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Hiking, History & Cherry Pie

A historical tour group Saturday listens to Eric Forster, playing George Washington, and Robin Herne, playing the unknown Native American who historians say tried to kill Washington while he traveled through this area.

BRADY TWP — According to his journal, George Washington wandered through this region at the age of 21 in 1753. Saturday, several groups of people went marching right into the woods after him.

History and conservation groups converged over the weekend for a joint appreciation of French and Indian War history and the woods around Jennings Environmental Education Center. The event combined the annual Cherry Pie Hike and a Washington Trail hike into one event featuring three different types of nature walks.

Rodney Gasch, president of Historic Harmony, was happy as he worked around the center Saturday morning. This year's event enjoyed above freezing temperatures and was predominantly free of rain.

“It looks like we're getting lucky,” he said looking outside, waiting for the first history tour to begin.

Tour groups of about 30 people left the center every half-hour. During the history tour, groups learned about Washington's travels. Halfway through, a group of period reenactors acted out the time a Native American tried to shoot Washington but, luckily for the eventual president, missed.

The shot, according to tour guide Colleen Chamberlain, could've changed history. Chamberlain is a member of the North Country Trail Association.

Read more in Monday's Eagle

Diane Meyers, left, and Bonnie Keeler celebrate the end of Saturday's Cherry Pie Hike by digging into a couple of slice at Jennings Environmental Education Center in Brady Township.

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