Written by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor
Greenville, Missouri - The glory days of America's wild frontier are long gone, but you can still take a step back in time and relive history. The Crowley's Ridge Blackpowder Club of Dexter, Missouri would like to invite the public to their 36th Annual Old Greenville Rendezvous this weekend, April 12th and 13th.
Teachers, this is a perfect opportunity to have your students experience history right here in Southeast Missouri.
You will travel back in time to the 1840's (pre-Civil War era) where the smell of gunpowder will be in the air as old Mountain Men shoot their flintlocks and talk of tall tales!
There is something for everyone to see and do when you attend a Living History event such as this one. Indulge your senses with the aroma and taste of kettle corn, homemade rootbeer, BBQ, old-fashioned candy, fry bread, home-style potato chips, real squeezed lemonade and much more.
The event begins Saturday morning at 9 a.m. and runs through Sunday at 3 p.m. Registration will be open Saturday from 9 - 3 and Sunday 10 - 2 for those wanting souvenir t-shirts and sign up to shoot bow or gun. They are also raffling some awesome flintlock and percussion cap blackpowder rifles!!
Don't forget Sunday Church service begins at 9 a.m. with live music from local Mountain Men and Native Americans!
There will plenty to do at the Rendezvous: Blackpowder Shooting, Knife and Hawk Throw, Primitive Bow Shoot, Leather Tanning, Weaving, Primitive Traders with goods for sale, a Blacksmith's Shop, Atlatl Demonstrations, Woodcarving by Mike Clippard of Dexter, MO, Candy Cannon by C.G. Edwards, Old Fashioned Music, and games for the kids with lots of prizes.
This is the longest consecutive Rendezvous Event in the state of Missouri, lasting 36 years. Each year budgets are cut, funds are lacking and this year is no different. The Club raises money throughout the year by selling raffle tickets, t-shirts, Living History Program advertising spaces and asking for much needed donations to hold these Living History Events. They hope that with support from the community they will be able to continue this tradition for years to come. The CRBC Club is a non-profit club and hosts three vous' annually, this being the largest of the three.
There will be a large green registration tent on site with rifle raffles, cookbooks, postcards, medallions, and t-shirts and souvenirs for sale. They will also have a donation jar for anyone who would like to contribute to the "Keep Living History Alive" campaign.
The Rendezvous and parking is FREE to the public and you can even catch a ride on a wagon pulled by some mules or horses!
This event is held in conjunction with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Wappapello Lake. Each year they offer the campground to the Club to host the Rendezvous. If you are interested in modern camping, call the office at 572-222-8562. They would be glad to help!
The CRBC also hosts a Rendezvous on the River in New Madrid, Missouri in conjunction with the New Madrid Chamber of Commerce during their Fall Festival. This year the date is October 4, 2014. Another event in October is the 15th Annual Bloomfield, Missouri. This year the event will take place on October 11th and 12th. This will be the 15th year for that event and will be located across the Stars and Stripes Museum on highway 25.
If you would like more information about the Rendezvous or joining the Crowley's Ridge Blackpowder Club, you can contact Alex Hanners "Snapper", President of the Crowley's Ridge Blackpowder Club at 573-321-0401 or Dee Loflin, Secretary/Treasurer at 573-380-3318. They also have a Facebook page.
