Fort Frederick State Park

Before a Sunday afternoon thunderstorm caused Fort Frederick State Park to cancel the remainder of its French and Indian War Muster weekend, visitors got to witness one battle re-enactment outside the stone fort. Musket fire volleyed back and forth between the French and British sides of the re-enacted battle. Some French could be heard among the re-enactors portraying French Marines and Milice, or French militia. That French came in handy Sunday, as the state park had visitors from France among its tourists, said Park Ranger Bob Study with the Maryland Park Service.

Taking a field trip to Fort Frederick State Park By KERRI SACCHET / Staff Writer photo: JOE CROCETTA / staff photographer Editor's Note : We asked our student interns this summer to take a look at Washington County attractions with a tourist's eyes. Through their reports, we hope you might rediscover attractions in our own back yard. This is the fifth in a series. BIG POOL - Rich, green pine trees dot the sides of the road that lead to a quaint fort with four, 120-foot-long walls.

BIG POOL - The annual attendance at Fort Frederick State Park in 2006 was nearly double that of previous years. "This has been the busiest year at Fort Frederick that anyone can remember," Park Manager Angela Hummer said. "We rechecked our car counter about four times during the year to be sure it was working properly. We could not believe the figures, and we triple-checked the math. " More than 82,000 people visited the park in 2006, according to Hummer. This includes people who stopped at the park's visitors center.

The Maryland Park Service and the Friends of Fort Frederick State Park will host the 12th Annual 18th-Century Market Fair at Fort Frederick State Park from April 27 to 30. Admission costs $4 per person; ages 6 and younger are admitted free. Times for the Market Fair are: Thursday, April 27, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, April 28, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 29, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 30, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors to Fort Frederick State Park will meet more than 150 artisans, craftspeople and vendors who sell reproductions of 18th-century items, including furniture, clothing, guns, powder horns and hunting bags.

BIG POOL - A managed deer hunt will be conducted Dec. 1-4 at Fort Frederick State Park. The hunt to control the deer herd on public lands will be held during the hours of sunrise to 1 p.m. each day. Twenty-five hunters each day, selected by a lottery drawing, will be placed in pre-determined locations to harvest an antlerless deer. Shotguns with rifled slugs will be used. The park will remain closed during the hunt. Applications for the lottery can be found in the 1997-98 "Hunting and Trapping Guide" or picked up at Fort Frederick State Park.

The fourth annual market fair and rifle frolic, sponsored by Patuxents for the Friends of Fort Frederick, will be at Fort Frederick State Park today through Sunday, April 26. Gate fees will be $3 for adults and $2 for children ages 6 to 12. Admission is free for children younger than 6. The park will be open today, Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. All access to the C&O Canal, Big Pool and the...

BIG POOL - The Maryland Park Service and the Friends of Fort Frederick State Park will host the 13th annual 18th Century Market Fair at Fort Frederick State Park later this month. Admission costs $4 for adults and $2 for children ages 7 to 12. Children ages 6 and younger are admitted free. Times for the Market Fair are: · Thursday, April 26, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. · Friday, April 27, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. · Saturday, April 28, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. · Sunday, April 29, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors to the fort will meet more than 150 artisans, craftspeople and vendors who sell reproductions of 18th century items, including furniture, clothing, guns, powder horns and hunting bags.

In a unanimous vote, the Washington County Commissioners voted Tuesday to give $10,000 to help pay for a weekend of festivities to celebrate Fort Frederick's 250th anniversary. "I firmly believe we need to be supportive of those things that do bring people into the county," Commissioner Doris J. Nipps said. The anniversary, featuring reenactments and period entertainers, is May 26 to 28, according to the Friends of Fort Frederick State Park Inc. Web site.

HANCOCK - The Washington County Commissioners will hold a public hearing before deciding whether to close a service road at Licking Creek west of Big Pool. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources asked the commissioners to close the road because of criminal activity, including illegal hunting, drug and alcohol use, littering, dumping and camping. Ralph Young, manager of Fort Frederick State Park, said keeping the road open would pose safety issues for the Western Maryland Rail Trail, which is expected to open this spring.

Before a Sunday afternoon thunderstorm caused Fort Frederick State Park to cancel the remainder of its French and Indian War Muster weekend, visitors got to witness one battle re-enactment outside the stone fort. Musket fire volleyed back and forth between the French and British sides of the re-enacted battle. Some French could be heard among the re-enactors portraying French Marines and Milice, or French militia. That French came in handy Sunday, as the state park had visitors from France among its tourists, said Park Ranger Bob Study with the Maryland Park Service.

Visiting Fort Frederick State Park this weekend will be like taking a walk back in time. “Everything is all old-looking here,” said Williamsport resident Jerry Keplinger, 58. “It's quiet and relaxing.” Keplinger was among those who turned out Thursday for the first day of the 18th Century Market Fair. The 18th annual fair, which runs through Sunday, includes sutlers selling 18th-century materials, campers re-creating the period from 1730 to 1790, period music and more.

1. A trip back in time Fort Frederick State Park hosts its annual 18th-Century Market Fair. The fair includes artisans, craftspeople and sutlers and an 18th-century encampment. The fort will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, April 26, Friday, April 27, and Saturday, April 28; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, April 29. The fort is at 11100 Fort Frederick Road, Big Pool. Admission is $3; $2, ages 6 to 12; free for ages 5 and younger. Call 301-842-2155 or go to www.friendsoffortfrederick.info.

The Washington County Historical Society chose as its first preservation efforts in 1911 the Washington Monument and Fort Frederick because of their importance to both local and national historic events. The history of the monument was covered in last month's column, this column will follow Fort Frederick's history. Advocacy on behalf of the fort dragged on for 11 years, causing huge frustration among WCHS board members. The State of Maryland did acquire the fort, known as the "Gibraltar on the Potomac," and the surrounding forest lands in 1922.

Open studio Metal sculptor Scott Cawood opens his studio to visitors. Showing work in progress and holiday gift ideas. Noon to 5 p.m. today. Scott Cawood Art Studio, 3829 Harpers Ferry Road, south of Sharpsburg. Free. Go to  www.cawoodart.com , send email to cawood@cawoodart.com or call 301-432-2131. Fall Fair and Art Show Mountaintop Community Fall Fair and Art Show features artists, authors, handmade crafts and food. Antique appraisals, $5 per item.

1. Conservation on film American Conservation Film Festival runs Thursday, Nov. 3, through Sunday, Nov. 6. Festival features films on conservation, including "The Polar Explorer," pictured. Three venues in Shepherdstown, W.Va. $40 full festival pass; $10, individual block tickets. For a list of films, go to www.conservationfilm .org. Call 304-876-7373 or email info@conservationfilm.org . 2. 'The Rivalry' begins Friday "The Rivalry," a play about the Lincoln-Douglas debates.

Fort Frederick State Park will host an astronomy program Saturday at 8 p.m. The program, held at the newly created amphitheater behind the nature center, will focus on observational astronomy with a chance to try out the park's new 10-inch Dobsonian reflecting telescope. Fort Frederick is an ideal site for astronomical observation because skies are dark with minimal light pollution. Participants might be able to view double stars, distant galaxies, nebulae, and star clouds of the Milky Way through the park's new telescope.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources will present an evening of star gazing Saturday at 8 p.m. at Fort Frederick State Park. The event will be at the newly created amphitheater behind the nature center. The nature center is next to Captain Wort's store across the road from the fort. The astronomy program will be presented by a park naturalist. The lunar surface, double stars, galaxies, star clusters, the Milky Way and other deep sky objects can be viewed through the park's new 10-inch Dobsonian reflecting telescope.

Fort Frederick will host a hands-on nature program for children ages 8 to 12  Monday, Aug. 1 through Saturday, Aug. 6, at Fort Frederick State Park. The program consists of five sessions held from 9 to 11 a.m. plus an overnight camping experience on Saturday, Aug. 6 starting at 6 p.m. For more information, call 301-842-2155 or go to www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/western/fortfrederick.asp.