History sprang to life at Old Poway Park with historical re-enactments at the Rendezvous in Poway event.
About 800 Poway students and the public learned about history at period correct encampments over several days starting Oct. 2.
The event had a good turnout with thousands of attendees last weekend during the public portion of the event, said Sarah Becker, recreation area manager for the city of Poway.
“There was a flow throughout the whole event,” said Becker, who was assisted by Recreation Leader Annette Aronoff in coordinating the multi-day event. “It seems to be something the public enjoys interacting with and learning about our history at the encampments.”
Mountaineers, cowboys and pioneers re-enacted life of the 1820s through 1890s so visitors could experience history firsthand.
A few of the groups sharing information included the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Buffalo Soldiers and the Corps of Rediscovery group inspired by explorers Lewis and Clarke.
Criselda Yee
Members of Company 1 shared information about their Irish Corps from Mobile, Ala., of the First Irish Regiment Brigade. (Criselda Yee)
Criselda Yee
From left, Garrett Nobles shared information with members of the Poway royal court, from left, Kaydence Espinelli, Estela Latifzadeh (chaperone), and Poway queen Sidney Antique. (Criselda Yee)
Criselda Yee
Views of the Rendezvous in Poway encampments in Old Poway Park. (Criselda Yee)
Criselda Yee
The Fojas family members who panned for gold are, from left, Keeyan, dad Ronald and Malya. (Criselda Yee)
Criselda Yee
Families learned what it was like to pan for gold alongside Rattlesnake Creek in Old Poway Park. (Criselda Yee)
Criselda Yee
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Members of Company 1 shared information about their Irish Corps from Mobile, Ala., of the First Irish Regiment Brigade. (Criselda Yee)
School groups also engaged with Rendezvous in Poway activities where they made a tile at the pottery studio and learned about cursive writing at the Heritage Museum.
The Heritage Gardening Group ran a section on farming history and had the students pot plants, the Arts and Craft Guild helped students make silhouettes of themselves, and a Native American history section guided students into painting their own rocks.
Visitors also panned for gold along the banks of Rattlesnake Creek to experience the Gold Rush era.
Other activities included riding the park’s train, shopping at the Artisan Market for handmade items, and visiting the Nelson House and Heritage Museum and potted plants that they could take home.
Criselda Yee
Members of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War share historical information with Rendezvous in Poway visitors. At left is Jerry Sayre, past department commander of California and Pacific, with Fred Hall, right, senior vice commander. (Criselda Yee)
Criselda Yee
From left, Red Turner represents the Buffalo Soldier. Turner’s great-uncle, Henry Matthews, Jr., was a Buffalo Soldier at Fort Wachala, Ariz. Turner shared his history with Rendezvous in Poway visitors Starr and Truely Gloss. (Criselda Yee)
Criselda Yee
From left, Shelley Paters and Jennifer Morgan wore traditional dresses at Rendezvous in Poway. Peters has run the Kansas Mercantile for 25 years, selling period merchandise for Civil War reenactors as well as 19th century toys, clothing for Old West re-enactors, books and patterns. (Criselda Yee)
Criselda Yee
From left, historical reenactors Carl Costantino and fur trapper Chuck Preble are among the “Corps of Rediscovery” group that are inspired by explorers Lewis and Clark’s 1804 “Corps of Discovery.” (Criselda Yee)
Criselda Yee
From left, Connor Landry with his sons, Charlie, James and Louie, learn from living historian Joe Mortimer about how soldiers wrote letters and journals with writing tools such as feather quill pens. (Criselda Yee)
Criselda Yee
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Members of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War share historical information with Rendezvous in Poway visitors. At left is Jerry Sayre, past department commander of California and Pacific, with Fred Hall, right, senior vice commander. (Criselda Yee)
