Passion for the Past: Colonial Kensington 2023: Back at The Kensington Metropark Farm Center

What a weekend this was!
Colonial Kensington always seems to rank at or near the top of the full-fledged bonafide reenacting events I participate in, whether Rev War or Civil War. For years it was held at an area known as Martindale Beach, and even back when it was near said beach area, it was pretty darn amazing. Then through a series of circumstances, the event was moved to another location, and that was...well...not my favorite location, mainly because it was in a remote area and couldn't be found by the visiting public. The event itself, however, wasn't bad, as you can see by clicking the link.

For the past two years it has been held in a third location, of which is my favorite: The Kensington Metropark Farm Center.

"Meet farm animals and get a glimpse of rural life at the Kensington Metropark Farm Center. Take in the sights, smells, and sounds of life on the farm and see live farm animals like chickens, goats, sheep, cattle, and draft horses. Visit a 150-year old restored barn (winner of the Michigan Barn Preservation Network (MBPN) 2012 Barn of the Year Award), the poultry house, or the barn exhibit room and kids’ area. Take a short walk to the riverside, where you’ll find a one-of-a-kind “green” building (made exclusively of natural materials), a stone labyrinth, a grass maze, and an early skills area – including a blacksmith shop and brick oven. An herb garden, field crops, and old-fashioned farm equipment are also on display. Special programs on the animals, historic techniques and other farm-related topics are held throughout the year."

And then, one weekend a year, there's us!

....~~~~~~....~~~~~....~~~~...

So here we are again. This event just puts me on a sort of high, for the realism is seen plainly; modernisms are kept pretty much out of sight except at the far ends of the area. This 2nd year at the farm location proved to be just as good and grand as last year, telling me the new location is no fluke.
Let's go on a picture tour - most photos herein are mine, through there are plenty from others' cameras, of whom photographer names are listed at the bottom of this post.

I am blending the two days together, so it may seem like one lo-o-ng day!

Walking along a dirt road, which turns to the left and into the world of the past
where America's Revolutionary War opens up to all treading the same path.

From the military tents you can see the Living History Village sign overhead.

Charlotte & I -
We spent most of our time in this area known as Living History Village.

This little makeshift village, actually called Living History Village, was opened here in 2014. It was built by the Chief Pontiac Programs members, a group of volunteers who operate a hiking trail and other programs with outdoor experiences for all age groups. They also offer classes, presentations, and have informative conversations for guests. As they state on their web page: Learn the skills that all settlers on a farm needed to know to be self sufficient. A farmer in an early settlement needed to be able to make or repair almost anything themselves.

On top of all that, the Chief Pontiac Programs group has life skills experiences, including hands-on blacksmithing, woodworking, fire starting by flint and steel, rope making & splicing, bead work, weaving and spinning and other fiber arts, and outdoor cooking classes.

I also know they do maple sugaring in the early spring. I hope to attend that myself.

Holy crap---!! What an amazing group, eh?

And what wonderful opportunities for modern folk, especially kids.

Where was this sort of thing when I was a kid???

I love their name and the fact that they pay homage to Chief Pontiac in that manner. And, yes, before anyone gets their hackles up, they have Native American personnel that support the activities at the Kensington Living History Village throughout the summer programs. Support is also present during the Kensington Maple Sugaring programs at the Kensington Farm Center.

Well, then, let's begin here - - - at Lorna's Kitchen:

What a great set up for cooking demonstrations!

I think this building is a brilliant idea for teaching the public.
Sometimes they offer hands-on classes!

Lorna from "Lorna's Kitchen" - this is where visitors can see food
as how it would have been cooked on the hearth... in a cabin or an 18th century home,
using the same type of cooking irons and pots & pans.

...and she also shows cooking techniques over a bonfire.

Also in this living history area there is a blacksmith shop.

I did not take full exterior photos of the buildings this year - for shame! - but here is one I took last year, and it shows the blacksmith shop as well as the woodworking shop on the far right.

And the blacksmith worked his craft for visitors.

While just outside the blacksmith shop, under a tent, we have the reenacting world's renown 'smithy,' Richard Heinecke, who was working on projects of his own. Yes, Richard is a blacksmith and makes everything he sells; I have purchased so many items from this man! Top Notch all the way!

Here are a few of Richard's wares - just a few...a quick glance! Period items for camp
and for home! Not in our sight are candle holders and kitchen utensils.

There was no one in the woodworking building, and since I remembered from last year that they had the tools I needed for processing flax - the break, scutching board, and hackle - I offered to present, and they accepted.

It was kind of nice that I didn't have to bring my own items!

I very much enjoy speaking about flax and of its importance in not only American history, but in world history.
We had pretty decent crowds come through, especially on "no rain Sunday."

As I am constantly in a state of research, I also added something I learned earlier this year, which was that the Sumerians also used flax to make fabric, Sumer being considered the earliest known civilization, and it is said this process dates back at least to the 7th millennium BC.

On Sunday Jackie and I sometimes split the shared information, and she spoke to the public about the leftover flax, called tow, and what it was used for.

I do very much enjoy having visitors experience these old crafts by allowing them to go through the process with me.

This young lady had a genuine interest in the process and wanted to help.
She worked the flax break, the scutching board, and even the hackle!
See the video below:

Video taken by Ian Kushnir

Get them interested in history while they're young!

On Saturday, when I was off visiting and snapping "quick sketches," Charlotte would take over in showing how flax was processed. I very much appreciated that!

And, throughout the weekend...

Amy weaved for the public.
Perhaps next year, if I do flax again, she can set up near me and we can work
together, for once the flax was processed and spun on a spinning wheel it would
then oftentimes get sent to the weaver so he or she could weave it into fabric.

Sunday brought sunny skies and Norman, Pam (and Jackie, too) - - -

Charlotte could not make it on Sunday, but I had a few other visitors join me.

The visitors received more than a battle reenactment, as you can see:

Dr. Bloodsworth explains to his audience the benefits of 18th century "modern" medicine.

But he was not the only doctor in the camps:

Dr. Henry Trippe
He, too, was often crowded with interested on-lookers.
I happen to catch him during a slow moment.

My son, Robbie, was at Colonial Kensington this year. He was there with his military unit, the 1st Pennsylvania. Of course, father & son had to get our picture taken together...but not in the way most "normal" human beings do:

My son, Robbie, and I.
We're goofs - here we are being Italian and talking with our hands. Since my father was Italian, I suppose we're allowed, right? And at any given time we'll quote lines from the Beatles' film "A Hard Days Night" or "Help!" Most people have no idea what the heck we're talking about in our pseudo-Liverpudlian accents, but we do, and we'll be laughing at each other while everyone else will look at us all dazed and confused.
English blood runs through our veins as well - don't want anyone to think
we are appropriating anyone else's culture (lolol)~
We're just sorta off the wall - - - !

But Robbie, like his old man, takes history and reenacting seriously, and will do his best to keep the past alive in a most accurate way. And he is always ready and willing to learn:

Robbie got the cooking fire going in the 1st Pennsylvania
camp - with flint & steel.

Robbie also spent time writing letters.

Me & Robbie - I like this shot!

And we had a few friends come along to visit - who I have not seen in years!

To my surprise, my friend Rae and her husband Josh showed up - -
and did they make a splash!
Both are long-time Civil War reenactors - and so are Josh's parents. Rae has come out numerous times with us in 18th century clothing, but it's been since before covid that we've seen them. Josh mentioned how much he really liked this period and plans to come out more often, which I think is pretty awesome!

Rae and Josh were both wearing what I consider to be high-class French fashions.
Thank you both for the poses.

Next up we have some good friends (and almost relatives) Sue and Dave.

This loving couple got married only a short time ago -
My son Robbie married Sue's 1st cousin, which is why I noted that we were "almost relatives."

Saturday afternoon we had the threat of rain ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It wasn't supposed to rain. In fact, the darkest clouds moved past.
It was the lighter clouds that brought - - -

...what's this?
Rain!
Actually, a down pour!!

It rained Friday night, with a tornado touching down a ways away, but the same storm went in the Kensington direction. Luckily, nothing but a bit of rain occurred. It did muddy up the road quite a bit.

Let's visit the military camps for a bit:

The front portion of the military camps.

The 1st and the 13th Pennsylvania row of tents.
Americans!

Coming through the raindrops - - -

The 1st Pennsylvania on Saturday.

...and on Sunday.

1st Pennsylvania preparing for battle~

The Massachusetts Provincial Battalion prepares for battle.

There was a good rain that fell over night Friday, and then again
early on Saturday afternoon.
You know, it rained in the 1700s as well. As Pastor Gerring said,
"This is authentic 18th century rain!"
Indeed.

'Twas a good battle, including cannon and musketry.

Certainly we do not have as many people on the field as would have been seen 250 years ago, but it does give the visitors a good idea of the battles and tactics of
long, long ago.

The fight for Independence was, to me, a cause worth fighting for.

To be fair for the reenactment, on Saturday the British won, and on Sunday
it was the American's turn to take the field.

Nicholas Gerring replicates (sniper) Timothy Murphy, who was told:
"That gallant officer is General Fraser. I admire him, but it is necessary that he should die, do your duty." Murphy scaled a nearby tree, took careful aim at the extreme distance of 300 yards, and fired three times. The first shot was a close miss, the second grazed the general's horse, and with the third, Fraser tumbled from his horse, shot through the stomach. General Fraser died that night. British senior officer, Sir Francis Clerke, General Burgoyne's chief aide-de-camp, galloped onto the field with a message. Murphy's third shot killed him instantly.

I always enjoy hearing the period music, especially when you have the fife & drum & pipes.

Oh! The people you meet walking down a reenacting street!
Here are a few folks that were here, there, and everywhere throughout this little Revolutionary War town:

Tony and Richard

Scott and CarolAnne

Jim & Sarah

Tony & Chris

Jackie & Pam

Does anybody know this Revolutionary War hero?
Why, it's Ken Roberts!

Brent

Paula & Family

What a super time Colonial Kensington was! And we got word to be ready, for it will return next year - and so will I!!

It seems like actual bona-fide military reenactments are becoming less and less. It used to be that there were several each month through spring, summer, and fall. Now we're lucky if we can eek out a half dozen for the entire season. This year alone there are only five Revolutionary War events listed within a two hour drive from metro-Detroit: Patriots Day, Frankenmuth, Colonial Kensington, Vermillion Creek, and Fort Meigs (in Ohio - which is the same weekend as Kensington...go figure).

In Civil War there are even less: Hastings/Charlton Park and Jackson. If you want to drive a bit there is the Van Raalte muster and maybe one or two more.

So we need to do our best to keep what we have.

Please---if you are a participant, make sure you attend.

If you are not a reenactor but enjoy going to them, please continue to do so---and bring family & friends along. If we all work together, we can save what we have, and, perhaps, even add a few more to the roster.

Oh, and getting the young people to join up is important as well. We don't want the hobby to die off with us older folks.

Until next time, see you in time.

Besides my own pictures, I would also like to thank a few for the use of some wonderful photos:

Barb Baldinger
Charlotte Bauer

Carol McMann

Ian Kushner

Norman Gerring

Karen Kemmer

Richard Reaume

To read more about flax, please click HERE

And here are links to all of the Colonial Kensingtons that I have participated in, each loaded with photos:

2014