Participants of the First Annual Salmon Hole Massacre

Standing (L to R):  Stew Caldwell, with daughters Becky and Katie; Jack Chandler; Dan Kierstead; Jon Soule; Craig Villeneuve; Sue Rowell with son Flint; Rob Rowell (the tall one in back); Chauncey Goodrich; Steve Ostrowski; Ali Rowell; Med Chandler

Kneeling (L to R): Gary Staples; Gregg Champlin

I was fortunate to be invited to participate in the 1st Annual reenactment of the 1748 Salmon Hole Massacre, southern Vermont on a cold spring day in May. I was supposed to be with the King's Rangers for the 225th Anniversary of the attack on Sag Harbor, Long Island, New York. But I had long ago accepted the invitation to take part and so was able to be there for this new event on Saturday, May 18th. We were at the original site, which is now within the Jamaica State Park in Jamaica, Vermont (right on Route 30 between Manchester and Brattleboro).

The story of this day is in three parts, plus the history, and I have included lots of pictures, so I've divided it all to cover several pages, which I hope it will be easier for people on slow internet connections. And I hope you will go with the flow and read it all.

• History
  Click here to read a bit about the history of the area in 1748 and historical accounts of the massacre, and to see photos of artifacts found in the area.

• Prelude: Tranquility before Disaster Strikes
  Click here to read about a beautiful time at Fort 4 the night and morning before we arrived at Salmon Hole, and read the Captain's report from before the massacre.

• Our Reenactment of the Massacre
  Click here to read about and view pictures from the massacre at Salmon Hole, from my perspective and from the Captain's Report.

• Postlude: Feast and Fun
  Click here to read about and see pictures of the feast afterwards ... a good time was had by all.