Could Civil War soldiers overpower Roman soldiers?

Would medieval archers get the best of a band of Vikings?

Those are just theoretical examples of spontaneous mock battles you might see next weekend at Historic Fort Wayne, 1201 Spy Run Ave.

Most of the fort’s summer events will focus on a specific time period, such as the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812.

But the annual Muster on the St. Marys, which runs May 14 and 15, is a timeline event that features historical military groups from different eras, Native American re-enactors and craftspeople.

Even Ben Franklin will show up.

“There will be some interaction between various groups, which can be hilarious when you see Roman soldiers and Civil War soldiers have a mock battle. It’s always fun to see soldiers guarding the fort with lances and big shields,” says Norman Gable, a volunteer and board president of the non-profit Historic Fort Wayne Inc., which maintains the fort.

“By doing this, we can show people a wider era of history. It’s something to mix it up and make it interesting,” he says.

And it allows other regional re-enactors, who typically wouldn’t fit any of the fort’s traditional themed events, to join in the fun.

All events at the replica fort, which is just “a musket shot from the original fort,” as Gable describes it, are free, although donations are accepted.

Funds raised will help maintain the buildings and pay musicians to play at some events. Historic Fort Wayne Inc. also established an endowment fund last year.

This year, the volunteer-based organization is trying to promote more “true period crafts,” such as cooking, spinning, weaving, woodworking, candle-making and lace-making, volunteer and treasurer Tom Grant says.

The fort has a period garden that grows heirloom varieties of corn, spinach, squash, pumpkins, horseradish and other vegetables.

Gable is one of two blacksmiths who volunteer at the fort’s events. Since he portrays a civilian rather than a military man, he can represent more time periods – from 1750 to 1812 – and his clothing can be a bit more generic.

Most re-enactors “target a specific time frame, and their goal is to make their camp, clothing, everything they have, as accurate as possible. … Some of the people who are most fanatic about it are the Civil War people,” he says.

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War. And in September 2012, Historic Fort Wayne will have a major event to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Siege of Fort Wayne.

(If things had turned out differently, Gable says, “We might be part of Canada.”)

But volunteers are busy here every year, trying “to keep the flame alive,” board member Bob Jones says.

“So we don’t forget where we’ve come from, where we’ve been as a country. It’s fun to keep that history alive, especially for students,” Jones says.

“It’s all about keeping pride in the community. After all, this is Fort Wayne – it would be a shame if we didn’t have a fort,” Grant says.

Besides serving as the city’s namesake, the fort is a reminder of the area’s geographic importance. It was home to the Portage, a six-mile area linking major waterways.

“It was the superhighway of its day,” Gable says.

Gable, who started blacksmithing more than 10 years ago and got into re-enacting eight years ago, has developed a newfound respect for history – and those who originally lived it.

“I think we’re learning more and more about the way people lived … ” he says.

“They were very intelligent, they were very hardworking and, in some cases, willing to risk their lives for their freedom.”

sscarlett@jg.net