One of the most special Logan County annual events each early spring is Blanket Trade Day at the Red River Meeting House near Schochoh. Even though the official name says ‘Day,’ the official celebration actually lasts all three days of the weekend.
This Friday is set-up day for campers. Trade Day runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, which is the day for shopping. People are welcome to bring a blanket or table to set items on that they would like to sell or trade. Items can be from any era, not just 17th century.
“We thought it would be helpful to people who want to get started in living history to have access to items at yard sale prices. That is why we began having the Blanket Trade Days. It is a fun way to get rid of things re-enactors no longer need or use and to acquire new things they want to use,” says Dreama Ruley, who coordinates the event each year along with her husband Tom.
Young Kaitlyn Guyer will speak at 2 p.m. on Saturday about Rahab's Rope, which is a ministry to help free women in India who are part of the human trafficking crisis there. She will also have handmade bags, scarves, and jewelry for sale that the women in India have made.
“The vision of Rahab's Rope is to see lives transformed by God's love in action. We reveal His love in a way that an individual can see, understand, and respond to in faith. God allows us to facilitate the process by which each woman in our care is first provided for emotionally, physically, and spiritually, then provided with basic education and training in vocational skills and eventually enabled to re-enter her community in a positive and contributing way. We equip each woman to reach out to her community and create a current of positive change,” Dreama Ruley explains.
“Kaitlyn heard about Rahab's Rope and how it rescues women from the slave trade and even though she is only 8 years old, she wanted to do what she could to help. She has hosted parties in her home and traveled to others' homes to give presentations about Rahab's Rope and to sell the beautiful handmade jewelry, scarves and bags from India. It is such a blessing to hear this child speak with such passion for the women in slavery.”
A community potluck will be at 5 p.m.
A presentation on How to Get Started in Reenacting Cheaply at 7 p.m followed by a round robin game that will involve 17th century items. The Round Robin game is a quick bidding and trading game. The participants only bring one special item. Others make offers and the owner takes the best bid. The game gets interesting when participants acquire more than one item and offer them for other items. It is fun to see who takes what home with them.
Sunday will include a Scottish Presbyterian Sacrament service officiated by Parson John (Frank Jarboe) at 10 a.m. Everyone is invited to participate.
“Parson John will be doing a period correct Presbyterian sacrament service. He has documentation on how services would have been conducted 200 years ago and shares a sermon from that time as well. It is always amazing how timely those sermons are to today,” Dreama Ruley continues. “Parson John travels extensively throughout the year to other living history events and is very well known and sought after. We are very blessed to have him at our event. Everyone is welcome to attend and anyone who has accepted Christ as their Savior is welcome to participate in the sacrament (communion).”
For more information you can go to rrmh.org or call Tom Ruley at 270-586-7632. He says, “Many living historians work all winter producing clothing and period correct items to sell, and our trade faire is their first stop of the season. Items for sale are not limited to just reenacting; we also welcome trade blankets with modern yard sale goods. You never know what you’ll find.”