Battle at Bushy Run set to return after 'positive move' by state commission

The Bushy Run reenactment will proceed as usual this weekend and in the years to come thanks to a living history policy approved by the state this week.

The Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission, which governs Bushy Run and all other state-owned historic sites, voted on its final living history policy Monday. It will permit “historic weapons demonstrations, tactical exercises and ‘force on force’ reenactments depicting combat between opposing forces.”

“I think (the policy) is a very positive thing,” said Bonnie Ramus, Bushy Run Historical Society president. “(The state commission) has done all the wording the way we wanted it, and I think we can move forward with it. I think it will be a positive move, not only for Bushy Run, but all the (state) sites.”

The reenactment, which portrays a 1763 battle between British and Native American forces during Pontiac’s War, was canceled in January when the state commission created a “no force-on-force” policy.

Adopted from the National Park Service, the policy deemed such reenactments “disrespectful.”

The state commission reversed its decision in March, but it required all reenactors portraying Native Americans to consult with members of the relevant tribes to ensure historical accuracy in dress, gear, lodging and practice.

Two public online meetings were held by the commission in June and July to discuss the draft of the living history policy. Members of the Bushy Run historical society and museum were present to give feedback.

Historical society board member Rob Malley is optimistic about the policy.

“So long as we follow those safety protocols and things, force-on-force reenactments for the whole state will be allowed,” Malley said. “I think it’s a win for the people in Pennsylvania to be able to have history displayed like we do here at Bushy Run.”

The state commission took seriously the historical society’s feedback in devising the final policy, said Matt Adams, manager of the Bushy Run Museum.

“We feel satisfied with the policy, and we feel like (the state commission) was responsive to the things we brought up during public comment,” Adams said. “Our interpretation of the new language and all of the conversations with the (state commission) point to us being allowed to host the force-on-force reenactment.”

The policy does not mention anything about non-Native reenactors portraying Native Americans. Adams said he believes this is a separate issue and that the living history policy is meant to address the force-on-force concerns.

Brian Harris, the historical society’s battlefield chairman, said the policy is a “good step in the right direction,” but he remains cautious.

“There’s plenty of doors there left wide open (in the policy language),” Harris said. “I don’t think this is quite over yet. … I’m trying to be optimistic.”

Although it was a “long year” working toward the final policy, Malley said living history efforts across the state will benefit from it.

In addition to his role with the historical society, Malley recently was appointed to the state commission — an opportunity he hopes to use “to make things better” for historical sites across the state.

“The thing about being a commissioner is, up until I was appointed … I was strictly Bushy Run. This is where I live. This is how I got involved. But now as a commissioner, I have to take a step back and consider policies for all sites in Pennsylvania,” Malley said. “I really don’t see it being an issue. …The whole concept of my being at Bushy Run and at the (state commission) is the preservation of history.”

As he rearranges the museum for the reenactment weekend, Adams said Bushy Run is like a “beehive” with people setting up tents, reenactors finalizing their campsites and volunteers preparing the concession stand.

“I’m just really excited for the public to come and see (the reenactment) and be able to meet with people and learn some things,” Adams said.