Association Meeting Minutes – May 17, 2013 – Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail Association

Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail Association

Meeting Minutes

Friday, May 17, 2013

The meeting of the Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail Association was held at the Cove Ridge Center on Friday, March 15, 2013 at 12 pm. Present at the meeting were Jim Addington, Joe Brown, Robert Chapman, Margaret Counts, Gretchen Cope, Dr. Larry Fleenor, Erwin Forrest, Joe Fuller, Gaynell Marshall, Wanda McConnell, Ish Richardson, Joan Short, Ron Short, John Stafford, and Dale Taylor.

Approval of Minutes from March meeting:

Gaynell Marshall moved that the minutes be approved as written. Wanda McConnell seconded the motion and it was approved unanimously.

Treasurer’s Summary Report:

Joe Fuller delivered the Treasurer’s Report. A full copy of the report is filed in the Secretary’s archive. John Stafford moved to pay all pending debits as well as to approve the treasurer’s report as reported. Wanda McConnell seconded the motion and it was approved unanimously.

Blockhouse Report:

Dale Taylor reported that there were still some slots available for the second half of the year and that attendance so far had not been bad.

Report from Natural Tunnel:

Ishmael Richardson announced that Dale’s efforts with the Blockhouse were much appreciated. He also announced that the pool was scheduled to open the next day and that the park was very busy in preparation for the summer season.

Program:

Report on Frontier Muster and Trade Faire

Joan presented photos taken by Retha and Ken Reece of the 2013 Frontier Muster and Trade Faire. Ron Short also reported that all the workshops for the event were very popular and he suggested that the Association continue to provide workshops that appeal to entire families.

Ron moved to grant one year honorary memberships to all the visiting workshop leaders. Margaret Crouch seconded the motion and it was approved unanimously.

Old Business

Joan reported that there was still great interest in the Kane Gap Trail project.

New Business:

There was no new business.

Announcements:

Joan announced that the event at Sycamore Shoals was scheduled for the following weekend and encouraged all to attend.

Adjournment:

Wanda McConnell moved to adjourn. Margaret Crouch seconded the motion and it was approved unanimously.

About the book: The Blockhouse On The Holston

The Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail Association has published a history of the Blockhouse that was built in 1775 on the North Fork of the Holston by John Anderson. His fortified home became a landmark along the road west, the Wilderness Road, marked by Daniel Boone that same year. Over the next thirty years, some 300,000 people passed Anderson’s home on their journey through Cumberland Gap and on into what would become the state of Kentucky, and further westward.

William L. Anderson, a direct descendant of John, has written a well-researched book that tells the story, the history of the home that became known to posterity as “The Blockhouse,” and its part in the expansion westward of our new nation. The Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail Association is proud to offer this book that tells, for the first time in such detail, the very significant part played in our nation’s history by the pioneer settlers of the western frontier during the last quarter of the eighteenth century.

Also included in the book are many brief biographies of significant players in the story, maps, an article on Fort Blackmore, and the diary of early explorer Dr. Thomas Walker.

The book may be purchased for $19.95 at Natural Tunnel State Park at the Visitor’s Center and at the Wilderness Road Blockhouse Interpretive Center (276-940-2674) and at the law offices of Lisa Ann McConnell in Duffield. Or contact Robert E. McConnell at roberte@mounet.com or 276-452-4520

About the book: The Blockhouse On The Holston