Fort Verde sits just off of Camp Verde’s Main Street, but most evenings, it is pitch black, even as people spend their time downtown. For two weekends in December, the Fort is opening up for the nights, with a series of candlelit tours, encouraging residents and tourists to come and check out Camp Verde’s history after the sun goes down, as part of Fort Verde State Park’s Victorian Christmas events.
On Saturday, Dec. 8, attendees of the Camp Verde Christmas Parade filtered over from Main Street and took a look at a historical display that showed what the old military camp might have looked like over a hundred years ago, lit only by stars and candles — or, in the modern version, small electric lights that only look like candles. Park staff and volunteers filtered around in highly-detailed period dress, ready to explain history to anyone who passed by.
“The fort was here first. It was established to protect the citizens,” said Hank Dykstra, a frequent volunteer at the state park. On Saturday night, he wore an 1874 First Sergeant’s uniform, featuring yellow piping on the lapels. “It is Camp Verde.”
This year, the town of Camp Verde is supporting the fort, even directly by funding a no-fee day on Saturday, Dec. 8, which allowed residents to take advantage of what the fort has to offer with ease. In previous years, no-fee days at the park had been funded by Camp Verde Promotions.
“I think it’s extremely valuable,” said Councilman Bill LeBeau, who visited the fort on Saturday night along with his wife. “We’ll have to include it in next year’s budget, and I hope we continue to support it.”
For some Camp Verde residents, the free night along with the parade offered an opportunity to see Fort Verde for the first time.
“It’s awesome,” said Shannon Reese, who moved to Camp Verde a year ago. “You get a feeling of what it would have felt like back then. You look in that direction,” she said, gesturing toward the stars, “and see what it looked like.”
“It’s one thing to read it in a book, but it’s some- thing different to sit where they used to sit,” said Dave Williamson, a re-enactor who was tending to the fire pit next to the old buildings. “You get the history bug and it’s like peeling an onion.”
Park Manager Sheila Stubler wore an elaborate dress instead of her normal state parks uniform, and expressed glee at how many people had turned out for the event.
“We appreciate our relationship with the town of Camp Verde. They’ve always been wonderful to us,” Stubler said. “This is like a Christmas present to the town.”
Jon Hecht can be reached at 634-8551, or email jhecht@larsonnewspapers.com
