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Anthony Cloud

Staff Writer

CUMBERLAND GAP, Tenn. — History will come alive in Cumberland Gap, Tenn. this week. On Thursday through Saturday, Cumberland Gap will play host to the second annual Genealogy Jamboree. A free event sponsored by the Cumberland Gap Volunteer Fire Department, it will be held on the streets of Cumberland Gap.

The schedule for the Genealogy Jamboree is 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

This three day event combines genealogy with period re-enactors and craftsmen in an a historic setting. Re-enactors will be dressed in period clothing and demonstrate the skills and crafts that were required by ancestors on a near daily basis.

Revolutionary War and Civil War re-enactors will also be on hand for demonstrations and talks about the period and their equipment. Native Americans, dressed in tribal regalia, will be represented.

Attendees will be able to research their family trees through pedigree charts, family surname tables and the many genealogical and historical societies which will be represented. People will learn how to start researching their family tree.

Book vendors of genealogical materials, period novels and interesting and informative books on folk heroes such as Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett will also have their publications for sale.

This event also features lectures, demonstrations and storytelling by nationally renowned speakers such as winning historical authors and Appalachian authors.

Randell Jones is one of the authors who will be at the event. Jones wrote the award-winning book “In the Footsteps of Daniel Boone and also created the award-winning companion DVD, “On the Trail of Daniel Boone”.

Jones also wrote the book “In the Footsteps of Davy Crockett”. His newest release is entitled “Before They were Heroes at Kings Mountain”. He will be speaking on Saturday at 3 p.m.

Johnnie Sue Bridges, a Middlesboro native, will be at the event as well. Bridges will speak on Saturday at 4:30.

Bridges’ writings frequently bring into play historical events along with music and her works with photography. She is the author of a series of memoirs entitled “Shadows and Scars”. This book chronicles her early years during the 1960s of living in the mountains of Appalachia.

Bridges is currently working on book four of her series “From the Bottom to the Grave”.

Ted Yoder and Pamela Richards have decided to roll out their book/CD combination for the Genealogy Jamboree. The event will feature the book “Singing from Silence” by Richards, and Yoder’s new Rich Mullins tribute CD, “A Love that know No Bounds”.

Yoder has highlighted the songs most important to the book’s story on the new CD. Yoder will be performing a Rich Mullins tribute concert on Thursday and Friday at 5 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m.

Anthony Cloud is a staff writer for the Middlesboro Daily News. He can be contacted via e-mail at acloud@heartlandpublications.com.