Winner of 2 History Awards From the Kentucky Historical Society

THIS WEBSITE FUNDED BY THE FORT BOONESBOROUGH FOUNDATION

The Fireside Chats are presented annually in February by
 The Fort Boonesborough Foundation

Shop Our 18th Century
Transylvania Store!
Click Here to View Catalog

Click Here to go to the Online Store

Daniel Boone Kicks off the Fireside Chats

The 2010 series of Fireside Chats at the fort got off to a great start Saturday evening February 7, when Daniel Boone, portrayed by Scott New, greeted a “group of newly arrived settlers” to Kentucky. This Boone presentation is a new program that Scott has developed, which relates many of Boones experiences in what has since become Kentucky, up to about the time that he was living at Boone Station. The program included much information about the capture of the salt makers, Boones captivity and relationship with Blackfish, and the 1778 “Great Siege of Boonesborough”. As always the first person character interpretation was followed by a question and answer session to allow questions raised in the minds of those in attendance to be answered by the presenter.

On February 13, 2010 the presentation of Maggie Delaney - The Life of an 18th Century Indentured Servant - Portrayed by Carol Jarboe broke all attendance records for The Fireside Chats. Even though the event was sold out two weeks prior to the date, 114 people managed to hear an outstanding performance by Jarboe.

 The audience was a mix of regular “Chat goers” and people that specifically wanted to hear “Maggie Delaney.” And they were rewarded with an incredible performance. Carol and Frank Jarboe who portray Maggie and Parson John are regulars to Fort Boonesborough. And Carol first premiered this first person performance at the 2009 chats.To see a newsreel clip and read more about it Click Here.

 Colonel William Whitley was an important figure in early Kentucky. Although a little less known than some of the other early settlers Whitley played a vital role in settling the state. A reknowned Indian fighter In a powerful performance Matt Bryant portrayed William Whiley at the third February Fireside Chat. Whitley buil the first brick house in Kentucky “Sportsman Hill” and it was soon dubbed “The Guardian of the Wilderness Road”

For approximately 20 years after he came to Kentucky, Whitley was engaged in warfare with the Indians. In 1813, in his 65th year, he volunteered with the Kentucky Militia under Governor Shelby and fell in the decisive and victorious Battle of the Thames.
 

Governor Isaac Shelby Served Kentucky Well

Few men in early Kentucky served their state as well as Isaac Shelby. A soldier, a statesman, a governor (twice) and a farmer. And according to perennial favorite historic interpreter, Mel Hankla, being a farmer was what Shelby desired most. Although Hankla portrays two other historic figures, Simon Kenton and George Rogers Clark for The Kentucky Humanities Council Chautauqua, he admits that bringing Shelby to life had a lot to do with Shelby being a personal hero.

And at the performance of Shelby at the final 2010 Fort Boonesborough fireside chat Hankla’s portrayal resounded with that personal feeling for Isaac Shelby. “I have really honed this performance of Shelby” said Hankla. “For as the bicentennial of The War of 1812 approaches, people who have little knowledge of Isaac Shelby will be hearing more about the statesman who heard the call of his state and came back to public life both as governor and to lead Kentucky’s troops into battle in that war.” And bringing Shelby to the forefront educates all of us.

2009

2008

Fireside Chat February 7, 2009  Dr. Thomas Walker, Early Kentucky Explorer portrayed by Danny Hinton*

Fireside Chat February 14, 2009  Daniel Boone portrayed by Scott New*

Fireside Chat February 21, 2009  Maggie Delaney - Indentured Servant portrayed by Carol Jarboe

Fireside Chat February 28, 2009   Reverend Lewis Craig portrayed by Frank Jarboe

Fireside Chat February 2, 2008 A Musical Evening with E. L. Kurtz

Fireside Chat February 9, 2008 Esther Whitley portrayed by Melanie Kuntz

Fireside Chat February 16, 2008 Abraham Lincoln portrayed by Jim Sayre*

Fireside Chat February 23, 2008 Atta Kul Kulla - The Little Carpenter - Portrayed by Rob Rambo*

2007

Fireside Chat January 27, 2007   Daniel Boone portrayed by Steven Caudill

Fireside Chat February 3, 2007  William Whitley portrayed by Matt Bryant

Fireside Chat February 10, 2007  General George Rogers Clark  portrayed by Mel Hankla*

Fireside Chat February 17, 2007 Ann McGinty portrayed by Menanie Kuntz

Fireside Chat February 24, 2007 Govenor Isaac Shelby portrayed by Mel Hankla

Click here to see Newsreel Clips from the 2009 Fireside Chats

Click Here to see Newsreel Clips from the 2008 Fireside Chats

Click Here to see Newsreel Clips from the 2007 Fireside Chats

Newsreels © are a service of Pioneer Times www.graphicenterprises.net
Click here to see more newseels on Graphic Enterprises

Website designed and maintained by Graphic Enterprises