Reenactors gather at Fort William Henry for autumn meet and sutler fair

Autumn leaves and 18th Century military uniforms colored the Fort William Henry grounds this Saturday at the Fort’s annual Adirondack Reenactor’s Meet and Sutler Fair. Reenactors cooked over open fires and demonstrated their handicraft skills at the French and Indian War encampment, a row of white canvas tents west of the reconstructed fort.

Inside the Fort William Henry Resort Conference Center, sutlers hawked their wares, which included reproductions of housewares, weapons and clothing from the Colonial Era as well as 21st-Century arts and crafts. Sutler Fair shoppers perused a range of apparel from 18th-Century woolen wear to modern-day socks bearing the images of the Founding Fathers. Artisans’ booths featured hand crocheted and quilted items, essential oils, scented candles and oil paintings.

Paul Stillman’s vendor space was filled with trays of arrowheads, bone carvings and strings of colorful beads. Stillman, a historian and member of the Allegany Seneca Nation, was happy to chat with customers about his Native American heritage, lacing his conversations with phrases from the Seneca Language. “I follow the Longhouse tradition,” he says, “the old ways, which means no drinking, smoking or gambling.” As a shopper was leaving his booth, he said (while sliding his outstretched arm away from his body) “Onah.” “We never say goodbye,” he explains. Onah means, “We’re finished for now,” a saying that must always be accompanied by the hand gesture. The phrase, says Stillman, leaves open the possibility of a future meeting.

The Adirondack Reenactor’s Meet and Sutler Fair was originally scheduled for March to coincide with the anniversary of Vaudreuil’s Raid on Fort William Henry. In past years, the meet included a battle reenactment and craft beverage event dubbed Battles and Brews. Organizers moved the event to October because of public health regulations that put limits on gathering size during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Reenactor’s Meet and Sutler Fair continues Sunday, Oct. 12, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Parking is free. Visitors are asked to wear masks and observe social distancing protocols while attending.

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