Board Meeting Minutes – April 19, 2013 – Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail Association

Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail Association

Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

April 19, 2013

The meeting of the Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail Association Board of Directors was held at the Cove Ridge Center on February 15, 2013 at 12 pm. Present at the meeting were Jim Addington, Robert Chapman, Gretchen Cope, Joe Fuller, Erwin Forrest, Megan France, John Mullen, Joan Short, Ron Short, Dale Taylor, and Larry Fleenor.

Approval of Minutes:

John Mullen pointed out that the minutes from the March 15, 2013 meeting reflected that he was in attendance at that meeting when he in fact was not.

Ron Short moved that the minutes from the March 15, 2013 meeting be approved with the correction noted. John Mullen seconded the motion and it was approved unanimously.

Treasurer’s Report:

Joe Fuller delivered the Treasurer’s report. A full copy of the report is filed in the Secretary’s archive.

Ron Short moved that the financials be approved as reported. Jim Addington seconded the motion and it was approved unanimously.

Park Report

Megan France reported that the park was busy preparing for the Frontier Muster and Trade Faire and that everyone was gearing up for the busy main season.

Frontier Muster and Trade Faire

Ron reported that there were several differences between the 2013 program and previous programs. For example, the 2013 program was not able to rely so heavily on park staff due to restrictions on wage staff. He explained that this limitation would greatly impact the amount of people on hand to assist with the program. Ron also explained that there was an increase in restrictions on the use of black powder, which would limit their use of firearms. However, he also reported that the grant that was received enabled them to focus more on education by bringing in Micah Swimmer and his family as well as some African American re-enactors to provide a slave narrative.

Joan added that there would be several workshops and programs such as cooking, Cherokee dance, a slave narrative, and a church service.

Old Business:

There was no old business.

New Business:

There was no new business.

Announcements:

There were no announcements.

Adjournment:

Jim Addington made the motion to adjourn. Ron Short seconded that 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