THE COURIER

THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF CROSSROADS OF TEXAS LIVING HISTORY ASSOCIATION

SPRING 2007

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

Fellow Crossroaders,

I want to first of all let you know how honored I am to have been chosen as this years president of the Crossroads Association.  For many years I have managed to dodge this responsibility, but it seems that someone finally caught on and could not escape. All kidding aside, I am truly honored to be the president of a group of dedicated and experienced living historians.  Old and new Crossroaders alike have been working to improve the quality of our events and to hammer together new events and ideas for what looks like it might be an exciting year.

The time draws dangerously close to the dates for the Fannin Massacre reenactment on March 24th and 25th. This year’s event should be a great and as exciting as years past. Individual after individual has told me how much they enjoy this event and consider it one that cannot be missed. It is a labor of love for all of us in COTLHA and many other organizations across the state. These groups come together out of a deep love history, and with intent to remember the past. Politics and petty considerations are left at home as participants come together to put on the premier Texas Revolution Reenactment. We can all be proud.

            Planning and preparation for our other events are under way. Gonzales and Folklife coordinators tell me that those events promise to be pretty good this year. Some ideas for events have been kicked around and I hope that these ideas develop and mature. I would not mind at all seeing some more COTLHA events, or maybe the resurrection of some of our old events.

This past year has been a sad one for many in the Living History crowd. We lost Mike Cody, who regularly portrayed a soldado at many events around the state. Mike was great guy. I always referred to him as "Irish Mike". I remember the Irish harp pin on his barracks cap and the great curled mustache.

            Boyd Harrison of LaVernia left us. He was the ultimate longhunter. An educator, consummate historian and a good man to share a jug and a campfire.  Too soon he left us. He will be missed.

All of the long time Crossroaders will miss Dorothy Trowbridge. For folks who are new to COTLHA, Dorothy was the wife of my friend Steve Trowbridge, past officer and prominent member of our Association. She was a bright smile and smart remark. She laughed with us and occasionally at all of us over the years. She falls in the category of "great lady".

Anyhow we will forge on and do some great events. We will continue to study the noble subject of history, educate the public, spend good quality time with wonderful friends, and generally have a great time this year.

Yours truly,

David Vickers

President

CROSSROADS OF TEXAS LIVING HISTORY ASSOCIATION

2007 OFFICERS FOR COTLHA:

President David Vickers                         djvickers@hotmail.com

Secretary William V. Scott                       wvscott@cox.net

Treasurer Jeremy Martin                         jkmartin@suddenlink.com

Quartermaster Rodney Nance                mnance@awesomenet.net

Webmaster Steve Trowbridge                 trowbridges@uhv.edu

LATEST NEWS ON UPCOMING EVENTS

I just received the invitation asking us to perform at this year's Folklife and I have sent in our application.  Folklife will be Friday, June 8 through Sunday, June 10.  Thursday has been dropped for financial reasons.  I am trying to set things up for us to do the same as last year.  Since we do not have the Thursday, I think as many of us as possible should try to stay all day Sunday instead of leaving early as we have done in the past.  Several folks have told me that they wanted to be on the Folklife list but just to make sure I have not forgotten anyone, I am asking that everyone who wants to go contact me at 361-676-2208 or riedeseld@suddenlink.net to verify their attendance.  This event is open to only COTLHA member with this year's membership paid in full!!!

I am assuming Come and Take It will be held on Friday, Oct. 5 through Sunday, Oct. 7 and I think we will be doing everything as we have done in the past.

Dennis R. Riedesel, Ed. D.

CALENDER OF EVENTS

17 March                      Woodcutter’s Ball                                  Presidio LaBahia/Goliad

24 – 25 March               Fannin Massacre Reenactment                Presidio LaBahia/Goliad

4 – 5 May                     Fort Chadbourne Days                          Ft. Chadbourne/Bronte

8 – 10 June                   Folklife Festival                                      Institute of Texan Cutures

5 – 7 October               Come and Take It Reenactment              Pioneer Village/ Gonzales         

27 – 28 October            Texian Market Days                               George Ranch/ Richmond

16 – 18 November        Plantation Liendo Reenactment              Liendo/Hempstead

SEE YOU AT GOLIAD!!!