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Retired blacksmith Lee Gagne demonstrated the art of blacksmithing to Fruita Middle School sixth-grade students at the school’s Renaissance Festival Tuesday.
Grand Junction CO Colorado
Grand Junction — Everyone was anxious to have a turn at the rat catchers guild where “Dark the Morbid,” also known as Calvin Giller, gave students an opportunity to knock down realistic-looking fake rats with a mini bean bag. Rats were a problem back in the renaissance days.
Across the lawn, blacksmith Lee Gagne heated a rod of iron over an old stove fire to show students how he could then pound the metal into various shapes to make tools and other items.
“I started becoming a blacksmith when I was 4 years old,” Gagne told students gathered around his makeshift shop on the north lawn of Fruita Middle School.
Pirates, a primitive catapult, noble ladies, sword fighters, weavers and spinners, and Celtic dancing were all part of Fruita Middle School’s third annual Renaissance festival held on the north lawn of the school Tuesday.
When Gagne’s daughter was studying the renaissance period at FMS a few years ago, the retired blacksmith volunteered to come to the school to talk about the ancient trade.
“One thing led to another,” Gagne said. He asked other people and groups to come share their love and knowledge of that time period, including a Celtic mercenary group called the Black Scorpions, Colorado West Celtic Dancers, and the Society of Creative Anachronism — an international organization dedicated to researching and recreating arts and skills of pre-17th century Europe.
Many students came dressed in Renaissance period attire. Students danced Celtic style, listened to stories about pirates and watched SCA sword fights.
“I think this is really cool and if I could I’d go back and live in that time. I think it’s the best thing I’ve done all year,” said Taylor McCollum.
“My favorite area was the cannon and the pirates,” said Kacey Beagley.
“It’s educational because it takes you back in time and you see what it was really like,” said Kristin Valles.
Students walked around the lawn visiting the different groups, while in one corner, students put on short Shakespeare plays.
Sixth-grade teacher John Harris helped organize the event. “We’ve been studying the renaissance period in social studies,” Harris said.
“The really neat thing is this is a way of culminating what they’ve learned all year-long,” Gagne said. “I get on the phone starting in January, and it all kind of comes together. It’s been a hoot.”
Reach Sharon Sullivan at ssullivan@gjfreepress.com.
Grand Junction — Everyone was anxious to have a turn at the rat catchers guild where “Dark the Morbid,” also known as Calvin Giller, gave students an opportunity to knock down realistic-looking fake rats with a mini bean bag. Rats were a problem back in the renaissance days.
Across the lawn, blacksmith Lee Gagne heated a rod of iron over an old stove fire to show students how he could then pound the metal into various shapes to make tools and other items.
“I started becoming a blacksmith when I was 4 years old,” Gagne told students gathered around his makeshift shop on the north lawn of Fruita Middle School.
Pirates, a primitive catapult, noble ladies, sword fighters, weavers and spinners, and Celtic dancing were all part of Fruita Middle School’s third annual Renaissance festival held on the north lawn of the school Tuesday.
When Gagne’s daughter was studying the renaissance period at FMS a few years ago, the retired blacksmith volunteered to come to the school to talk about the ancient trade.
“One thing led to another,” Gagne said. He asked other people and groups to come share their love and knowledge of that time period, including a Celtic mercenary group called the Black Scorpions, Colorado West Celtic Dancers, and the Society of Creative Anachronism — an international organization dedicated to researching and recreating arts and skills of pre-17th century Europe.
Many students came dressed in Renaissance period attire. Students danced Celtic style, listened to stories about pirates and watched SCA sword fights.
“I think this is really cool and if I could I’d go back and live in that time. I think it’s the best thing I’ve done all year,” said Taylor McCollum.
“My favorite area was the cannon and the pirates,” said Kacey Beagley.
“It’s educational because it takes you back in time and you see what it was really like,” said Kristin Valles.
Students walked around the lawn visiting the different groups, while in one corner, students put on short Shakespeare plays.
Sixth-grade teacher John Harris helped organize the event. “We’ve been studying the renaissance period in social studies,” Harris said.
“The really neat thing is this is a way of culminating what they’ve learned all year-long,” Gagne said. “I get on the phone starting in January, and it all kind of comes together. It’s been a hoot.”
Reach Sharon Sullivan at ssullivan@gjfreepress.com.
