Harry

This is yet another challenge to overcome. This city (Key West) does not support this event like other cities support their events. In fact, the City of Key West does not offer any monetary support whatsoever to any event held here. Their philosophy is that there will be some individual/group that will step up and make things happen, while the city coffers reap the benefits. The local chamber of commerce is of the same ilk. Unless said business is a member, there isn't any cross promotion of events. I know this for a fact as I used to work for the chamber when I first moved here. I was very surprised when I was told I couldn't talk about an event with a potential visitor because the group putting on the event were not chamber members. But, there are other ways to "skin a cat." We have done our own marketing thru the cruise lines--we just didn't have any ships in this time. The best press is the free press and I'm working on that aspect around the state. The media in this town wouldn't know a good story if it hit them in the face. Also, they've never been known to let the facts stand in the way of a story for them.

We did a street show to kick off things. It was the Pirate Sail Invasion where pyrates came off the Wolf near the Schooner Wharf Bar. A couple of us English strode up the street with our proclamations, tacking them to the posts. It was a short, but effective show. And, the time frame was in the afternoon when there were numerous people around to enjoy. I've got a few ideas I need to put down on paper and on the "strategy" board, as it were, to see if these would work. Once I am satisfied I can pull off the safety aspects of this, I'll offer up an engagement suggestion. The downside to all of this is that those on the beach might not care one way or another what we do. But, at least I think it would be cool for us to do a... well... let me figure this out first...

No, I think the signs should be worded just like that! See, that's one of the problems we have at this park. The park wouldn't be here if it weren't for the fortress. But, the vast majority of our visitors could give a you-know-what less about the building or the history surrounding it. They're here for the beach, nothing but the beach, so help them beach. The fortress is an afterthought as witnessed by questions we get from the visitors, "So, where's this fort I hear about?" Or, "What's that big building I passed on the way to the beach?" When we do our Civil War Living History weekends, we many times "invade" the beach area and literally shanghai the visitors to our spot. Or, we do a Federal guard mount along the beach during Civil War Days and explain to the visitors that we're searching for southern sympathizers. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Perhaps the English should "attack" the pyrate encampments and try to get our visitors involved in some fashion...

Then it shall be the period from 1650-1725. Didn't spit coffee, Patrick, just rhum... I'll make the changes to all promotional copy on my websites.

Regarding the battles being moved. The times for these have been historically set due to afternoon sails of the Wolf. There's nothing in the plan that says WE as a group plan our own land battle between Pyrates and English. Spike and I will take care of scheduling once we get as much input as possible.

Yeah, do we want to do a span of 100 years, 1625-1725? Or, move it back to 1650-1725?

I like to see these sorts of things as "free form," from X time to X time as opposed to set time. The idea of opening up the encampment to tours an hour two after the battle is a good one. I really don't want to see our program get packed with all kinds of information that will overwhelm our feeble visitors. I like to see the postcard type of thing that gets handed out around town. That card can "talk" about a specific item happening at the encampment or in the event itself as well as have other info. Teasers I call them.

How about a note from the Commanding General of the Conch Republic Army? I'd be happy to put it my official stationary, too. Yet another of my roles in this wacky world...

1. We could certainly try for this at the park. I don't know who our next manager will be, but I can tell you they will be a bobble head because that's what this organization wants to see down here. We (former park manager and myself) apparently have made too many waves for the higher-ups to be comfortable. I know what happened to the park manager. They can't do that to me because of my classification--at least not without mountains of paperwork added to my file. But, I would be happy to argue the case to perform it at the park. 2. I think this is most viable option. Perform the stunt at the Hanging Tree or at Mallory Square. If people can watch cats jump thru hoops and some clown get out a straight jacket, they'll certainly flock to watch a hanging.

Diosa, I like the idea of pulling out the Clear Channel card. However, it won't phase the park service/state. They're bending over on the issue of the Class 1 invasive exotics sitting in the picnic area. And, nobody is being taken to dinner. Again--no hangy down things. I think a possible solution to presenting this to general public is to hold the event at the Hanging Tree near Mallory Square. Those involved would essentially talk to the public about what actually happened at that tree (yes, they did do hangings there) and then demonstrate it--on video. The public, I believe, can easier separate what it sees on the ion bombardment tube as "show" versus "real life," save for those idiotic reality programs. Once the public is able to see the person who was hanged in the video is actually talking to them, it (the hanging) then becomes more palatable. Then, we move on to an actual demonstration. Just a thought...

The idea of the hanging was brought up last year. I thought it was a good one and ran it up the proverbial flag pole to see who would salute. None of my superiors thought it appropriate. When I explained this is how justice was accomplished, their answer was, "what affect will it have on kids?" I damn near dropped my jaw and retorted that this is mild compared to what kids watch on television these days and events that they are exposed to on a daily basis. The higher-ups would not budge--no hangy down things. This year when the idea was again proposed, I thought, yes we well do this, but it will be done for the participants of the event in a closed and controlled environment. Unfortunately, we couldn't use the entire gallows. The ideas on accomplishing this were communicated via pm and email and when the Archangel Crewe arrived, they examined the areas where I thought they could perform this stunt. When I passed on to our law enforcement officer what was going to be happening (about 5 minutes prior to it happening) he responded with, "cool." I told him about the safety measures and how it was going to be done. "Cool," he said. I am satisfied with the way this way done--in a safe and professional manner. It was a great show! It's part of the history of pyracy.

And, y'know, the damn things seem to multiply worse than rabbits! You can walk down a path and return on that same path in 10 minutes and there's a fresh batch of the little coral buggers.

And I was just about to ask how your computer was doing. . . doh! Oh it's back, but I've had it with Dell .

I know he was planning to stay with his brother in the Keys for a few days before heading back north.

The mrs. (#1) and I used to make ornaments out of femo. They worked rather well in the desert environment where we used to live. They seem to work here as well as B.O.'s Fish Wagon still has the square grouper we made for Buddy some 15 years ago. I imagine femo can be found in the "big city" at any crafts store.

Regarding the bowling pin... It's my understanding that Bash (Bone Island Buccaneers carpenter) donated pins to crewes as a momento of yer visit. But I like the idea of a traveling bowling pin!

My special moment would be all of you comin' to play in my backyard. We should do this more often!

Glad to hear you made it safely. I know how you both drive!! Miss you both!

We would certainly welcome you to our event!!

Aye, Wendell is one of the pranksters at the fort. His story is this: In 1968-69 a dig was begun at Fort Taylor to unearth the Civil War era treasures, i.e., cannon, ammo and such. This dig came on the heels of Fort Jefferson being recognized for its service during the War of Rebellion. The U.S. Navy held the title to the Fort Taylor property at that time. Someone wrote a letter to the Miami Herald newspaper wondering why Fort Jefferson was being recognized when Fort Taylor played a far more important role in the War of Rebellion. "Fort who?" was essentially the answer. As it turned out the letter made way to the U.S. Navy commander's office in Key West. He was new on station and not familiar with the property (which was being used as a "storage"---read junk--yard). The CO called in his XO who was also new on station and not familiar with the property. They then called in the head of Public Works. That's right, he, too, was new on station. However, in this third meeting a civilian came along. Mr. Howard England, an architect with the navy here, grew up in Key West and he and his buds used to play at the fort when they were kids. He believed there were tons of "treasures" holed up in the old fortress. The Navy brass congratulated Mr. England on his new position of chief excavator of Fort Taylor. Now, the fort used to be three stories tall until 1898. At that time, the top two tiers of the fort along with nearly 200 Civil War cannon, ammo, and such were buried inside the old cannon rooms (casemates). Over the course of 12 years, Mr. England, his sons and anyone else he could get to volunteer would spend their days digging out the casemates looking for treasures. One day while Mr. England was down in Casemate 13 (on the southside of the fort) he uncovered a device that was used for turing sea water into potable water. Amazing device for its day. But his search was for cannon. He's taking a break from the dig, resting up against the wall of the casemate when he spies a figure standing across from him. This figure is dressed in the uniform of CW soldier. Time stands still for a moment. The figure blurts out to Mr. England, "What be ye lookin' fer sonny?" Mr. England obviously is somewhat taken aback but manages to reply, "I'm looking for cannon." The figure instructs Mr. England to dig in a specific spot. It further explains that it knows where all cannon are buried because he served at this fort and died at this fort from one of the Yellow Fever outbreaks. The figure goes on to say he's watched all the changes to Fort Taylor and is happy that the fort will finally receive its due. After thinking about this, Mr. England decides to dig where the figure told him. The result of that dig was all the cannon you saw mounted in the casemates. The story about this find hits the press (I do have a copy of the story from the Atlanta Constitution). At the end of the story the reporter asks how all of the weaponry was discovered. Mr. England explains it was because of a Sergeant Wendell Gardiner--a spirit of Fort Taylor from years past. Some six weeks later, Mr. England is paid a visit from some folks from Massachusetts. They wanted to personally thank Mr. England for learning what had happened to a long lost relative who served at Fort Taylor in the early 1860s and believed to have died there--a Sergeant Wendell Gardiner. Now, so you don't think for one minute I'm making this up, I do have a copy of the press clipping and I do have copies of Mr. England's notes where he writes about this incident.

They don't call themselves Waste(d) Management for nothing! I think there were enough port-o-pots, but there was a miscommunication on gettting them pumped out. If there's one thing I learned from high school civics and college poly sci, residents are happy when the trash gets picked up and the heads are clean and working. At least we were somewhat successful with that and for 2009 the situation will be improved.

Wait a second... that's #3 ye be talkin' about...

I will certainly check that out when the new park manager comes aboard. What a way to break them in!

As soon as the nice nurse lets me out of the house to go to the office (a distance of perhaps 40 feet) I will get that sent off. I did see it, but the crud has gotten the best of me.

Well, as we put the lid on this year's event and the rhum is almost gone, we came away with a number of boxes of items found at the encampment and in the fort. None of these items appear familiar to us. So... if ye are missin' somethin' there's a chance we might have it. We'll make an effort to get those goodies back to their owners in a somewhat expeditious manner. Plus, if you found items in yer sea bags and trunks ye can't explain, this be the place to let all know.