Wendell Smith (left), captain of the reenactment
group portraying the Revolutionary War 2nd Connecticut Regiment of Militia,
serves as the operator of the "candy cannon" on the lawn in front of the Orchard
House during the annual Family 4th at the Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site July 4.
About 50 feet from the still-smoking cannon, the launched candy pieces can be
seen landing as numerous children close in on the hoped-for sweet prizes.
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Big crowd for Family 4th at Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site
A young attendee at the Rock Ledge Ranch
Family 4th enjoys running with a small American flag on the Orchard House
lawn.
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Update, July 14: The verified figures for paid admission to this
year's Family 4th showed 3,598 attended, which is a record, ranch manager
Andy Morris reported.
Although official numbers were yet to be reported shortly after the event July 4,
the annual Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site Family 4th event may have set an
attendance record, according to ranch manager Andy Morris.
"It's probably true, but don't quote me on the numbers," he said, in the midst of
picking up after the seven-hour get-together that featured a ceremony with
speeches by reenactors for Colorado Springs founder William Palmer and
Presidents George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt, along
with patriotic music by the Pikes Peak Brass Band. Other activities included a
reenactor for Katharine Lee Bates (author of "America the Beautiful"), smaller
groups of musicians, Indian dancing, a Revolutionary War encampment, wagon
rides, old-time children's games and demonstrations of practical 19th century
self-reliance.
Previous paid attendance highs for the Independence Day affair at the 230-acre
site off Gateway Road at 30th Street have numbered in the 2,000s. For this year's
event, "we filled up in a hurry," Morris commented.
Asked if he thought the turnout might reflect a local resurgence of pro-American
spirit, he replied that it was more likely the ranch having advertised effectively in
local news publications and social media. "And the weather was perfect," he
added.
A new offering this year was an afternoon melodrama, "Dr. Molar: The Devious
Dentist," performed under an open-air tent by the First Company Theater in the
field near the Rock Ledge House. It too was well-attended, Morris noted.
Westside Pioneer article
(Posted 7/4/17, updated 7/14/17;
Outdoors:
Rock Ledge Ranch)
Conducted by Debbie Baker, the 31-piece Pikes
Peak Brass Band performs for attendees gathered around their tent (mostly in
shady spots because of the mid-day sun) on the Orchard House lawn during the
Rock Ledge Ranch Family 4th.
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LEFT: In the Candy Scramble, pieces of candy
are hidden in the hay, and youngsters have to the count of 10 to find as many as
they can. RIGHT: Ray Sutherland, a blacksmith at Rock Ledge Ranch, explains the
trade to young visitors during the Family 4th.
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Capt. Wendell Smith (right) leads a contingent
from his 2nd Connecticut Regiment of Militia reenactment group as part of the
ceremony on the lawn
in front of the Orchard House for the speeches by individuals portraing Colorado
Springs founder William Palmer and Presidents George Washington, Abraham
Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt.
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A tractor pulls a wagon full of attendees at
Rock Ledge Ranch for the Family 4th.
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