Local lawmakers join ‘battle’ to bring back Bushy Run reenactments

Local lawmakers are pressing the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission for more transparency and a possible reversal of its decision to end Bushy Run’s annual battle reenactment.

As a result of her and other lawmakers’ actions, state Sen. Kim Ward, R-Hempfield, is hopeful that PHMC’s “no force-on-force” policy will at least be put to a vote by its own commission before it could take effect.

Ward — whose district includes the Penn Township battlefield where the British and Native Americans fought during Pontiac’s War in 1763 — said her goal is to see Bushy Run’s 260th reenactment take place in August and “move forward from there.”

“When decisions affect a community … (they need) to be transparent, and there needs to be input,” Ward said.

On Jan. 25, Bushy Run announced it would cancel its 260th reenactment after PHMC informed Bushy Run leaders it plans to implement a no force-on-force standard at all of its sites. The standard, which was adopted from the National Park Service, asserts that force-on-force reenactments are “disrespectful” to the memory of those who died in or were impacted by conflicts, saidHoward Pollman, PHMC’s external affairs director.

Bushy Run leaders also said PHMC told them that non-Native reenactors can never portray Native Americans at the site.

Because the decisions fell in the field of professional interpretation, both decisions were made by PHMC staff and were not voted on by the agency’s 12-person commission that includes appointments from the state Senate and House of Representatives.

Related:

• Bushy Run Battlefield reenactment canceled amid new state guidelines

• Pa. agency explains why it enacted new 'no force-on-force rule' for Bushy Run, other sites

• Bushy Run draws support after state halts annual reenactment

In a letter sent to PHMC by state Reps. George Dunbar and Eric Nelson, Dunbar said he asked the agency “pointed questions” about how it made its decisions and why its commission wasn’t involved.

Now, Dunbar said the no force-on-force policy will likely be a point of discussion at the commission’s next meeting, scheduled for March 1.

He believes the commission and General Assembly should have a voice in the matter.

“This needs to be a clear, transparent process where everyone has a chance to speak and be heard,” said Dunbar, who lives in Penn Township.

If the commission does vote and decides to uphold the no force-on-force policy, Ward and Dunbar indicated they will continue to press PHMC.

In a Facebook post, Ward described the situation as a “battle” in itself.

The reenactment’s cancellation left many members of the community saddened and frustrated.

During a Penn Township commissioners meeting Wednesday, Commissioner Chuck Konkus expressed concerns that halting the battle reenactment could negatively impact Bushy Run, Penn Township businesses and local students who learn from the site.

“That is going to be such a loss of revenue to the battlefield. That is their main fundraiser … and talking to some businesses here in the township, that’s a substantial loss of revenue to (them) also,” Konkus said.

The commissioners plan to put their support for Bushy Run to a vote.

PHMC began piloting the no force-on-force standard in March 2022 at the Pennsylvania Military Museum.

During the pilot program, the Boalsburg museum saw increased visitation and strengthened its relationships with reenactors and military families, Pollman said.

“Based on this success, PHMC intended to implement these standards at all PHMC-owned sites,” Pollman wrote in an email.

Pollman said PHMC initially considered delaying the policy so Bushy Run could hold its 260th reenactment — before Bushy Run leaders canceled it. They told the public they felt they had to cancel it due to the Native reenactor standard. Pollman said PHMC intended to provide the funding necessary to include Native American interpreters at the anniversary event.

As it stands, the no force-on-force policy is set to take effect May 1.