The Indians were well represented with a camp that commanded the center park area.  There were dancers, and performers as well as living examples of what life was like before the turn of the century.  The pottery and leather works made by the Indians were on display in many of the shelters which had been assembled out of canvas and poles.  We watched as the dancers performed a dance honoring those who had passed.  The audience was asked to join and walk or dance in the great circle in the middle of the encampment. Not to be out done were the wonderful artisans who were practicing their art or trade throughout the park.  We stopped by and watched a man working an ancient loom as he made a blanket.  This loom was given as a wedding gift in 1818 to Sarah Ann Massey and has since passed through several hands until bought by Wayne Fries who was operating it today. Then there was the man who was making the most beautiful redwood buckets, all from hand, no power tools please.  Even the wooden brace used to hold the wood parts of the bucket was handmade a century ago by an unknown craftsman.  I loved this part of the show as the smell of freshly shaved redwood gave the whole area a wonderful aroma.  This craftsman made the task look so easy as he effortlessly pulled slivers of wood from one of the slats used in the buckets. Probably the most fascinating device I found there was a 12th century portable lathe.  This marvelous contraption utilized a foot pedal with a line wrapped around it, then around the dowel or wood to be turned and then up to a stout branch of a tree for the return power.  When stepped on, the dowel spun as the line pulled the limb down, when released the tree limb sprung back reversing the action.  As there was no tree available at the show, an old wooden bow was used as a replacement.  The thing worked with surprising effectiveness as the craftsman spun out a wonderfully ornate chair leg.  And so it was for the afternoon, marvelous things everywhere around us and so much to see.  Through all this was the constant sound of music drifting among the visitors, artisans, and craftsmen, Indians and settlers, all wound together in a delightful array of product sound and food.  It was a very good day.

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