Narrowsburg, NY –Sullivan County seeks volunteers this summer to transport visitors back in time to the late 1700s.
Fort Delaware Museum of Colonial History opens Memorial Day weekend in Narrowsburg, where a host of costumed interpreters will spend weekends (through Columbus Day) demonstrating and discussing the lifestyle of European settlers in the Catskills and Upper Delaware River Valley.
“The Fort is based on a real fort that once stood just upriver, so we want our re-enactors to look and sound just as real,” notes Parks, Recreation & Beautification Director Brian Scardefield. “We’ll train and equip them, so long as they commit to volunteering even just one day at the Fort.”
Skills on display include blacksmithing, sewing, candlemaking, artillery, music, storytelling, cooking, weaving and more. Volunteers need not have any experience in these trades – just a willingness to learn and show others. They also can be of any age, from children (accompanied by a parent) and teenagers to adults and senior citizens.
“Fort Delaware is an historic attraction in itself, and I encourage those who have enjoyed its long history to give a little back to the community and our visitors by stepping into costume and sharing what life was like way back then,” encourages District 4 Legislator Catherine Owens, chair of the Legislature’s Agriculture and Sustainability Policy Committee. “It promises to be a memorable, maybe even life-changing experience!”
Established by former County Historian James W. Burbank in 1957, Fort Delaware depicts life as it was circa 1760. Faithfully maintained by Sullivan County’s Office of Parks, Recreation & Beautification and Division of Public Works, the Fort is perfect for kids, adults and families, with interactive exhibits and plenty of nooks and crannies to explore. It’s also located right along Route 97, the Upper Delaware Scenic Byway, in Narrowsburg, a riverside hamlet full of shops and restaurants.
For more information or to sign up to become a volunteer, contact Brian Scardefield at brian.scardefield@sullivanny.us or 845-807-0287.
