Historic Fort Steuben ‘brings history to life’ with Pioneer Pop-Up Kitchen
STEUBENVILLE -- Historic Fort Steuben is probably the last place you'd expect to find teens on a sweltering summer morning, huddled around an open fire watching a pot of strawberries cook down into preserves.
But there they were this week, getting a taste of what life was like on America's frontier during the days of the Founding Fathers.
"It's part of America 250, a part of the fort and learning our history," said Natalie Campana, Steubenville High School's Career-Technical Education department head and teacher.
Campana said SHS students became interested after visiting the fort, where they heard historian Paul Zuros, director of the fort and Steubenville Visitor Center, discuss the community's history and its role "in colonial times, the Northwest Territory, (the Revolutionary War General) Baron von Steuben, how George Washington came through, all that."
She said the students were hooked.
"We decided that we were just going to keep on doing all kinds of things at the fort," she said. "It's right down the street from the high school, so why not? It's a part of American history; it's a part of Ohio history, it's a part of Steubenville history, and we should teach with it."
So, each month through December, students are trying their hands at open-flame cooking.
Campana said the Pioneer Pop-Up Kitchen offers students a glimpse into daily life on the frontier and the resourcefulness required of pioneers more than two centuries ago, giving them a deeper appreciation for the skills and resilience required of those who helped shape the country's early history.
"From tending an open fire to preparing food using centuries-old techniques, students leave with new skills, lasting memories and a greater understanding of life on the American frontier."
This month, students made jam. Next month's project will be ham-and-bean soup. The students also are lobbying for a pizzelle-making session and pizza in coming months.
Lodge Cast Iron Cookware donated the cookware used during the monthly outings, which this week included a cook pot, griddle and frying pan.
"It was a great experience, learning to cook the way the pioneers did," said junior Lilly Orban, adding it also gets SHS clubs "out there to do more stuff."
Julia Gentile, also a junior, agreed it was a new experience.
"I'm getting to learn how to cook over a fire," she said. "I've never made jam over the fire before. Learning how to cook new things -- it's a great time."
Junior Izzy Taggert said it "was a great history lesson, and all of our questions were answered by Historic Fort Steuben historian Paul Zuros."
"I never cooked like I was in the wilderness before, it's cool," she added.
Campana said the Pop-Ups at the fort "just bring history to life, that's the simplest way to say it."
She said her student volunteers have already hosted cookouts for McKinley STEM and SHS STEM academies, and they hope to get other schools involved in the fall.
Historic Fort Steuben is a reconstruction of the original Fort Steuben, built in 1786 by the First American Regiment under the direction of Maj. Jean François Hamtramck. It was one of several military outposts established to protect government surveyors mapping the Northwest Territory following the American Revolution.
The original fort played an important role in opening the Ohio Valley to settlement and helping establish the nation's western frontier.
Today, Historic Fort Steuben serves as an educational and cultural destination, offering living history demonstrations, school programs, exhibits and special events that connect visitors with the people and traditions of early America.
Campana said she knew the late Elizabeth King, a civic leader who taught for many years in Steubenville City Schools and was one of the driving forces behind the fort's decades-long reconstruction.
"She was all about project-based learning and bringing history to life for all of her students," she said. "Personally, I thought it was time to pay it forward. As a child I had wonderful teachers that made learning fantastic, especially when it came to project-based learning and STEM. I want my kids to have the same opportunity."