FORT SILL, Okla. (Oct. 16, 2014) -- Fort Sill hosted its sixth annual Frontier Army Days Oct. 10-11 at the Old Post Quadrangle.
The living history program was designed to give kids the opportunity for a hands on learning experience through re-enactment and historical storytelling.
On Friday, more than 1,000 students from 12 schools came to learn about different areas of frontier life.
Saturday's historical re-enactments were open to the public. New this year, the 19th century base ball game between the Fort Sill Cannonballs and the Fort Sill Indians gave up the sweltering July temperatures turning the annual match into a veritable "Fall Classic."
Frank Siltman, Fort Sill director of museum services, worked with historians and volunteer actors to re-enact life on early Fort Sill between 1869-1875.
"What it really offers is a chance for kids to do hands on history," he said. "Even when they come and visit our museum during normal work hours, they see things behind glass cases. But, today they are out here and they're going to touch a washboard and lye soap, they're going to watch a cannon fire, they're going to watch a guy on horseback charge across the quadrangle.
"This is an opportunity for them to see and touch history, more than just see it in a magazine, a book, on TV or even see it in a museum," he said.
Children and families who attended moved between eight stations, each re-enacting a vital part of life on Fort Sill.
There were cavalry demonstrations on horseback, Buffalo Soldiers giving tours of the barracks, United States marshals at the guard house, infantrymen shooting rifles, a laundress station, surgeon, school house and field artillery cannon firings.
"What I want to share with the kids now, is to imprint upon them that memory. That they can come back and say this is something. that they have the opportunity to touch, see, and feel history," Siltman said.
Students from area schools, including Geronimo Road and Sheridan Road elementary schools here viewed first-hand the games and toys children their ages played with while at school.
They learned how a surgeon treated battle wounds and helped laundry women washing various clothing garments.
Escorts dressed in period clothing brought each group of students to the various stations. They were even treated to a special escort by Tim Poteete and his horse Spirit while they crossed the road to the Guard House.
Rhonda Anderson, a third grade teacher at Geronimo Road Elementary School, described Frontier Army Days as an instructional tool to help students learn about Fort Sill history and where Fort Sill is heading in the future.
"We can use this, especially with some of the younger kids, when we're learning about Oklahoma history. Since we are a military base school, they need to know the history of the military and Fort Sill," said Anderson. "In third grade, we are responsible for teaching about Oklahoma history and Fort Sill plays a role in that history as well as dealing with the different branches of the Army, such as cavalry and infantry. Since all of our kids' parents are military, they can relate and see how it was different back a hundred or so years ago."
Courtney Harter, Geronimo Road Elementary School counselor, said it was the hands-on learning and the authenticity of the experience that makes it more real for the students.
"The sights and the smells, like the musky smells in the jail, is important to experience," she said.
"Even being able to smell the black powder from the guns and cannons, it's multi-sensory learning." said Anderson.
Saturday afternoon, visitors were treated to an old-fashion base ball game between the Fort Sill Cannonballs and Indian Scouts from Troop L.
All players were dressed in uniforms from the time period and played by the rules of the late 1800s.
Pitches were made underhand and often at the request of the batter. Some called for the ball down low, while others preferred deliveries up near their shoulders and took their whacks.
A single umpire made calls from the sidelines and gave four strikes to an out.
Fielders caught batted balls bare-handed, with those that bounced once declared an out just like catching a fly ball or pop-up.
Gloves were rarely worn and considered unmanly in olden times, so the Cannonballs and Indians played without.
Between innings, announcer Clive Siegle entertained spectators with old fashion commercials. Siegle's wit and historical perspective led to boisterous product sales, resort get-a-ways, and other public service announcements that would have been heard during similiar games in the 1800s.
Despite some initial adjustment to the vintage rules, the Cannonballs pulled ahead to win the game 8-4.
The annual event continues to grow each year, and Siltman expects an even bigger turn out in 2015. Frontier Days keeps the history of Fort Sill alive and passes on to children the stories and experiences of early Army life on the frontier.
Social Sharing