Christmas at Fort Concho Brings History to Life

The winter storm put Christmas at Old Fort Concho on a freeze. Friday marked the first time in 32 years that a whole day cancellation has occurred.

“Last year was the best year, this might be the worst,” said Chris Morgan, Commander of the Fort Concho Artillery group.

The dangerous roads and icy precipitation cancelled Friday and early Saturday events at the fort, as well as all calvary demonstrations and the baseball game.

In addition, many Saturday children’s activities were combined into single sessions, like Miss Birdie’s Tea Party and the Indian Lore sessions, while the rest continued as scheduled.

Despite all the cancellations and the chilly weather, people did still show up to one of San Angelo’s biggest events.

Merchants and Sutlers alike braved the cold to set up shop at the fort, many of which were thankful to be indoors for the weekend.

Kathy Gilles of the TX Tradin’ Post was at Christmas at Old Fort Concho for the first time. “We came out last year just to look and we decided to try it.”

She and her husband are purveyors of jewelry, rocks, minerals, and decorative items that they get from the International jewel and gemstone show in Tucson.

The items she has for sale are made in Bali, Peru and Pakistan, and include many rare rocks and finely-detailed beadwork.

The weather didn’t put her spirits out in anyway, “we were going to have this weather no matter where we were in Texas,” she said.

Across the parade ground, Sutlers were also showing off their wares.

The Sutlers, historically peddlers who followed army camps around and sold them provisions, seemed even more realistic as they wore their leather gear, had long beards and sat around fires for warmth.

The smell of mesquite wood and canvas tents would have fooled anyone into thinking they’d taken a trip back in time a 130 years.

The Sutler camps were set up right next to the camp the artillery made, and those from Fort Concho and Friends of Fort Lancaster laughed and chatted about their guns and made jibes at each other’s expense.

Of course that can be expected to happen when you have a group of guys dressed and role playing Union and Confederate soldiers.

I was actually asked by the artillery of Fort Lancaster to join the Confederacy as a ‘powder monkey,’ the one who carries the black powder to the one who loads the gun.

I did my best to contain my enthusiasm; sometimes it’s rather difficult to keep the history nerd under wraps, especially when I was told in October by Morgan that I could shoot a cannon during Christmas at Old Fort Concho.

After the firing, I was given the pin and a Fort Lancaster Coin, to which I can challenge or be challenged by all who’ve shot the cannon.

In their case, should they challenge a person who doesn't have their coin, that person must by each of them a drink. Should the person have their coin, all of them have to buy that person a drink.

More information on military challenge coins can be found here. 

Fort Concho stayed open later on Sunday night to accommodate both vendors and fans of the event, which will help make up for the cancellation of Friday’s festivities.