeople.

5.  Children’s activities- games and hay-rides.

6.  Food Tent

“History Tent Performances” – Events scheduled throughout the day: (times to be determined as of the date of this writing):

1.Harriet Tubman researchers (1 to 1 1/2 hours) John Creighton and Pat Lewis will lead discussions of the continuing research being done about this iconic Underground Railroad conductor and her knowledge of the Nanticoke River area. (third annual discussion to be held at the Jambnoree).

2.  SPAAA Singers Presentation (1 hour) The Society for the Preservation of African American Arts (SPAAA) Singers are a group of professional musicians formed by Barry O. Foreman with the intent of teaching the public about the rich African American history through reenactments, song, and theater.  The singers have performed throughout the Eastern Shore of Maryland for the past two years. Singing slave songs, spirituals, and reenacting slaves living on a plantation in the 1800′s, the singers have captivated audiences of all ages.

3.  Kathleen D. Lindsey, Living History Slave Interpreter and Performer will perform once in the morning and again in the afternoon:

A. One-Hour “Run Faredy Run” Dressed in slave attire, a reading and presentation of an original story of a slave girl and runaway.  Includes hands-on props such as quilts, cotton, tobacco (enclosed), rice, slave chains, drums and much more.  This presentation includes spiritual songs that had double meaning and the interpretation of the song’s lyric. The audience will role-play what life was like for Kathleen’s Great-Great Grandmother who was a slave on a Southern plantation.

B.  One-hour “Harriet Tubman and African American Slavery and Quilt Making”.  For centuries quilting has played a major role in the lives of people of different cultures including African American’s who used quilting as therapy, recreation, storytelling and warmth.  Quilts have spoken to many admirers throughout history with their fine artistry, color and stitching technique.

During this presentation she portrays Harriet Tubman and brings her love of quilting and desire to bring African American history alive to the public. One of Kat Lindsey’s most beloved quilts is the one she named, “The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad” quilt. It has won first place, twice, in the prestigious Cold Springs Village quilt competition in Cape May, New Jersey. It features 12 blocks, each one depicting an event in the event-filled life of the heroine.  During this performance, visitors are encouraged with a favorite Tubman quote, “If you’re hungry, tired, sick, or scared; if you can’t make another step – keep-a-goin!

Admission of $4 per person or $10 per family helped defray our costs and bring this great event to Dorchester County!

PAST JAMBOREES:

The 2012 Nanticoke River Jamboree: “Life on the River 1612-1812” was held on June 23, 2012 at Handsell.  Virginia Blacksmith Jeff Dunkelburger had this to say about the 2012 Jamboree at Handsell:

“We were priviledged to demonstrate colonial blacksmithing at the Nanticoke River Jamboree, this past Saturday at Handsell to support the efforts to restore the house of Handsell and to celebrate the historic nature of the area.  It was an amazing event, filled with interesting people and fascinating history.  We’ve never been at a place before where the content of a festival was so solid – early American history and the war for Independance….the Underground Railroad and African American history… and Native American history all focused on one place.  I was so jealous of the folks that got to attend all the various talks.  There was so much to learn!”  —Jeff Dunkelburger, blacksmith

You can follow Jeff’s blog at:
http://www.blackforestartworks.com/2012/06/demo-at-nanticoke-river-jamboree.html

For a complete Photo Album of the 2012 Jamboree go to our Handsell Facebook page at:
http://www.facebook.com/media/albums/?id=206090382789171
     

All the photographs of the Jamboree posted on Facebook and shown here are by volunteer Beth Barbush.  Thank you Beth for the very professional photographs!

For a short video collage of the Jamboree on You Tube go to: 

Thanks to the 2012Jamboree Sponsors:

Chesapeake Conservancy

NRG Vienna Plant

Presented last year – The Baltimore United Volunteers, War of 1812 Reenactors!  With full uniform dress, rifles and equipment!  Come join us for the Star-Spangled fun!

Come see the Baltimore United Volunteer 1812 Re-enactors at Handsell!