Prairieland Frontiersman: reveling in and reliving the past
•March 18, 2026•
Gilbert Schriber, author, per-1840 period historian and craftsman, blows his horn as his patient wife of 61 years, Kathy, works beside him at their table. Mr. Schriber has been muzzle-loading and making crafts for 35 years.
by DM Williamee
Where to shop for the person who has everything? On Friday, March 13th and 14th, the Prairieland Frontiersmen held their 37th annual Historic Arts and Crafts show at the Sullivan American Legion. The Legion Hall was packed wall to wall with traders and artisans representing the colonial, fur trade, and Civil War eras, with their multitude of hand-made goods and wares on offer. Many men and women dressed in historical attire, spanning the different eras represented. From beautiful maple-stocked muzzle-loading rifles, all manner of loading gear, rattlesnake vertebrae earrings, fur accessories of all types, books and manuals, and beaded necklaces to leatherworks tanned and tooled, period pieces of clothing and camaraderie, the craft show was a step into the past.