Dog Hollow Rendezvous Is About Sharing

Dog Hollow Rendezvous, now in its 27th year, camped out at Nelson Pioneer Farm this past weekend.

Oskaloosa, Iowa – At Nelson Pioneer Farm this past weekend, the Timberwolves continued the tradition of Dog Hollow, something they have done now for 27 years.

Jim Walker is a longtime member of the Timberwolves and has been there from the start of Dog Hollow 26 years ago, recreating life from the 1840s and before.

Dog Hollow had been held for many years at Caldwell Park, the location of the new Environmental Learning Center, but moved to Nelson Pioneer Farm four years ago.

The Dog Hollow Rendezvous may not be like a typical rendezvous you would read about in history books. “We calmed it down to the point where we make it a family outing so that we can teach a living history to those that don’t know.”

Walker says that the bond between the Nelson Pioneer Farm and Mahaska County Historical Society and the Timberwolves is good. They enjoy sharing the history of the Nelson Farm.

Walker said that he and four others that were Boy Scout leaders in Ottumwa took a group of boys on an outing to Wapello Trail in Ottumwa. While at the Boy Scout outing, a group of ‘buck skinners’ were there putting on a demonstration. “The five of us decided that bigger boys and bigger toys, and we just started having fun.”

The group gathers many times during the year, at various locations. That diversity of locations allows members from as far away as South Dakota to come and enjoy a weekend of community. “We’re pretty happy they want to spend time with us,” said Walker.

The group shares skills that, in many cases, are dying art forms. “Living history is going away,” said Walker, who is thankful that an older generation passed along those skills to them.

Those skills include handcrafted clothing items, being able to repair or make the tools needed in day-to-day life, or hunting skills such as knife or hawk (tomahawk) throwing.

Now Walker and the Timberwolves are trying to pass those skills of 1840s living on to the next generation. “This way is a way of life that it used to be. It’s not easy, and it’s not fun. People say ‘why do you do this?’. When you have a busy life, and you’re working, this is relaxing. There’s nothing more relaxing than a fire going on at night and guitar music, and people sitting around that are family.”

You can find the group on Facebook Here – https://www.facebook.com/groups/47933186523/about/