Taming the Wilderness

Credit: Abbe Christian

Hailey Hansen assists as Craig Jacobs, left, and Stephen Nash saw a log.

By: Orange News Staff | Orange County Review
Published: September 28, 2011

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Historic Ellwood Manor on the Wilderness Battlefield hosted the fifth annual "Taming the Wilderness," an 18th century living history event, Sunday, Sept. 25. The event is hosted by Friends of Wilderness Battlefield in partnership with the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park. Guests had the opportunity to watch and question traditional craftsmen at work or roll up their sleeves and try the skills first hand. Ellwood Manor, built in the last quarter of the 1700's, was then in the heart of the Wilderness, on the edges of civilized society. Many skills and talents were needed to survive and thrive in The Wilderness. Nearly two dozen traditional artisans and frontier re-enactors brought the grounds at Ellwood to life, demonstrating how it was possible to build and maintain a home in such a hostile environment. For more photos from the event, see the Sept. 29 Orange County Review.