2018 September COLONY Magazine

TENT CITY
TENT CITY
Recreates Atascadero’s Early Days
By Heather Young
Tent City is a the re-enactment
of 1916 Atascadero when
residents lived in tents while
waiting for their homes to be built.
The tent owned by Atascadero’s
founder E.G. Lewis had electricity
and all the comforts of home.
Actors will “perform” during the
Colony Days celebration on Saturday,
Oct. 6 and at a few other
events related to Colony Days.
Tent City grew from nine small
tents and two large ones, which
showed residential camp life, a
school and a land office.
It also is a little community
that includes the Land Office,
Ice Cream Parlor, a working
Blacksmith, architect John
J. Roth, Atascadero’s first business
Atascadero Mutual Water
Company, agriculture/apples,
Mercantile, Atascadero
News outlet, diner, Red Cross,
a barbershop and the Federated
Church Atascadero.
For the second year in a row,
the Tent City re-enactment will
take place in the Sunken Gardens
along El Camino Real. Tent City
was moved from it’s original location
along Atascadero Creek off
of East Mall because of the construction
of the pedestrian bridge
connecting downtown Atascadero
with Colony Square.
“[This year’s] event in the Sunken
Gardens was an experiment
that yielded a lot of great pluses,”
Tent City organizer Dianne
Greenaway said. “[Tent City] became
the visual core of the Sunken
Gardens celebration, making us
easy to find. The ‘city square’ lent
itself to a lovely feeling of community
for our little Tent City,
lending it to just hanging out. We
had the vibrant energy of our local
dance school added in as ‘newsies’
as well as performing from the
‘Newsies’ musical.”
Actors of all ages are sought
to portray different citizens of
Tent City barber Milo at work.
Photo by George Westlund
Atascadero from the city’s beginning
in 1913. Rehearsals for
Atascadero’s Colony Days re-enactment
will take place Tuesday,
Aug. 21 with an informational
meeting and potluck in the Community
Church of Atascadero’s
Fellowship Hall at 5:30 p.m. This
is for all actors and parents and
guardians.
The rehearsals will take place
every Tuesday following the informational
meeting through Oct.
2 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the
Community Church of Atascadero
United Church of Christ at
5850 Rosario Ave.
During the class, actors will
learn Atascadero history, period
dances and songs and acting
techniques while perfecting
their characters.
Blacksmith demonstration.
Photo by George Westlund
Greenaway, who started Tent
City in 2003, said she is seeking
families who would like to be a
part of Tent City together.
“We will engage in the culture
of the period, singing songs
and learning some dances,” Greenaway
said. “We also welcome
entire families to join in. Becoming
‘history’ together is a
great experience.”
While anyone can attend the
classes on Tuesday, those who
do must be committed to taking
on the responsibility of developing
a character role, which will
be more merged with exhibitors
this year. However, if someone
is interested in being a part of
Tent City, but can’t join the first
week, arrangements may be made
with Greenaway.
A “newsie” in action.
Photo by Rick Evans
Tent City cast performs on stage.
Photo by Heather Young
“We always welcome newsies
who will go out in pairs to
sell newspapers during Colony
Days,” Greenaway said. “I’m
looking for someone high school
age or older to work at the Caladero
exhibit, which was created
by the Atascadero Land
Preservation Society/Atascadero
Native Tree Association, to
work under their supervision
with an apple press and apple
slice experience.”
While actors are a big part of
Tent City, people helping out behind
the scenes are also needed.
To find out how you can be
a part of Tent City, go to ColonyDays.org
or contact Greenaway
at 805-712-3947 or
diannegreenaway@gmail.com.
24 | colonymagazine.com COLONY Magazine, September 2018