Bushy Run reenactment debate headed to Harrisburg

The battle over Bushy Run’s annual reenactment is coming to a head Wednesday morning in Harrisburg.

There, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission members plan to vote on the future of force-on-force reenactments at PHMC sites, including Bushy Run Battlefield in Penn Township. PHMC’s staff previously decided to halt such reenactments, but, after backlash from community members and local lawmakers, the decision will be put to a vote by the 12-person commission.

About 20 Bushy Run heritage society volunteers and supporters plan to take the three-hour trek from Westmoreland County to Harrisburg to show their support for Bushy Run’s annual reenactment, which draws dozens of reenactors and thousands of observers. They plan to depart at 5 a.m. in three or four cars and a bus that can seat 12 people.

“We’d really like to (see PHMC allowing) us, not only for this year, but subsequent years, to continue the reenactments as we have before,” said Rob Malley, who sits on the heritage society’s board. “(The reenactment) is a great history lesson.”

Wednesday’s meeting will not be livestreamed. The agenda can be accessed on PHMC’s website.

In January, PHMC’s staff informed Bushy Run leaders they intended to adopt the National Park Service’s no force-on-force standard, which deems force-on-force reenactments “disrespectful.” Bushy Run leaders say they also were told non-Native reenactors no longer can portray Native Americans at the site.

Howard Pollman, PHMC’s external affairs director, said PHMC initially considered delaying the policy so Bushy Run could hold its 260th reenactment this August — before Bushy Run leaders canceled it. They told the public they felt they had to cancel it because of the Native reenactor standard. Pollman said PHMC intended to provide the funding necessary to include Native American interpreters at the anniversary event.

The no force-on-force policy is set to take effect May 1.

The policy has elicited emotional responses from community members who said they grew up watching the reenactment at the battlefield where the British and Native Americans fought during Pontiac’s War in 1763.

The decision also garnered worldwide attention. National outlets including the Wall Street Journal covered the story, and Malley said Bushy Run leaders were interviewed by a London news outlet. He also heard the story appeared in an Australian newspaper.

“It has become an international story,” Malley said.

On Sunday, Bushy Run leaders will hold a board meeting at 1 p.m. at the site to discuss the commission’s decision and how it will impact the battlefield. The meeting is open to the public.