Demonstrations Updated April 2008

  During the 18^th century, settlers depended upon their own skills and knowledge to provide materials for a home or a farm and to create clothing and food for their families. During the Rendezvous, craftspeople demonstrate talents that were essential for a community to survive throughout the frontier. Some of the following represent the types of demonstrations available during the annual Memorial Day weekend event conducted in Vincennes, IN.

18th Century Physician - .John Murphy portrays Joseph La Bolle, a French barber-surgeon living during 1758 in French-occupied Kaskaskia. He demonstrates authentic medical paraphernalia, therapeutic herbs, spices, and leeches as well as medical techniques. Visitors may enjoy discussions pertaining to 18^th century surgical procedures, bloodletting, purging, blistering, dental treatment, and other early medical practices

Wood Crafting - Pioneers used tools such as the adz, hewing hatchet, drawknife, spokeshave, and shaving horse to produce everyday items for the home and the farm. Visitors may watch Arthur Redinger illustrate these tools and explain their importance to the settlers..

Demonstrators  

Demonstrators interested in participating in the Spirit of Vincennes Rendezvous should contact Junior Fischer for more information. Mr. Fischer may be reached by e-mail at merchants @ spiritofvincennes.org
 by phone at (812) 882-7079 or by mail at 1320 Upper 11^th St., Vincennes, IN 47591.

Rendezvous home

The Spirit of Vincennes, Inc. is a non-profit organization
dedicated to preserving and to presenting
the history of the Vincennes, Indiana area.
Spirit of Vincennes, Inc
P.O. Box 1816
Vincennes, IN 47591

Web Master Frank Doughman, Webmaster @ spiritofvincennes.org