The pioneers departed from Shipley with wagons filled with provisions for the trek West to Ashbridge Park. Seven stations were set up throughout the park, many manned by Upper School students who had also made the pioneer journey many years before. The families panned for gold, heard the tall tales of Paul Bunyan, hunted, and traded with the Native Americans for food and supplies. The pioneers were required to answer questions about the spirit of those who chose to leave a life they knew to travel to the unsettled West in search of a new beginning. The re-enactment provided a “hands on” experience of the challenges that real pioneers faced during the 1840’s.

April 2004

Order photos from Shipley events through Shipley's Photo Gallery.