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The excitement I felt all through that year back in 1976 is actually still with me, even after 50 years. 1976 - the Bicentennial year - affected me beyond almost anything else. I was just a teenager...and the current music of the time was my soundtrack: Led Zeppelin's Presence, The Rolling Stones' Black and Blue, Steve Miller Band's Fly Like an Eagle, and the live Joe Walsh album, You Can't Argue With A Sick Mind -- I wore the grooves out of those albums.
Yep----my spirit of '76 soundtrack. Well, I'm still listening to those albums all these many years later, though they're on CD now (no, I don't stream).
I would skim through the local papers - Detroit News, Detroit Free Press - looking for anything Bicentennial, then cut out the articles.
Wish I still had my scrap book.
So here we in 2026 and we are celebrating America's 250th.
Is it seriously 50 years later?!? Doesn't seem like it.
But we are - - and guess what? This time I am a part of it!
Take a quick glance at the three trifold flyer pictures below to see what Macomb College/Lorenzo Cultural Center has to offer:
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| Celebrating America250 with a bang! |
Now, for our presentation, Larissa & I do not speak of the Revolutionary War - we speak on homelife during the time of that War for Independence. In other words, our job was to tell the audience what life was like at home before the men went to war. It helps to immerse the visitor into the times to give a fuller understanding of the era.
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Macomb College is doing it right~
Being a patriot doesn't mean you are Democrat or Republican.
It means you are an American. |
"Estimates vary slightly, but in the 1750's, there was an estimated English population of 1.2 million people. At its height, only about 20 to 30 thousand, or roughly about 2.5% of the population, were directly involved in the military. What about the other 97 percent?
They were the Farmers, Shopkeepers, Tavern keepers, Midwives, and other civilians that continued to go about their daily lives, in spite of the European power struggles going on around them."
And so if you look closely~~~~~
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There we are at the very top - Larissa & I doing what we do best!
And friend Barb was there as well, teaching folks to write with a quill pen and ink! |
The night before I had a tough time relaxing enough to fall asleep. I mean, this is a big deal. As a proud patriot, being a part of such a celebration means the world to me, and I know it does to Larissa as well, and I was really wanting it to go well. So my mind was racing in all different directions. I finally did fall asleep, but I awakened around 4 a.m. and pretty much lay in bed, dozing and awakening until it was time to get up for good. I had packed up quite a bit of my 18th century artifacts and was soon ready to go.
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| This is what greeted us as we entered the front doors of the Lorenzo Cultural Center. |
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Having these displays as well as historic presenters just brings it all alive.
Museums can learn from this, in more ways than one. |
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| Informational banners were set up throughout. |
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| Getting ready to sign the Declaration. |
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| I believe that is John Hancock with the Declaration. |
Onto the presentations~~~~~
Written in the booklet for Larissa & I:
Daily Life Re-enactment and Signing Event
Ken Giorlando and Larissa Fleishman will discuss and depict the daily lives of those who lived in Colonial America in the 18th century, across all four seasons.
Ken Giorlando and Larissa Fleishman, speakers
Ken and Larissa have been presenting together as a farming couple for over a decade. Both have been living historians for over two decades.
Barb Baldinger, speaker
She is a member of the Lac Ste. Claire Habitants et Voyageurs de Detroit. They portray life in the early days of Detroit by dressing in the 18th century attire while reenacting the lives and skills of that era at various events throughout the year.
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Me & Larissa~
For this picture I am wearing my cocked (tricorn) hat!
I wore my wide-brimmed farm hat during our presentation. |
A saxony spinning wheel, a butter churn, a flail, a toaster, lighting/candles including a bettylamp, candle molds, various stages of dipped candles (thanks Micki!), a lantern with a cow's horn translucent, a winnowing basket, sugar cone and nippers, spider fry pan, pipkin, a trencher, textiles including flax, wool, and linen, carding paddles, a broom, and a number of other items to show 18th century life.
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| Artifacts that would have been commonplace in an 18th century farmhouse. |
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| The handout booklet~ |
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| Just a wonderful souvenir of America 250! |
I was a little nervous, but not too bad. We were the first actual presentation for this exhibit so we had little idea what to expect. I can't tell you how pleased I was to see a packed house!
Yes...we were very pleased.
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| Barb Baldinger took a wonderful photo from the back of the room - this is showing only part of the audience. |
I began the presentation by telling the audience that the past is a foreign place - a different mindset and a different culture. And I alluded for them to get rid their mind of the here and now and to please put themselves into the past - into our world of the 1770s. I also mentioned that 90% of the populace in the 1770s were farmers, therefore our talk would center around a farm family's life.
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Somehow that stick in my hand makes my booming voice even boomier~
Normally my voice carries and I don't need an electronic devise. But this time I did. |
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Larissa had some small item attached to her dress that made her voice boom louder as well. These new-fangled inventions will never catch on! |
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Barb Baldinger:
a member of the Lac Ste. Claire Habitants et Voyageurs de Detroit, who portray life in the early days of Detroit by dressing in 18th century attire while reenacting the lives and skills of that era at various events throughout the year.
Here she gave folks the opportunity to write with quill & ink by signing their name to a copy of the Declaration of Independence. |
As Barb wrote on her Facebook page:
Today was the "Daily Life Re-enactment & Signing Event" at the Lorenzo Cultural Center, as part of the Chasing Liberty exhibit. It was written up as follows: "Ken Giorlando and Larissa Fleishman will discuss and depict the daily lives of those who lived in Colonial America in the 18th century, across all four seasons.
Attendees will have the unique opportunity to experience writing with a quill feather pen, guided by Barb Baldinger, adding a hands-on touch to the historical journey."
The center printed out copies of the Declaration of Independence for people to sign. I had them practice writing their signature with one of my quill pens on a card first, then they could sign and take home their own copy of the Declaration of Independence. It was a lot of fun with about 100 participants!
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We brought along a good many collectibles to accent our presentation.
And then there's us - Myself, Larissa, and Barb (Baldinger) - we're pretty collectible (lol)
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During our talk, I did my Jethro Tull joke. Those roughly 45 years of age and up get it - any younger and they usually don't---unless they're like my kids who grew up listening to a good variety of old and new music.
Anyhow, I like to let our audience know that George Washington was quite a fan of Jethro Tull. Yes, it's true---Washington was a strong proponent of the agricultural methods championed by Jethro Tull, the inventor of the seed drill. As an enthusiastic "scientific farmer," Washington was heavily influenced by the English agricultural revolution and implemented many of Tull's ideas, including the use of horse-drawn machinery to sow seeds in rows rather than broadcasting them by hand.
Washington may have liked Jethro Tull, but I'm sure he did not like beetles - no farmer wants beetles in his garden!
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Jethro Tull's book from 1733.
Washington farmed by this book!
A great fan of Jethro Tull, he was~~
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As mentioned, we spoke on a year in the life on an 18th century farm and included many farming activities and chores of the period, including...
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Winnowing.
I had wheat from last year, some still on the stalk,
so part of my speech explained the winnowing process.
(such a look on my face - ooooo) |
After our presentation was over, and after about 15 minutes of questions & answers, Larissa and I took time to walk around the exhibit area.
It is SO impressive! My gosh! Kayla certainly went far and beyond --- she did honor to our country.
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| This looks to be a life-size display of our founding fathers ghathered together to discuss the Declaration of Independence. |
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While roaming through the wonderful display, Larissa posed with "her man" - President Washington  | (even though George's wife was next to him lol)~
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Since Larissa and I did our presentation there, I've been back to visit to really take my time to give a closer look at the displays as well as to see a few other events and speakers on their calendar, including an event called, "Revolutionary Encounters": Experience history come alive as Museum Theater actors perform short, interactive scenes within the exhibit on select days. Our exhibit comes to life as the actors from our Museum Theater program engage and interact with visitors in short, impromptu performances within the exhibit.
Once Congress approved the draft fair copy of the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 1776, it was taken to printer John Dunlap that very afternoon to typeset and print copies. John Dunlap, the "official printer to the Continental Congress," was born in Strabane, Northern Ireland in 1746 and came to the American Colonies as a boy of ten. He was apprenticed to his uncle William Dunlap, a printer in Philadelphia, whose shop was located just blocks away from the State House (Independence Hall).
The actor portraying Mr. Dunlap chose Jackie from the audience (of all people lol) to pretend to print copies as an apprentice, so Jackie mimicked him as he walked her through the steps of printing the broadsides.
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| I don't remember all of the steps, but Jackie mimicked each one... |
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| It's easy to see this one is putting on the ink |
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| I believe she is pulling down the printing lever. |
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Voila!
We have a printed copy of the Declaration of Independence! |
There was another interactive meeting of the past:
Mary Katharine Goddard (1738–1816) was a pioneering American publisher, printer, and the first female postmaster in the United States. She is most famous for printing the Goddard Broadside in January 1777, which was the first version of the Declaration of Independence to include the signers names/signatures.
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Mary Katherine Goddard
This is another Macomb Theater actor, and she handed out a piece of printed paper "Address to the Ladies" and had some of the women in the audience taking turns by reading a few lines each. |
"Address to the Ladies," published in 1767-1768, was a popular American Revolutionary-era poem urging young women in towns and surrounding areas to support the boycott of British goods. It advised wearing homemade ("homespun") linen, rejecting imported goods, and replacing British tea with local substitutes.
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| The poem, often called "Young Ladies in Town" or "To Our Ladies," first appeared in Boston newspapers to support non-importation agreements. |
It asked women to reject expensive imported brocades and ribbons ("topknots of pride") in favor of locally made cloth, framing "homespun" as fashionable and patriotic.
The poem suggested that young ladies should refuse to marry men who wore "London factory" goods, encouraging them to support only those who bought American-made products. Women were urged to stop drinking British tea (Bohea or Green Hyson) and instead drink local alternatives like Labradore.
Women were essential to the success of these boycotts because they managed the household budgets and were the primary producers of clothing. By wearing homespun dresses—even to elite social balls—these "Daughters of Liberty" made a powerful political statement that significantly hurt British trade exports to the colonies.
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This was another enjoyable display.
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Jackie will be portraying Mercy Otis Warren
this coming 4th of July |
Mercy Otis Warren (1728–1814) was a prominent American playwright, poet, and historian who became one of the most influential political writers of the American Revolution.
In 1805, she published the three-volume History of the Rise, Progress, and Termination of the American Revolution. This work made her the first female historian in the U.S. and provided an "insider" account based on her close ties to founding figures.
Born in Barnstable, Massachusetts, she was the sister of James Otis Jr., the lawyer famous for the phrase "no taxation without representation".
She maintained lifelong, though sometimes contentious, correspondences with John and Abigail Adams, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson. Her critical portrayal of John Adams in her 1805 history led to a famous break in their friendship that lasted until 1812.
She married James Warren, a merchant and prominent Massachusetts politician, in 1754, who encouraged her writing. Their home in Plymouth, Massachusetts served as a hotbed for revolutionary activity.
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| Mercy Otis Warren |
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| Phillis Wheatley (c. 1753–1784) was a pioneering author and the first African American woman to publish a book of poetry. |
Born in West Africa and captured from the Senegambia region at age seven or eight, she was brought to Boston on the slave ship Phillis, from which she was given her name. Purchased by the Wheatley family, she was tutored by their children in English, Latin, Greek, and the Bible. Within 16 months, she could read complex literary and religious texts. She published her first poem at age 14 and gained international notoriety with her 1770 elegy (a poem of serious reflection, typically a lament for the dead) for evangelist George Whitefield.
Because many doubted a slave could write such sophisticated verse, 18 prominent Bostonians, including John Hancock, signed an attestation in 1772 certifying her authorship. Phillis was a strong supporter of the American Revolution, and wrote a poem in 1775 praising George Washington, who subsequently invited her to meet him.
She was freed by the Wheatley family shortly after her book was published in 1773. She died in Boston on December 5, 1784, at the age of 31. Today, she is honored as the "Mother of African American Literature".
And there was a nice display on the various men and women who wrote on the Revolution in various ways, whenther by published book or news media:
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| All about the 18th century media. |
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I hope these are all legible for my readers.
Click the pictures to enlarge~ |
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| These informational segments give the visitor a good overview of the subject. |
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| A bit about Stephen Hopkins, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, & John Dickinson. |
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| Can't leave out Benjamin Franklin, nor John or Sam Adams! |
The next presenter I saw was food historian Jeff Pavlik
Jeff Pavlik, speaker
Jeff Pavlik is a professional historian and chef who teaches culinary arts at Lincoln High School in Warren (Michigan). For 25 years he owned and operated a bakery in Farmington (Michigan). During this time he continued his passion for historical reenacting and research, learning the skills of an 18th century soldier. He has published several articles on the breads of the American Revolution and given workshops to museum staff across the country on 18th century foodways.
For Jeff's presentation on March 11:
Discover the rations, improvisation, and ingenuity that sustained Continental soldiers during the War for Independence through authentic stories and artifacts.
Taste of Revolution: Soldiers’ Food in the War for Independence
Look into the pack of a Continental soldier and discover what food sustained him through the War for Independence. Explore the rations he received to wage war, and the many ways he had to improvise and and endure in the face of hunger and hardship. See how these soldiers used ingenuity to prepare their meager supplies, using the simplest of tools and makeshift equipment to cook their meals. Listen to their own voices as they describe what - and how - they ate while fighting for freedom.
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| Jeff did a power point presentation |
But he also brought along with him samples and measured amounts according the what was listed on the rations list.
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Here we see rations for Revolutionary War soldiers:
1 pound salt beef or 12 oz. salt pork
2 pounds of flour or bread (I see hard bread in the picture. It was not called hardtack until the 19th century.
6 cups of peas or beans
1 cup or rice or 2 cups of cornmeal
and various other foodstuff & necessities - coming from George Washington |
He also spoke on spruce beer.
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| Jeff and his bread. |
Another large crowd was there to watch Jeff's presentation. I love that so many people have a love for our nation's past. My biggest complaint, however, is that too many people still believe the myths they've been brainwashed into thinking are truths. Just read the majority of Facebook memes. Most of these memes are so instilled into the minds of people that if you disagree with fact they respond in a deragatory manner in an attempt to make you look foolish. This happens to me frequently, even sometimes from some who are actual "historians." That's one of our reasons why we do what we do, to help dispel the myths! Jeff knows his historical facts. Excellent! I learned quite a bit!
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Intersperced among the nationally-based Revolutionary War information is a lot of local Michigan history as well.
Perfect! |
Then, on Friday the 13th (of March), I went back yet again, this time to hear about "Detroit in 1776."
Bill Pringle, speaker
Bill Pringle is curator of Collections at the Detroit Historical Society, where he helps develop exhibits and care for the society's extensive collection of artifacts.
For Bill's presentation on March 13:
Detroit's century-deep Colonial past and its blend of French, British, and American loyalties was shaped by remaining under British rule until 1796. The stage is set for a compelling presentation on how this unique frontier community evolved during the nation's founding.
Detroit in 1776
As Jefferson, Adams, and Franklin drafted the Declaration of Independence in 1776, Detroit was already an influential settlement, with nearly a century of colonial history under its belt. Even after the American Revolution had succeeded, Detroit remained British until 1796 and its residents represented a fascinating mixture of French, British, and American ideologies and loyalties.
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Bill Pringle
curator of Collections at the Detroit Historical Society
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Sadly, due to a massive windstorm, no technology was able to be utilized, so Bill told us everything without the benefit of visuals.
Friday the 13th indeed!
Pretty boring, eh?
Not. At. All.
In fact, quite the opposite. Listening to his stories and historical facts, with the way he was able to fluctuate his voice, brought Detroit history to life. It was very immersive, to be honest.
Just excellent!
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March 13 was a very windy day to the extreme and knocked out the technology, so Bill could not use his power point.
This is the one picture that I was able to snag before it went down. |
Now let's check out more from the exhibit.
Regular readers of Passion for the Past may recall the frequent times I reenact and participate with the wonderful and unique living history group known as the Voyageurs, the reenactors in which the aforementioned Barb Baldinger belongs. Well, not only did a dozen or so come out and see mine and Larissa's talk, but they also set up a display of their own, showing Michigan and Detroit history.
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| They did a bang-up job! |
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| Centering on the Michigan fur trade. |
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Voyageur information
By clicking the picture, you can enlarge it.
All of the photos in my blog are set that way, in fact. |
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| There was a colonial, or perhaps a frontier, kitchen display set up. |
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An 18th century drum -
see information below:
 | An actual 18th century drum!
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Information about the letter below:
 | An original letter from Alexander Hamilton to Aaron Burr from 1786
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Also, in relation to Alexander Hamilton:
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Late 18th century Candlesticks once belonging to the Hamilton Family, as noted below:
 | The information about the candlesticks.
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| Wife of one president and mother of another, Abigail Adams was a true founding member of the birth of our nation. She was her husband, John's, right-hand helper. Beyond her domestic role, she served as her husband’s most trusted political confidante. Her intellect was so respected that critics sometimes kiddingly referred to her as "Mrs. President". |
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| Here is a collection of 18th century kitchen ware: forks, spoon, knives, pewter plates and cup, earthenware porringer, showing homelife during the Revolutionary War. |
Quite a display, eh?
I am so very proud of Macomb County Community College and the Lorenzo Cultural Center for not only taking part in America 250, but for doing such a fantastic job!
Thank you, Kayla!!.
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We have more presentations yet to come this year.
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The very next day, a few of us practiced what we preached at this presentation and spent a day in the 18th century at the log cabin house in Waterloo Farm Museum.
That's up for next week's Passion for the Past posting.
Our cabin excursions, where we have, so far, experienced living in the 18th century for 35 days (no, not all at once, lol), have helped Larissa and I greatly. Now add her 25 years of experience working and presenting at the 1760s Daggett House at Greenfield Village, and you can see we done some pretty exceptional period things.
As for this event at Macomb College's Lorenzo Cultural Center, this was only the beginning. This is the year - this 250th anniversary year of 2026 - where I make a grand attempt to make up for all of the exciting historical things I could not do back during the Bicentennial of 1976.
I'm trying, oh Lord, I certainly am!
Until next time, see you in time.
Thank you to the photographers who took pictures - Barb Baldinger, Jean Cook, and also Micki Smith-who also took a few with my camera.I even took quite a few shots as well.
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Below here are a number of links that can add to today's post.
If you would like to read my post on a wonderful exhibit inside the Henry Ford Museum, you would definitely want to click
The Henry Ford Museum has amassed a very large collection of Revolutionary War-era objects over the years. Perhaps the largest - or one of the largest - outside of the east coast. It is an amazing assemblage of original Revolutionary War artifacts on display for all the world to see, telling the story of America's fight for Independence. An original Stamp Act notification. A letter written by Benedict Arnold. George Washington's camp bed, a coffee pot made by Paul Revere, a writing desk that once belonged to Thomas Jefferson...yeah...this is some great stuff here!
These artifacts had been displayed prominently during the Bicentennial in 1976. The Henry Ford has since put many of those objects in their "With Liberty and Justice For All" exhibit. I did a posting based solely around the 18th century items...and here 'tis. (too bad they are not having a special display for America's 250th).
Here are links posts of links connecting you to a few of my Revolutionary War posts. Sort of an all in one package.
Interested in Revolutionary War era flags?
Click
HEREHow about my collection of Paul Revere collectibles and a 250th commemoration - - click
HERE
I've written a blog post about a year on a colonial farm
HERE
Are you interested in my Bicentennial posts?
Here's what I wrote in
2022
Perhaps you are interested in seeing what a Lac Ste. Claire Habitants et Voyageurs de Detroit encampment is like (including some French and some English)
A few of us "live" 18th century life quite often throughout the four seasons of the year. We call these times "Experiencing our research." If you are interested in our time at the frontier colonial cabin, check out the links below:
Here is a complete list with links for all of our colonial cabin excursions, mostly centering around agriculture, but also including our celebrations of holidays such as Candlemas, Rogation Sundays, and Lammas Day celebrations (remember - each year listed here we are representing 250 years earlier:
2020 = 1770
2021 = 1771
2022 = 1772
2023 = 1773
2024 = 1774
2025 = 1775
And this year being 2026---well, that will be 1776 for us!
~To read about our 2020
autumn harvest excursion - our first time at the cabin - click
HERE~To read about our 2021 wintertime excursion at the cabin - click
HERE~To read about our 2021 springtime excursion at the cabin - click
HERE~To read about our 2021 summertime excursion at the cabin - click
HERE~To read about our 2021 summer
harvesting of the flax at the cabin - click
HERE~To read about our 2021 autumn excursion - click
HERE~To read about our 2022 winter excursion at the cabin - please click
HERE~To read about our 2022 spring excursion at the cabin - please click
HERE~To read about our 2022 summer excursion at the cabin - please click
HERE~To read about our 2022 autumn excursion at the cabin
(Pioneer Day) - please click
HERE~To read about our 2023 winter excursion at the cabin
(Candlemas) - please click
HERE~To read about our 2023 spring excursion at the cabin
(Rogation Sunday) - please click
HERE~To read about our 2023 late spring at the cabin - click
HERE~To read about the 2023 early summer - please click
HERE~To read about the 2023 summer
(Lammas Day) - please click
HERE~To read about the 2023 autumn
Pioneer Day - please click
HERE~To read about our 2023
Thanksgiving harvest celebration - please click
HERE~To read about our 2024 Winter experience at the cabin - please click
HERE~To read about our 2024 spring excursion at the cabin - please click
HERE~To read about our 2024 late spring with just Patty & I - click
HERE ~To read about our 2024 summer
(Lammas Day) - please click
HERE~To read about our 2024 mid-and-late-summer - please click
HERE~To read about our 2024 mid-September - click
HERE~To read about our 2024 autumn
Pioneer Day Celebration - please click
HERE~To read about our 2024
Thanksgiving Harvest - please click
HERE~To read about our 2024
Christmas at the Farm Cabin presentation - please click
HERE~To read about our 2025 winter &
Candlemas Day - please click
HERE~To read about our 2025 spring/early May
Rogation Sunday excursion - please click
HERE~To read about our 2025 Memorial Day/Late May visit, please click
HERE~To read about our 2025
(Lammas Day) Celebration, please click
HERE~To read about our 2025 September visit with my grandson experiencing living history, click
HERE~To read about our 2025
Pioneer Day event, please click
HERE~To read about our 2025
Harvest Thanksgiving Celebration (including my grandson!), click
HERE ~To read about our 2025
Christmas experience, please click
HERE That makes 34 days spent in the good old colony days!
And the day after this presentation I did my 35th day!
Find grave of James Otis for other blog post
James Otis (1725–83) was a lawyer in Massachusetts and a member of the Massachusetts Legislature. In the mid-1760s he wrote a number of important pamphlets in favor of American independence and is said to have coined the revolutionary phrase “no taxation without representation”.
