1-21-2020: Don Riddle. Brunswick, Missouri, died January 9, 2020, age 76. He was a member of the Potawatomi Trail of Death Assn., representing Missouri. He helped with getting historical markers across the state of Missouri, working with Boy Scouts. He will be replaced by Anita Brown, Brunswick, Missouri. She has worked with the PTDA for many years and also helped get historical markers erected.

The Trail of Courage Living History Festival will be at Fulton County Historical Society this weekend Sept. 21-22, located on U.S. 31 north of Rochester. Hours are 10-6 on Saturday and 10-4 on Sunday. Admission charged. Proceeds help Fulton County Museum to be open year around.

The singing drum for Indian dances has traditionally been all men but this year the drum for the Trail of Courage is all women, led by Candy Little Hawk Larrew, South Bend. Other members are Kim Spirit Hawk Setnor, daughter of Fred Oden, Tiosa, drum keeper; Alissa Dancing Bear Cartwright, Hamlet - head singer; Josie Spirit Walker Lajunesse, Kontz Lake. They have played for schools, nursing homes, Buffalo Society Pow Wow, Rockford, Illinois, history village, and more. The group was founded in 2005.

Other new programs will be Lane and Jenny Laffoon. Lane plays banjo and guitar, Jenny plays flute and guitar, and they both sing.

Danny Russel portrays Daniel Boone, America’s finest frontiersman.

Returning are “old favorites” including River Valley Colonials fife and drum corps, Wisconsin; Mark Gropp with bagpipes, concertina and homemade fudge, Orland, IN; Aztec Dancers from Mexico and Chicago; Anderson High School Highlanders - bagpipe band, Highland Fling dance and Frontier Frolic; Liza and Mark Woolever, guitar, fiddle, tin whistle, dancing wooden man and more; Genot Picor - voyaguer, and Mike Kenny, guitar, Rochester.

Head dancers will be Tim Jordon, Union Mills, Indiana, and Little Bird Rivers, Kingston, Arkansas. Indian dances are 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. in special dance arena. Emcee will be George Godfrey, Citizen Potawatomi Nation. Godfrey lives near Springfield, IL.

Also Kim Hoover will bring rehabilitated birds from her Hoots to Howls facility on Saturday only. Soarin’ Hawk, Raptor Rehab, will bring hawks Sunday only.

Historic church services will be conducted by Father Denny Kinderman on Hillside stage and Kevin Kennedy - Protestant, on Chippeway stage in the woods.

Many historic camps, traditional crafts, and other aspects of frontier life will be shown by people in pre-1840 clothing. Canoe rides on the Tippecanoe River will be available.

The Fulton County Museum, round barn and living history village called Loyal, Indiana, will be open. Volunteers are needed to host these buildings and other jobs during the festival and help clean up afterward. Call the museum at 574-223-4436 or email to volunteer and earn free admission to the Trail of Courage.