Young Historians to play 1870s roles at Fort Wilkins Fest Young Historian Heather Maclean of Houghton plays the role of Heather Borie, daughter of the Clark Mine Manager,  for the 1870s Fort Festival Thursday, July 12, at the Fort Wilkins Historical Complex in Copper Harbor. (Photo courtesy Keweenaw Krayons) MOHAWK ’Äì Meet Ashley Corgan, a 13-year-old lighthouse keeper’Äôs daughter, during the 1870s Fort Festival Thursday, July 12, at the Fort Wilkins Historical Complex in Copper Harbor ... or Heather Borie, whose father is the Clark Mine Manager ’Ķ or possibly Christian Jeffries, whose father is a private at the Fort and whose mother is the laundress. These are three of the Young Historians who are volunteering to do historic role playing at various local events this summer. Ashley and Heather are really eighth-grade students ’Äì from the Calumet-Laurium-Keweenaw Public Schools and the Houghton-Portage Township Schools ’Äì who took part in an 8-week distance-learning local history class led by Fort Wilkins Historian Wil Shapton. Christian is a home-schooled student with a keen interest in historic role playing. Ashley Ruonavaara of Calumet says, ’ÄúIt’Äôs fun dressing up and pretending I’Äôm someone else,’Äù but, she adds, the authentic reproduction shoes of the 1870s are ’Äúvery uncomfortable.’Äù In her role as the lighthouse keeper’Äôs daughter, Ashley will tell you all about her family of four sisters and one brother. In real life, she is the daughter of Tom and Judy Ruonavaara of Calumet. Heather Maclean of Houghton says walking around with a lace parasol attracts people with cameras. When she plays the daughter of the mine manager, she claims her father was from France and her mother was Irish. She is, in actual life, the daughter of Ann and Gordon Maclean of Houghton. Christian Carlson plays the role of Christian Jeffries, whose father is  a private at the Fort and whose mother is the laundress (Photo courtesy Keweenaw Krayons) Christian Carlson plays the son of David Jeffries, Jr. at Fort Wilkins. Christian, in his life today, comes from the West Coast, where he said the rendezvous encouraged his interest in role playing. The local Young Historians will role play from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., joining another group of Future Historians from the Negaunee area who will be at Fort Wilkins throughout the day along with the Northern Michigan University role players. Young visitors are encouraged to join in old-fashioned period games such as ’ÄúGraces’Äù with hoops and sticks. From 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Keweenaw Arts Alive is sponsoring a free historical dance session with area artist Jill Vandermeer and live period music in the Fort Historical Complex. Kermit’Äôs Keweenaw Kids will have a bus trip to the festival, leaving Mohawk at 11 a.m. and returning at 4 p.m. Thursday. Keweenaw Krayons’Äô Keweenaw Arts Alive Traditions 2001 is pleased to work with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Michigan Historical Center, the Fort Natural History Association and the CLK and Houghton schools to add special events for a truly 1870s festival at Fort Wilkins. These activities are made possible with a grant from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and major community sponsors ’Äì International Paper, Upper Peninsula Power Company, U. P. Engineers and Architects, Clarence and Yvonne Fisher, ABC 5&28, and Tu-Mar Broadcasting.