The Kalamazoo Living History Show is more than a gathering of vendors selling their wares to reenactors - - it's an event! A special annual event! It is a gathering of the tribes, so to speak. It is a connection to others of the same ilk. We who do iving history look forward to it all year long.
Oh, absolutely!
If you didn't or couldn't go, here's a load of photos showing what you missed - - -
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Blame John Adams.
It's his fault!
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| A scene from the John Adams HBO series |
Okay...so it's not exactly his fault...rather, it is his HBO mini-series' fault.
More than anything (or anyone) else, the HBO mini-series for John Adams (first broadcoast in 2008) renewed my love and passion and interest in America's colonial and early Republic period. Before seeing this series, the love I had for that time seemed to lay dormant for quite a while....just under the surface...since the time of the Bicentennial celebrations of 1976.
But it was there.
When I looked to get into Revolutionary War reenacting, in the mid-to-late 1990s and early 2000s, I was, more or less, snubbed. Seriously. 18th century reenacting folks actually talked me out of it. However, when I spoke to Civil War reenactors, they welcomed me (and my family) with open arms. So guess what I did? Yup---I became a Civil War reenactor. And I loved it---I learned so much about living history, reenacting...and how to bring the past to life.
But America's colonial/Revolutionary War period continued to tug at me. Then a friend mentioned the John Adams mini-series, and so, without even seeing it, I ordered the DVD off of Amazon, for it was something I simply knew I would like.
Oh, I didn't just like it - I surely loved it!
One watch was all it took - - all of my passions for that period came flooding back.
I loved the history it showed, the clothing...just all of it.
It soon became my all-time favorite historical film - - - -
And it didn't take long for me to realize that was the era I wanted to "visit."
Often...
So, it was in 2014 that I finally got my colonial feet wet.
Then I soon after dove in head first.
And, now? Well, if you've been reading this Passion for the Past blog since then, there's not a question where my living history heart has firmly been placed.
Besides the usual questions reenactors frequently get asked:
"Is that a real fire?"
"Are you really going to eat that?"
"Aren't you hot in those clothes?"
there is another question I do get asked quite frequently:
"Where do you get your 'old-time' clothing (or, ahem, costumes) and stuff from?"
Yep...that one certainly is brought up often.
Why, many of us living historians/reenactors in the southern half of Michigan's lower penninsula head out to the Kalamazoo Living History Show every March to get most of the items we need (not costumes, but period clothing), including historic accessories.
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| So here is where I got my first set of 18th century clothing back in 2014--- Yep---right here! I still purchase many clothing items here! |
From where I live just north of Detroit, it's almost a three hour drive to the city of Kalamazoo. Just imagine...nearly 300 of the finest artisans and vendors of pre-1890 clothing, supplies, and related accessories and crafts from throughout the United States and Canada come together to sell their wares to those who practice the art of living history. Most of the items found at this exposition are from around the French & Indian War era (1754 - 1763) up through the time of the Civil War period (1861 - 1865) and everything in between, including Native American, Revolutionary War, Regency, and frontier/western, and all of this takes place inside three very large reception halls/rooms.
Here is how it went this year of 2025~
With so many vendors, I certainly did not take a picture of each. I do try to show the variety of sellers who had tables, but still...the following only gives a hint of what was inside the three halls at the Kalamazoo Expo Center:
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| Sage Trading had a very interesting look. |
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| Axes and axe handles. |
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| One seller had corn meal! |
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| See that shovel there? I almost bought it, but, sadly, this vendor did not accept debit cards, If he did, the shovel (and maybe even the broom) would have been mine. This is a rare exception, for most vendors accept cards. |
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| Some vendors had quite a variety of items - almost like an old-time early American general store! |
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| Need a musket? Various sellers had plenty on hand for sale. |
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| Monmouth knit caps |
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| Well-known local seamstress, Pam Yockey, was also a vendor. |
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| Calf hides and deer hides... |
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| Tinsmiths were selling their wares. |
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| Gotta have the booksellers, as you see the Todish's, and most of the books being sold were deeply marked down. |
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| A good number of the attendees will dress in their period clothing when they come, such as JR Schroeder in his 1812 military gear. |
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| And here is my good friend, Susan, and her business - Carrot Patch Farm. Susan is in the wool business: she spins, dyes, and knits...then sells. Amazing. |
Casey Samson and his wife, Abbie, own and operate Samson Historical, "a colonial outfitter and living-history supply business." This is where we in the cabin crew get most of our work clothes. Though some in our group can and do sew, Samson's sells colonial-era work clothing that allows us to look pretty darn historically accurate---meaning, we're not afraid of getting our period clothing dirty.
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| Most of our clothing you see us wearing here came from Samson's Historical. And, yes, we're not afraid to actually work and sweat in them. |
We'll be back to spring cleaning and planting before you know it!
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| My wife Patty came along for the first time in years, and the first thing she decided to get was a new pair of colonial-period shoes. Abbie Samson of Samson's Historical was most gracious in helping her to find a decent pair that she can wear while working in the garden at the cabin. |
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| My favorite historical clothiers~ If you don't sew your own, this is the place to go, in my humble opinion, for Abbie researches everything she sells. |
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| Pattylou got a new pair of shoes! |
"Unveiling the past with passion, Samson Historical is a trusted source for authentic 18th-century expertise. From meticulously researched and crafted period clothing to artisan-made products from all over the world, we deliver to you the rich history of the 18th century and Regency era."
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| Here I am with my good friend, Jennifer. The reason that I posted this photo is to show you my new waistcoat that I purchased from Samson's Historical. |
The Salty Lantern also has a variety of 18th century items, including beds and...
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| Bob, the builder of my shaving horse (see what I did there? lol), built another to sell at his vendor's area. Bob Stark (aka Ben Franklin) is a woodworker and builds the many wooden items he uses in his camp, including single beds and bunk beds. |
My favorite stop for 18th century accessories:
There were gunsmiths there who were making muskets, beginning with wood blocks and showing the steps to the finished product, but that was so crowded that during the time I was in the same room as them it was almost impossible to get any kind of a decent picture, for they drew large crowds.
This year our restaurant of choice was the Battle Creek Big Boy: |
| Jas. Townsend is my favorite place to go for lanterns and straight-last shoes! |
"The educational YouTube channel "Townsends" is created and hosted by Jon Townsend, who also runs the business, which sells items related to the 18th century and American Revolutionary War."
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| Here I am with the owner and operator of Townsends, Jon Townsend |
Townsends has such a large collection of accessories. Between Townsends and Samson's, pert-near everything one may need to time-travel is available. Both companies will work with you as well.
The living historian (and actress) who portrays the Irish indentured servant Maggie Delaney (actress Carol Jarboe) was also at the Kalamazoo expo. She tells of the hardships of indentured servitude. I have her DVD where she speaks, for nearly an hour, in a thick Irish brogue, giving the viewer her story, sometimes being a bit whimsical and other times bringing us to tears of sadness.
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| Maggie Delaney's DVD is also available at Townsend's. |
A number of folk were actively showing their handi-crafts. I happily worked Bob Stark's shaving horse, but I only did that for a few minutes, for I wanted to make it through each large room to see all the vendors. I did get to see most, but not all.
Anyhow, here are a couple images of folks there who did demonstrations~
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| Some demonstrated the large walking wheel, popular during the 18th and 19th centuries. |
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| Hide scraping - tanning was also demonstrated. |
Various folk set up tables to advertise their reenacting units:
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| Dalton was there, representing (as the sign says) the 49th Regiment of Foote. I appreciate the 49th greatly for they have supported me at my Patriot's Day - Battle of Lexington & Concord as Redcoats. They also support the 4th of July celebrations I head up as well. In return, I try to support them for their Taylor Colonial Days event in June. |
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| Ah---the gleesome threesome! lol Tony, on the right, heads up the 1st Pennsylvania Continental group. The 1st Pennsylvania has also supported my Patriot's Day event by coming out as militia. I try to support any of their endeavors as well. |
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| One of my favorite streaming channels dedicated to history is called History Fix. Yes, those who run the channel were also there! Quite an event, this Kalamazoo Living History Show! |
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| Scott Mann, on the left in this picture, heads up the Queen's Rangers - 1st American Regiment - Highland Company.
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The Kalamazoo Living History Show is also a reunion of sorts. Given that I reenact multiple time periods, my reenacting friendships have grown tremendously - I knew so many people there!
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| A few folks hanging around the 1st Pennsylvania table: Dave, Tom, EJ, and Tony. (A Jennifer Monarch picture) |
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| EJ - - - strike a pose! I've known this young man since he was around 9 or 10 years old. He's 19 now - - - - |
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| Here we have Brent Kemmer and his missus from the Brent hosts the wonderfully large Frankenmuth event every July. French & Indian War, Revolutionary War, Natives, Voyageurs, and Frontiersmen all participate. |
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| Daughter Abby with her father, Bob. Not only do the two of them run "The Salty Lantern," but Bob portrays Benjamin Franklin, and Abby portrays Abigail Adams on the 4th of July. She also does presentations on the Boston Tea Party and the speaks of the kinds of tea that was dumped in the Boston Harbor. |
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| Natives were there. I was told their tribal name but cannot remember it - I believe they are from New York. I know many, if not most, of the Michigan tribles, but their tribe is not, ahem, native to Michigan. |
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| And I took a snap of this Regency (early 19th century) couple. |
As is our tradition, the few of us that took the trip to Kalamazoo together - myself, my wife Patty, Charlotte, and Norm - went out to eat on our way back home.
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| Since Patty was not "dressed" she took the picture. |
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| As we moved toward our vehicle, Big Boy himself was waiting for us, so we stopped to allow him to be in this picture. By the way, we did wish Norm a happy birthday! |
And there it was: the Kalamazoo Living History Show came and went like Christmas morning---way too fast! But such a great time! Yes, I am alsready looking forward to next year!
By the way, I had numerous folks comment to me how much they enjoy this Passion for the Past blog!
Wow - that really touches the heart!
Thank you.
Truly - -
thank you.
(Blame John Adams indeed!)~
Until next time, see you in time.
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