May 2025 • Nebraskaland 23
attempts to retire and the loss of a dear
friend, the fort keeps calling Slader
back.
"There's a passion, and it's a part of
home. It becomes a part of what you do.
It becomes part of a thought process
that you have. You can't stay away,"
Slader said. "Some of those volunteers,
within their family, they're on second
or third generation. And I've always
said, people who do live in history —
they're a diff erent breed of cat.
"We're always looking for new
volunteers," he added.
Over the decades, Slader, Appel and
others have striven to provide visitors
an insightful view of the day-to-day
operations of blacksmithing at Fort
Atkinson. Not only is the accuracy
of their research and performance of
living history important, volunteers
also are conscientious of their role in
representing the Nebraska Game and
Parks. They are essentially on stage.
"Nothing will take place at Fort
Atkinson that will jeopardize the
experience for the visitor. It's not
written anywhere, but if there's a
guiding rule, I guess that's one of
them," he said. "It can become a heavy
weight to bear sometimes."
This unwritten mission statement,
Slader has passed down to his latest
apprentices, Thomas Bansen of Blair
and Kody Keefer of South Sioux City
— both in their early 30s. Their timely
arrival has brought both elation and
relief to the veteran blacksmith.
"They're godsends," Slader said with
no attempts of hiding his excitement.
"I now feel much more comfortable
about what we do at the blacksmith
shop, and so on, continuing. Because
they exhibit the same passion and
attitude."
This photo, taken with a slow shutter speed during a Candlelight Tour, shows blacksmiths Doug Appel at the forge, Slader's
ghost-like form hammering at the anvil to the right and Lauren Joyce sitting at the work bench in the back.
