Start or Indulge in a Frontier Lifestyle in the Scioto Valley

Jackson County — Do you want to be someone from early Ohio history? The best way to start doing that locally is coming up again this weekend.

As part of my activity in local history, tours, and various periods of re-enacting, I am a member of the “Sons of Liberty Muzzle Loading Club.”

No shooting is required, but members enjoy camping out in tents twice a year as authentically as possible for the pre-Civil War American frontier. Tomahawk and knife throwing, and archery, are also not required – but are enjoyed – as well as other fun authentic activities.

The Sons of Liberty host an annual “Winter Trade Fair.” Find almost anything you need to re-live frontier America from the 1750s to 1890. It will be 9 to 5 Saturday, January 20th, and 9 to 3 Sunday, January 21st, 2024. It’s inexpensive to just visit – $4 per person, with 12 and under free.

This is a great opportunity to browse and see all that is available: hats, coats, footwear, firearms and supplies, knives and tomahawks, lanterns, leather goods, books, jars and china…everything. Hear more about it in the below interview video.

The Sons of Liberty events are at Canters Cave 4-H Camp, at 1362 Caves Road, off US 35 between Richmond Dale and Jackson. The trade fair is in the main lodge (and the encampment will be in an open meadow).

The spring and fall encampments are open to the public 9 to 5 each day, with no admission fee. The annual spring rendezvous is Memorial Day weekend, and the fall rendezvous is the third weekend of October.

In both the rendezvous and trade fair, the participants are dedicated to their crafts / hobbies / businesses, and are happy to share knowledge…and stories. Membership is only $20. Most members are also active in many other re-enacting groups and events in the region – you would be surprised how many there are!

Learn more on the “Sons of Liberty Muzzle Loading Club” page on Facebook – which includes members’ reports from other events, groups, and blogs.

See also my article on the “Fair at New Boston,” a large annual festival that re-enacts 1790 to 1810 Ohio on Labor Day weekend near Springfield.