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Gay N. Brownlee
Somerset Co. Correspondent
ADDISON (Somerset Co.)
Chris Fortunate, age 14, was at the
tail-end of the wagon train that
rolled into town to hold camp for
the night. Clfris was riding her
horse, Lady Jane, as one of three
scouts at the back of the train.
It was the weekend of the
National Pike Festival, held every
year in May to celebrate the very
first highway that went across the
United States of America. This
festival is held in counties along
200 miles of the National Pike
in Maryland, Pennsylvania, West
Virginia and Ohio. Wagon trains
and pioneer memories are parrof
the celebration.
Today the road is Route 40, but
over the years it was called by
other names because General
George Washington and General
Braddock, as well as Indians and
many stage-coaches traveled over
it from east to west and back
again.
The Fortunato family really
enjoys the wagon train. This year
Chris’s mother, Carol, drove a
Chris Fortunate and her horse, Lady Jane are at the Ad
dison, Pa. campsite for the National Pike Festival’s Penn
sylvania wagon train on May 13.
'/**>■ r
iris Fortunate and her Gl
the National Pike Festival at
some Indian dancing for tt
Riding A Wagon Train Helps Chris
snappy-looking, black doctor’s
buggy that was pulled by her
horse, Diamond. .
Chris said her family belongs to
the Appalachian Wagon Train that
takes a 10-day journey each year.
She said that is their main vacation
because the train goes to a diffe
rent place each year. It’s different
from the Pike Festival.
Wagon trains have horseback
riders and wagons. The Conesto
gas are built very differently from
covered wagons the wagonmaster
said. There arc also buggys and
other old wagons that the owners
take good care of because they
respect the history of the old days.
And they want their children to
appreciate and understand the
lives of the early pioneers who had
never heard of a car.
When she was eight years old,
Chris got her first pony. She had it
for five years. Lady Jane came last
year.
“I bought Lady Jane in June
1992,” she said. The horse was
seven years old and Chris paid for
her with her own money.
“When I got her, she was like
jut troop helped with the opening of a program for
ison. Dressed in Indian costumes, the girls later did
idlence.
Understand Pioneer Life
L * / 'fj>* /
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o
Here there are 19 wagons, buggies and riders coming down the road to reach
Route 40 near Grantsville, Md. They are going west to Addison, Pa. for the National
Pike Festival. Many other entries joined the wagon train.
my savior because I was really
depressed,” said Chris. That’s
because Chris had lost her other
horse.
“Don’t walk near a horse that
has its ears back," Chris warns,
“or one that has a red bow on its
butt, because that means that they
kick.” Thai’s good advice to
remember.
Chris is also a Girl Scout. So
when the wagon train arrived at
the campsite for the National Pike
Festival in Addison, her Scout
troop prepared supper over a big
campfire for 150 people. The Girl
Scout leaders helped them.
During a program when lots of
friends came to visit the wagon
train, the Girl Scouts in costumes,
performed Indian dances for the
audience who sat on hay bales and
on the grass.
“I was at a Pow Wow," said
Chris, “and an Indian taught me
(to dance).” She said her mother
likes to read about the customs of
Indians.
Chris is currently in the eighth
Chris Fortunau
the National Pike Festival wagon train as it enters Route 40
of The National Pike, while other traffic stops.
grade at the McMullen Junior
High School in Fayette County.
She lives in Markleysburg.
“School is okay,” she says, grin
ning. “I get to be with my friends.”
4-H Artists Have
Opportunity To Shine
GETTYSBURG (Adams Co.)
Do you know of any 4-H mem
bers who excel in the arts? Is one
of his hobbies drawing pictures of
his favorite things? Does she like
to take photographs of her family,
friends, pets, or interesting places
around her home? Do you enjoy
listening to he or she tell stories
about his or her experiences while
raising 4-H projects? *
If you answered yes to any of
the above questions, then you
should encourage the child to par
ticipate in either the “Poster An
Contest,” the “Photography Exhi
bit Contest,” or the “Small Ani
mals Essay Contest.” These three
contests are held in conjunction
Her favorite things include
Indian beading, basketball, and
photography.
Her dad’s name is Jim Fortuna
te and her brothers arc Rich Gmys
and Ron Gmys.
with Penn State 4-H Achievement
Days held at Penn State Universi
ty on July 27,28, and 29. All 4-H
members from 8 to 19 years of age
are eligible and are divided into
three categories: ages 8 to 10, 11
to 13, and 14 to 18. The winners in
each contest are recognized at the
awards assembly during State
Days on July 29.
If you think someone has a
knack for the arts and/or would
like to participate in one of these
activities, please call Jayne Hess,
4-H summer program assistant, at
the Extension Office (717)
334-6271 or 624-4525) for more
contest guidelines and details.