Living History Preparations for 2009

Well, here it is, the end of another Christmas season. The tree came down Sunday, as did the rest of the decorations, and I am a little down. It always brings me down when we un-decorate. Plus, I had to put my wonderful period Christmas music away - well...I didn't have to. I suppose I could go on listening to those glorious sounds of Christmas past throughout the year, but then they wouldn't be as special. Plus, my friends would think me even stranger!
But there is some light shining brighter and brighter at the end of the tunnel - - - - - -
My thoughts and motivations are gearing up for the 2009 Civil War era re-enacting season! It's living history that will carry me through the doldrums of the bleak winter months ahead. In fact, this Saturday (the 17th) is the Michigan Roundtable in our capital city of Lansing and it's almost like Christmas to me. Of course, I know most of the events that will be brought up, but it's the surprises that get me excited. For instance, last year they brought back the Charlton Park event in Hastings after a four year hiatus. Having never been, I found it to be a great living history event despite an all-day rain. We were able to use a house built in the 1850's as our own for a mourning presentation, and that right there is a dream come true for any living historian - using an actual period home for a presentation.
I have hundreds of pictures from the 2008 season (thank God for digital tintypes) and have enjoyed re-living some of the events by looking at those photos. But, it's the coming year that I am looking forward to. More memories to make. More pictures to take. And even more friends to make as well. Both of the units I belong to seem to be growing at a good pace with new members joining all the time - with the country heading in the direction it is, no wonder we have more and more folks looking toward the past! And I really enjoy working with the 'fresh fish' - the newbies - I like guiding them in the right direction in doing living history. Mind! I am by no means an expert. There is a certain Mrs. Root and a Mrs. Christen who I look to and consult with many times for my own impression. They are the experts! And, it's through their willingness to share their wealth of social historical knowledge that gives me that want to study the era even more - I want to someday be where they are at for social history.
Watch. Practice. Read.
So far since the the new year has begun I have purchased six (or is it seven?) books on social history. One is a guide on oil lamps. Something good to know when teaching the patrons of everyday life of an era long gone. Another is a period fashion book for men, women, and children covering the years 1860 to 1880. No explanation needed for this book, is there? And still another is a facsimile of the 1824 Blue Back Speller by Noah Webster. Why this particular book? Well, if I actually were in 1863, this is more than likely the schoolbook I would have learned from as a youth in the 1820's/'30's. My children, being of school age in the 1850's and 1860's, would have studied from the McGuffey Reader. These are the things that complete one's Victorian counterpart's picture.
Like a very good friend of mine once said, I take my fun seriously. And I cannot wait to have some serious fun in 2009!
Or maybe it's 1863...

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De-stressing Yourself With Historical Therapy

The following is my own personal therapy session. No charge for my visitors - - - -

Me on a horse at Historic Fort Wayne - Downtown Detroit

I have been to Greenfield Village at least a dozen times so far this year. I also visited the Dearborn Historical Society, which has a few historic buildings from the 19th century.

The 1840's Gardner House at Dearborn Historical Museum

I also went to the Crocker House in Mt. Clemens with their 1869 beautifully furnished Victorian home, and traveled out to Crossroads Village in Flint as well.

My wife and some very good friends at Crossroads Village
(note the wood-plank sidewalks)

This does not include my re-enacting events, which has taken me to a number of other historic villages such as Waterloo, which has a wonderful collection of historic 19th century structures, the Witches Hat Train Depot Museum, and they have a fine collection of turn-of-the-20th century buildings, Charlton Park in Hastings, another super collection of 19th century buildings, and Historic Fort Wayne - an actual fort built before the Civil War. Included in this fort are the officer's houses, a blacksmith shop, and a jail - all over a hundred years old.
And let's not forget my vacation this past April to Gettysburg.

And, to look toward the future (so to speak), within the next six weeks is a reenactment at the 19th century gristmill known as Wolcott Mill, and another living history event in Waterloo (fairly close to Jackson).

A home in the open-air historic village of Waterloo

Plus, I get to hang out at the East Detroit Historical Society 1872 Halfway Schoolhouse virtually any time I want, and, yes, I plan on visiting Greenfield Village at least a half dozen times more before the year is out (it's great to be a member!).
All of this in 2008.
And, to top it all off, my house - my 1944 bungalow - has a Victorian feel once you step through our doors. A Victorian that also includes a computer, digital TV, cell phones, etc.

Another photo shot at Crossroads Village - again, wood-plank sidewalks.
Wouldn't you love to live here?

One would think that, after all of the above that I would tire of historic places. On the contrary, I cannot seem to get enough and the continued visits just make me want to go back again and again. It's a comfort thing, I suppose. Almost therapeutic.
Well, no, it is therapeutic. It gets me away from all of the crap of today.
As I have said before, yes, I live in today's world. I am up on news and politics. I am aware of 21st century lifestyles. I accept and use modern technology.
But we all need that place we can go - real or imagined (or, in my case, a combination of the two) - to de-stress ourselves. Some folks go to bars, others to the casinos, others to a sporting event, and still others love to travel. For me, though, it has to be something historical. And, I have been lucky - nay, BLESSED - to have a family who shares my passion for history. Oh, maybe not quite to the extent that I do, but they enjoy re-enacting as well as visiting and studying historic places, and even dressing up in period clothing on the off-season here and there.
One of the questions I receive is, "Don't you get bored looking at the same thing (buildings) over and over?"
My answer to them is a resounding "NO!"
Every time I visit Greenfield Village, for example, I learn something new. ~Every time.~
Or I catch a glimpse of something I've never seen before.

But, mostly, I just enjoy the atmosphere. Even if I go for an hour just to walk among the old houses and farms, I can feel my stress leave and my muscles loosen, as if I were getting a rub-down from a massage therapist, only quicker and much cheaper.

My daughter and I at the Loranger Gristmill in Greenfield Village

I also have learned to lower my stress level through my writing, whether it's my time travel story, this particular blog, or my Greenfield Village blog (see links below). And, I started another blog for Crossroads Village as well, and hope to begin still another for other historical places in the general area.
It's like it's my own personal therapy session, only my psychiatrist is myself and my medicine is history.
Works for me!
By the way, here are a list of websites of the above-mentioned museums. Just in case you want to check them out.

Greenfield Village http://gfv1929.blogspot.com/
Dearborn Historical Society www.cityofdearborn.org/departments/historicalmuseum/faq.shtml
Crocker House Museum http://www.crockerhousemuseum.com/index.html
Crossroads Village http://crossroadsvillageofflintmichigan.blogspot.com/
Waterloo http://www.waterloofarmmuseum.org/index.html
Witches Hat Train Depot Museum http://www.southlyonmi.org/Attractions/witch.htm
Charlton Park in Hastings http://www.barrycounty.org/parks-and-services/charlton-park/
Historic Fort Wayne http://www.historicfortwaynecoalition.com/
Gettysburg http://passionforthepast.blogspot.com/2008/04/gettysburg.html
Wolcott Mill http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM1YBY
East Detroit Historical Society 1872 Halfway Schoolhouse http://www.macomb.k12.mi.us/EASTDET/FEATURE/SchMo.htm




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More on Time Travel (and How to Accomplish It)

My wife and I as we are in 1863

Well, not actual time-travel per se, but as close as you will come to it - - - -

I partake in a form of time travel in a variety of different ways, most notably by re-enacting the Civil War era as a civilian. Re-enacting as a civilian is also known as living history mainly due to the fact that civilians do not normally "re-enact" an actual event, as soldiers do in the battles, but portray everyday life at an earlier time and place.

To do living history correctly, and to get the most out of it for not only yourself but for others around you, "full immersion" is, to me, a must. What's full immersion? This is where everything you see, think, feel, say, eat, &c., is of the period you are portraying.

And, yes, this is nearly impossible to attain, but it can be done.

First off, for me, my clothing must be accurate to a fault, from the wearing of period undergarments to outerwear to my shoes and socks, hat, shirt, collar, and on and on. This has taken quite a bit of research on my part. And I have also subjected myself to being critiqued by nationally known clothing historian Bill Christen. In fact, when I mentioned that I was going to ask Mr. Christen to critique me, I was asked repeatedly “Are you sure you want him to critique you? What if you have to buy a whole new wardrobe?”

My answer? “So be it.”

You understand that the clothing under scrutiny cost me quite a bundle, and any possible mistakes in any part could cause me to lose that much more of my hard-earned cash.

After looking at my garments through and through (and me just having that strong feeling that I ‘flunked’), Bill stepped back and told me that, as far as he was concerned, I was accurate and that he could see I ‘did my homework.’

Yes, after I let out my breath I practically jumped for joy, and my good friend told me that I had guts for even doing something like that.

With that out of the way, it was time to ensure my “esposita” was accurate as well. My wife, God love her, thoroughly enjoys our trips to the past during our re-enactments. Unfortunately, with our weekday work schedules not coinciding with each other, time spent on researching is extremely limited for her. Therefore, I research for her. I now know much more about 19^th century women’s clothing than any man should. But, she, too, is as accurate as any female living in 1863. She even made her own day dress last year from a pattern bought off of Mr. Christen’s wife, Glenna Jo, who is a women’s clothing historian herself. So, my wife now looked the part as well. That is, except for her eyeglasses. Yes, her glasses were pretty “farby” (meaning not period correct) and would remove them upon our walks out of camp or when our photograph was taken. Thankfully, a sutler (one who sells items for re-enacting), Blockade Runner, had the correct eyeglasses for our time. But, knowing that sutlers, being in the retail business, are out to make a buck and will sell many items that are not correct, I emailed numerous folks in the know to get their opinions and was able to order an accurate pair for her. I had found a lens specialist who can put her prescription lenses into the frames, and, once that is done, she will be period correct inside and out.

Let’s not forget our children. My two oldest are no problem, considering they do military and their Civil War uniforms are pretty much laid out for them. But, our two youngest, once again, needed to be researched. Glenna Jo and a member of the Michigan Soldier’s Aid Society helped us out here, and my very talented wife made our two youngest their clothing.

But, what good is accurate 19^th century period clothing if you are still going to act as if you are living in the 21^st century? Nothing will take away from your authentic persona more than the very contemporary earrings (especially if they are located at the top of your ear), or an unsightly nose ring that, as far as I know, no woman ever wore during the era of which you are supposed to be representing. At least, no respectable woman. (I do know of one who wears a nose ring but, to be honest, it is so small that, if it’s noticed at all one would think it was a freckle).

Nail polish, lipstick, a wristwatch, cell phones, bottled water – ahem…PLASTIC bottled water - anything plastic (barrettes, toys for kids, &c.), - them stupid “phone buddies” that the robotic humans keep in their ears…the list goes on and on.

In fact, if it’s not wood, bone, or glass, you probably should not have it. Well, OK, certain metals are acceptable.

Conversations - - - - nothing can ruin a moment worse than hearing folks supposedly from the 19^th century speaking about the latest DVD they copied onto their computer. Yes, I know we live in the 21^st century but, while you are taking part in a Civil War era re-enactment / living history event, you are from the mid 19^th century – please act like it. Save the modern political conversations for the tear down or a get-together on an off weekend. I will admit, I have been guilty of doing this myself (I picked up a period guitar and began playing the riff to "Locomotive Breath" by Jethro Tull while there were patrons about. I have since beat myself over and over for that - it will not happen again).

Reading journals, diaries, and replica newspapers of the period are three of the four best ways to not only understand the time of which you are attempting to "travel" to, but to learn how the people of the period spoke - their language was a bit different than our own. Certain words were rarely - if ever - said. For instance, "hello" was not the greeting as we know it to be today. And "excitement" had a different meaning as well. These are just two examples of very common words used frequently in the 21st century, but would not work as we know them to be in the 19th century (if that makes sense). There are a great many books of the journals and diaries available, especially on Amazon.com. To me, these are a must.

The fourth way to give a very accurate impression and feel and seem (to others) that you are from the mid 19th century is to read history books so you have an awareness of what was contemporary to the people of that time. Learn what inventions were not invented yet and do not speak of them (the electric light or phonograph for instance). Know what important events took place within the previous ten years of the Civil War. Here in the 21st century, we can speak of 9 11, of the election fiasco, of the poor economy. As a 19th century person, you should be able to do the same of that era, especially if you are a male (sorry, but most - not all, mind you - women did not bother with that sort of thing - they were too busy running a house and family to give a hoot).

Given the fact that time travel is not (and probably never will be) something that can ever happen, participating in living history and re-enacting is the only (and best) way to "physically" travel into the past (unless you can afford to move into a period house, farm the land, have a horse and carriage...um...become Amish, in other words). But, if you truly want to feel that you are in another era, that you have time traveled, so to speak, then you need to be with folks that have the same passion for the past that you yourself have so the feeling comes..