RECLAIMING OUR FRENCH HISTORY; RE-ENACTORS WILL GIVE FIRST-HAND LOOK AT FRENCH INFLUENCES DURING MONDAY FESTIVAL

For members of the Zenon River Brigade, history comes to life.

Members of this local re-enactment group meticulously detail the clothing, equipment and food of the 1700s and then "live the life" during re-enactments.

Group members will provide a narrative about the French influences of the region during Monday's French Heritage Festival. Their program will begin at 11:15 a.m. at the Gazebo on the Common Pleas Courthouse grounds.

Paul Breitenstein, captain at the Cape Girardeau Fire Department, said the group has just over 20 active members. They have been meeting about seven years.

"We have all ages participating, from toddlers to graybeards," he said.

Back in the days of Cape Girardeau founder Louis Lorimier, Hubble Creek was known as the Zenon River.

Breitenstein said the group reflects a broad spectrum of 18th century people, including colonists, merchants, hunters and families.

Group members focus on the era from 1750 to 1790, up to the time period when Lewis and Clark set out on their expedition.

The brigade participates in both organized re-enactment events and weekend outings to the Mark Twain or Shawnee national forests.

"We practice anthropological re-enactment, which means we live it," said Breitenstein. "We use the equipment, clothing and food from the time period."

The group meets the second Tuesday of each month at the Conservation Center in Cape County Park North. Meetings begin at 7 p.m.

Linda Nash, a history teacher at Jackson High School, will portray the wife of Louis Lorimier, Charlotte Pemanpiah Bouganville Lorimier, at Monday's presentation.

"I will tell about my husband, Louis Lorimier, which should provide a different point of view," she said. "She was Shawnee and French. They think her father was an aide to Montcalm during the French and Indian War."

Nash is also a member of the local Northern Cherokee group. She will dress in costume for the narrative.

Lorimier and his wife came to Cape Girardeau from Ohio. They were married in 1782 and she died in 1808.

"She was the first person buried in the Old Lorimier Cemetery," said Nash. "He supposedly gave the land to the city when she died."

Darrell Duensing, site manager at Fort de Chartres in Prairie Du Rocher, Ill., will also speak during the historic narrative.

He will talk about the French Marines, who were stationed at the fort in the mid-1700s.

The fort is located north of Ste. Genevieve on the Illinois side.

"This area was settled by the French," he said. "The fort served as the seat of government for French holdings."

The first fort was built of wood in 1718. Today's fort is the third one built at the site. Made of stone, it was built between 1753 and 1756. The fort is a state historic site and is open to the public.

Duensing will wear his Marine private uniform, which dates to 1758. It is a white uniform coat made of wool with dark blue cuffs. He will also wear blue knee britches, white leggings and black shoes. He will carry a musket.

The fort is annually the site of several period re-enactments. The largest is the Rendezvous, which is scheduled for June 7 and 8. It will feature a colorful blend of mid-18th and early 19th century activities including a muzzle-loading competition, a military and cannon competition, music, crafts, food and dancing.