Plover Portage Rendezvous
Thread of History

What the heck's a Rendezvous??

The first rendezvous was held in 1825. It's originator, William H. Ashley, was not a Mountain Man. He had entered the fur trade to make his fortune. Ashley headed out of Fort Atkinson heading to the mountains with merchandise in early November 1824. By February he rode into the front range of the Rockies, reaching the Green River south of South Pass in April. Traveling down the Green River toward the Uinta Mountains, were he suspected a river flowed into the Green, he told his men to meet him there and pass the word about his meeting place and time, 10 July 1825. There he would trade with the Mountain Men for their furs. His diary records:

“The place of rendezvous for all our parties on or before the 10th July next & that the places may be known -- Trees will be pealed standing the most conspicuous near the Junction of the rivers or above the mountains as these may be -- . Should such point be without timber I will raise a mound of Earth five high or set up rocks the top of which will be made red with vermilion thirty feet distant from the same ---- one foot below the surface of the earth a northwest direction will be deposited a letter communicating to the party any thing that I may deem necessary”

Thus began an annual event that lasted until 1840.

Today re-enactors or Buckskinners relive this event by setting up camp with their fellows, dressing the part, engaging in period events, all in the interest of recapturing the flavor and history of the Fur Trade Era 1760-1840.

Begun in 1998, the Portage County Historical Society of Wisconsin has sponsored an annual Rendezvous at our Heritage Park. This three acres of land located in the middle of Plover, formerly the village square, now houses an eight building historic park. But, the third weekend in July this Park comes alive with Buckskinners!

The only reason the Society is able to host a Rendezvous is through the efforts of a local Buckskinners, who have taken us under their wings. Ron "Coffee Man" Coker, a retired Navy man, agreed to act as our first Booshway.

In 2002 Bethann Laars agreed to take over as Booshway. Their efforts have made the Plover Portage Rendezvous an authentic re-enactment of life during the early 1800's in Wisconsin.
Coffeeman
Ron "Coffeeman" Coker Bethann "Bearheart" Laars Andrea Mielke

Threads of History

In 2002 we added another aspect of early Wisconsin life; "Threads of History". This was to provide insight into the making of clothes, rugs, brooms, soap, baskets, candles; another words, everyday necessities. Andrea Mielke of Mielke's Farm Fiber Arts, agreed to run this part of our Rendezvous.

Why Plover Portage??

Justin Isherwood's booklet "A Place Called Plover Portage" gives an accurate historic and geologic/geographic description of the area surrounding the current village of Plover. On January 14, 1845 three Post Offices were created in Portage County. One was officially called Plover Portage. This was shortened to Plover in 1850. It's first Postmaster was George Wyatt. It is because of this historic connection that our Rendezvous carries this name.

Unfortunately, our first Rendezvous, 1998, was not captured on film. Hey, we were flatlanders, first class!!
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