The next stop this summer

will be at Old Town San

Diego State Historic Park

on July 29th from 12-4pm.

The event—Soldiers and

Citizens - will explore how

soldiers of many cultures

had a large impact on life in

San Diego.

Fort Tejon State Historic

Park’s staff and volunteers

have taken the living

history experience on the

road.

On May 21, 2017, Fort

Tejon SHP supported by the

FTHA joined Allensworth

SHP at the annual Topanga

Banjo Festival held at

Paramount Ranch. Visitors

were able to participate in

activities and view displays

from the historic sites.

The next stop for the road

show was at Fort Mac

Arthur’s Living History

event—July 8-9, 2017 - the

West’s largest multicultural

celebration of world military

history. The booth at Fort

Mac

included

period

cooking,

Dragoon

uniform

display

and

other

artifacts.

Volunteers also

participated in a parade of

the various camps.

To all my FTHA friends,

The time has come for me to

step down from my duties as

Post Store mistress. I first

came to the fort in 2006,

when I met Steve Mata. I fell in

love with the fort and Steve

encouraged me to become

active in the FTHA. The next

year, I began working with

Jodee and Dale Himebaugh in

the Post Store. When the

Himebaughs moved out of

state the following year, I took

over the Post Store.

Judy Kimball and I have

enjoyed adding displays and

inventory to create that cozy

General Store feeling. I want

to thank Judy for her unwaver-

ing support. Also, Gary Wear,

who helped me stock the

shelves and find vendors when

I first started out. A big hug to

Matthew, Karina and Joy for

stepping in this year after my

surgery. Finally, I am much

obliged to Carole, Jennifer and

Mary—the best inventory

workers on the planet.

Cheers,

Linda Bosley

* See page 4 for more info

F o r t t e j o n r o a d s h o w

C A L E N D A R

O F E V E N T S

July 8-9—Fort Mac

Timeline

July 29 - Old Town

San Diego—Soldiers

and Civilians

event

August 5—Dragoons

Living History at fort

September 2-3 -

Civil War

Re-enactment at

Huntington Beach

September 2 -

Dragoons Living

History at fort

I N S I D E T H I S

I S S U E :

Fort Tejon Road Show 1

Post Store News 1

Civil War Program 2

Interpretation Hints 3

Editor’s Notes 4

Bits and Pieces 4

P o s t s t o r e n e w s

A D J U N T A N T ’ S J O U R N A L

Fort Tejon Historical Association

July/August 2017 Volume 6, Issue 7/8

Banjo Festival 2017

The FTHA would like to thank all re-enactors,

sutlers, park staff and volunteers for another

successful Civil War Program. Here are a few

moments captured by the all seeing lens.

2 0 1 7 C i v i l W a r p r o g r a m

P a g e 2 F o r t T e j o n

INTERPRETATION PRESENTATION HINTS By Troy Dunham

P a g e 3 V o l u m e 6 , I s s u e 7 / 8

Editor’s Note - the information conveyed in this article was supplied by FTHA board member, Sean Malis to assist

volunteers at Fort Tejon or other Living History events with their interactions with the public.

When we give demonstrations and talk to the public during Living History events as personages from the past, our

presentations are called “First Person Interpretation”. We have studied up on the era we are recreating, and through

craft demonstrations, historical scenario skits and answering questions, we give people an impression of what life was

like in the past. Many years of taking part in these events have taught us valuable lessons in how to make your

presentations more interesting and enjoyable and enjoyable for the public.

1. Be doing something. By doing a simple chore or helping with one of the craft demonstrations, you are creating a

casual atmosphere that invites visitors to ask the magic question, “What’cha doing?”. Once the ice is broken between

the visitor and the interpreter, the fun really begins. Take the initiative and strike up conversations with the quiet ones,

they will be glad you did.

2. Spread out. If participants are gathered in a group talking among themselves, visitors do not want to interrupt to

ask questions. When you see folks coming your way, break it up. The public is much more comfortable talking to

individuals. Do your demonstration sitting down if you can. People are less threatened by us when we are sitting down

and are more likely to come over to see what you are doing. If the group of visitors listening to you starts to get

crowded, then stand up and direct your demonstration to the whole group. When more visitors walk in on the middle of

your presentation, complete the first one, then begin all over again. Your first visitors will then know it is time to move

on and the new folks will step in closer to watch.

3. Talk to people, not at them. Be friendly and enjoy yourself. Listen to people’s questions carefully, especially

children’s. We are always surprised how knowledgeable some of our visitors are, and they have some very interesting

stories to tell. Also let’s be good listeners as well as good interpreters.

4. Hands on demonstration. Let’s orient as much of our demonstration as possible to things the public can touch and

handle. People are used to being told not to touch things, particularly kids. So when they do get to handle special

things it leaves a big impression. You must use your own judgment here. Obviously you don’t let people, especially

children, handle objects that can hurt them, like knives, guns, tools, or machinery. These items should be kept out of

reach and supervised at all times. You may want to leave fragile or very valuable items at home. If you bring them, you

are responsible for them.

5. Speaking to crowds. At Living History events we have the fun of interpreting to individual visitors, small groups, and

sometimes big groups. Here are some mechanics used by stage actors and people who give formal speeches. The

larger your audience is, the louder and more clearly you should speak. Also, when you speak to larger groups, slow

down the tempo of your speech. You’ll notice that actors and politicians slow the pace of their delivery for a dramatic

effect. Talking slowly draws in people’s attention, plus in a group situation, it covers the physical distance of speaker

and audience. You will recognize signs that indicate when you are talking too slowly, people sigh heavily, their eyelids

drop, the sun goes down, and the seasons change.

When you are talking, be aware of the listener’s body language. You don’t want to launch into a twenty-minute

dissertation for a group when they are looking at their watches and shifting from one foot to another. It is wise to come

up with a short introductory routine about the subject you are presenting. You will know by people’s mannerism

weather they are ready to move on, or whether you have them fascinated and begging for more.

If someone asks you a question that you can’t answer, don’t be afraid to say, “I don’t know”. The fact that they are

asking questions shows that you have stirred their interest. Call over another participant to help field the question or

refer them to someone else.

inventory, opening and closing

procedures, general record

keeping.

Interested parties should

contact FTHA board president,

Karina Dunbar at

KarinaFTHA@gmail.com prior to

March 2018. All questions

regarding the Post Store can

still be sent to Linda Bosley at

Lindabosley66@gmail.com.

Newsletter Articles

FTHA members are encouraged

to send in ideas for AJ articles

Post Store

As reported on Page 1 of the AJ, Linda

Bosley will be stepping down as Post

Store manager. The FTHA will need

someone to run the Post Store

beginning in March 2018.

Some general information about the

Post Store. It is open the first Saturday

of each month - March through October

and for special events such as the Civil

War Program, Ghost Walk tours and July

4th celebration. Current hours when

open is 9am to 2:30pm.

Training will be provided to new

manager in these areas: ordering

to the editor. Article ideas could

include but are not limited to:

Life events of FTHA current

or past members - death,

weddings, retirements, etc.

History related articles

Photographs relating to Fort

Tejon or the FTHA

A retrospective article on

the FTHA since 1983 with

commentary and

photographs.

The AJ editor has final approval

on all articles printed in AJ.

FTHA

P.O. Box 1424

Simi Valley, CA 93062

Acknowledgements

Sean Malis - Interpretation Presentation article

Photos—Linda Bosley, Karina Dunbar, Maegan

Hensley Fort Tejon SHP

EDITORS’ NOTES

Kind Readers,

There is a rumor circulating that I am quitting the FTHA.

Not sure how this nonsense gets going but let me set the

record straight. I am and will continue to be an FTHA member.

That said, I’d like to thank everyone for their support over the

years with the Post Store. I am stepping down as Post Store

mistress as of November 2017 and board responsibilities to

pursue a new project closer to home at Strathearn Museum

and to focus on my health issues and aging parents.

I had a grand time at this year’s Civil War Program. I have

to admit that my guilty pleasure is acting as the proprietress of

the casino in the Barracks. Thanks to my cohorts– Carole and

John who run the soiree with me. Also, Stephanie Heart and

Dan Hogan who manned the Faro and Poker tables once

again this year. David and Annette Grace tripped the light

fantastic Finally, The Rusty Mucket Boys

who create a wonderful ambience amid the

candles, cigar smoke, laughter, dancing

and singing.

Linda Bosley

Email — lindabosley66@gmail.com

F O R T T E J O N

H I S T O R I C A L

A S S O C I A T I O N

B i t s a n d p i e c e s

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