FAIRMONT —
The tall young soldier rests against the long muzzleloader that’s become his best friend. His bright red coat blazes against the gray weather-beaten wooden fence of the Indian refuge fort in the background.
He can take down a deer — or enemy just as easily — with that long rifle.
But he wouldn’t.
Robert “Sparky” Sparks has been a member of the living history world for several years. At first, he was involved in medieval battle re-enacting. For a while, it was fun. But it wasn’t as focused on history as he wanted.
Then he discovered bringing the history of the early American frontier to life.
He portrays a Scottish soldier from 1750-80, “the breadth of the French and Indian War, Lord Dunmore’s War and the Revolutionary War,” he said.
“We don’t re-enact battles, just the life and history of the time,” he said. “History is what I’m fascinated with.”
My Hobby
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Robert “Sparky” Sparks has been involved in living history for several years. His current persona is a Scotsman fighting in the American wilderness frontier in the mid-1700s. PHOTO BY DEBBIE WILSON
It’s our history
- My Hobby
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Quite the master
Everybody knows Dora Grubb as the master of Marion County history.
But you may not know that she has this competitive side, and is really quite the master. -
Wild blue yonder
Up, up and away!
For as long as he can remember, Michael Bond has been fascinated by things that fly.
“I grew up around aviation,” he said. “My dad was a pilot and managed a small airport in New Jersey. I followed in his footsteps and became a pilot.” -
A scrappy hobby
You could call Debbie Cooper a scrappy kind of person.
She wouldn’t mind. She’s been that way for a long time. -
Thrill of the hunt
When he was able to hold a tube of glue, Bob Rogers started putting together model cars.
Now that he’s older, he still does ... only they’re real cars and he uses real tools.
Restoring cars is one of his passions, he said. -
Intricate models
Please don’t ask Charlie Fawcett if he makes those little model ships in a glass bottle.
Just don’t. -
Sharing stories
When he was growing up, Jack Daft would hear all these wonderful stories from his parents, Lewis and Edith Cole Daft.
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It’s our history
The tall young soldier rests against the long muzzleloader that’s become his best friend. His bright red coat blazes against the gray weather-beaten wooden fence of the Indian refuge fort in the background.
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Fix it his way
Since he was 6 years old, Garry Boros has been putting together models.
The first, a robin, was given to him by his dad, Louis Boros. The youngster put it together and painted it “exactly the way you’re supposed to,” he said. He did that with the next model, a submarine. -
A good, clean game
Terry McLain leans over the red felt-lined billiards table, draws a bead on a white cue ball and, aiming carefully, raps it with his cue stick.
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Holding a memory
It isn’t often you can hold a memory in your hands.
But Jon “Tom” Merrifield can.
One of his most cherished memories of growing up in Barrackville is seeing and hearing all the trains that passed through the small town on their ways to and from the coal mines. - More My Hobby Headlines
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