Independence Day: A "Passion for the Past" History of This Grand Holiday

The Spirit of  '76 reigns within me.

It did back in that bicentennial year of 1976,  and it still does today.

The Spirit of  '76

From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams,  May 27,  1813

Benjamin Rush

"Another of our friends of  76 is gone,  my dear Sir,  another of the Co-signers of the independence of our country.  and a better man,  than  (Benjamin) Rush,  could not have left us,  more benevolent, more learned,  of finer genius,  or more honest.  we too must go;  and that ere long.  I believe we are under half a dozen at present;   I mean the signers of the Declaration.  yourself,  Gerry,  Carroll, and myself are all I know to be living.  I am the only one South of the Patomac.  is Robert Treat Payne,  or Floyd living?  it is long since I heard of them,  and yet I do not recollect to have heard of their deaths.

From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson,  June 11,  1813:  

"I rec^d  yesterday your favour of may 27^th.  I lament with you the loss of Rush.  I know of no Character living or dead,  who has done more real good in America.  Robert Treat Paine still lives,  at 83 or 84,  alert drol and witty though deaf.  Floyd I believe,  yet remains,  Paine must be very great;  Philosopher and Christian;  to live under the Afflictions of his Family.

You & I have passed our lives in serious times..."

Thomas Jefferson

John Adams

Serious times indeed!

Here is something that I feel is more than a coincidence - Providence,  mayhaps? - concerning these two men:  Thomas Jefferson and John Adams,  both co-writers of the Declaration of Independence,  died on the same day,  date,  and year.  That in itself is remarkable enough.  But their shared passing occurred on July 4,  1826,  50 years to the day of the Declaration's adoption.
Chilling...

Their death signaled the end of the Revolutionary era,  for,  at that point,  there was only one signer left alive,  Charles Carroll,  who lived six more years,  until 1832.

.......................................

Independence Day.

The 4th of July.

My 2nd favorite holiday,  following only Christmas.

A time for patriotism,  and I have been a patriot as far back as I can remember and have always loved celebrating our country's birthday.  

Yeah...as uncool as it may be today,  I love my country and most of its history;  there is so much more good than bad.

So,  it was in 1776,  as every American school child should know,  and we were in a war that was being fought so the colonies that once belonged to England could become free and independent states.  No,  the war may not have begun with that intent originally,  but it sure didn't take long for that to become its main purpose.

Over the years I've written numerous blog posting articles about the different historical aspects concerning our independence,  and through the many hours of research I have learned so much more than I ever thought,  for there is so much more to this  "independence thing"  than I knew.  

So I figured I would put the links to each Declaration of Independence posting I wrote here where the interested reader can take a leisurely stroll to the past as they read the various stories on how we became a nation.  I've also included a few pre-and early-RevWar postings as well,  some showing daily life at the time.  I like to hope that maybe it's time to start celebrating America again,  especially in the run up to the 250th anniversary of our declaration in 2026.

Please click the links that are accompanying each of the photographs below to take you to the article.
And if you also click the photograph,  you can  enlarge them as well:

How are you,  Mr.  Daggett?
How does the farm?

In the Good Old Colony Days

A concise pictorial to everyday life in America's colonies.  And I do mean   "pictorial,"  for there are over 80 photos included,  covering nearly every aspect of colonial life.

In this posting I try to touch on most major topics of the period with links to read more detailed accounts if one desires.
This is a good overview to give the reader an idea and vision of the lives of  those who fought in or were a part of the Revolutionary War and its era.

There was not just one thing that lead up to the Declaration.  It was much more complicated.  

"Fire if you dare...fire and be damned, 
we know you dare not!"

For instance,  what is commonly known today as the Boston Massacre was,  at the time,  known as:

The Bloody Massacre In King Street - Boston - On March 5th 1770  (aka The Boston Massacre)  & the Events Leading Up to It

For a blog post,  this is a fairly in-depth  (though not encyclopedic)  look at what happened on the 5th of March in 1770;  an overview from a variety of sources of the occurrences.  So many are so unaware of what actually happened - it is my hope that maybe this posting could help to teach those who are somewhat unaware or even unfamiliar of the story of the Boston Massacre and events leading up to it,  beginning with the Stamp Act.

"Go home,"  she screamed at the Regulars, 
"and tell your master he sent you on a
fool's errand..."

Revolutionary War History - Preventing Tyranny at Salem in 1775 
This has got to be one of my very favorite stories to come out of the Revolutionary War...well, actually,  pre-Rev War,  for it happened only a few months before the battle of Lexington and Concord.
It's the simple telling of how the townsfolk of  Salem,  Massachusetts pulled together and beat the British without a single shot - true pre-RevWar story.
It is one of those stories that show true patriotism at its best - it'll make you stand and cheer!
 

April 18,  1775

Paul Revere: Listen My Children and You Shall Hear...
Modern historians like to relegate Paul Revere as more fable than fact,  no thanks to Longfellow's poem.  But this man deserves his place in our history,  and rightfully so,  for his ride was as important as nearly any other act of defiance of his time.
I have searched multiple sources to find the true story of Paul Revere's Midnight Ride,  and put it all here.
I think you just might be surprised at what Revere actually did.

Wentworth Cheswell rode with 
Paul Revere in December of 1774.

The Midnight Riders of April 18, 1775: Prescott, Cheswell, and Dozens of Others

It was not only Paul Revere and William Dawes who made a ride on that fateful April night in 1775.  Meet the internet - the World Wide Web - of the 18th century.  It's here where you will find how thousands of militiamen from all around the general Massachusetts area gathered together to fight King George's army and win what is widely considered the first  "official"  battle of the American Revolution.  

  The chaotic state of Concord

April 19, 1775: As Seen Through the Eyes and From the Quills of Those Who Were There
This is the best part of research for me.  By utilizing the diaries,  journals,  letters,  newspapers/broadsides,  and remembrances from those who were there and actually saw the Battle of Lexington & Concord as it happened - actual witnesses of  to the horrific occurrences of this date which will also live in infamy - and then putting these tales into a concise format to help tell the story from a unique perspective,  it is easy to be drawn into the tumultuous world of the men & women who were there and saw one of the most famous battles known to mankind. 

Meeting Benjamin Franklin.

Declaring Independence:  The Spirits of  '76
Something very special happened almost 250 years ago,  but is that story being promoted?
Come on a time-travel visit to colonial America during that hot summer of 1776 and learn,  first hand,  of the accounts on how we were making a new and independent nation.

And so it was on that historical day and date
of the 4th of July in 1776...

Unsung Patriots: The Printing of the Declaration of Independence

For this post I thought I would write about the Declaration from a slightly different angle;  I want to give a little kudos to the men who originally printed out the broadsides to be sent out right off the presses for public reading back in that summer of 1776,  for they put their lives on the line as treasonists nearly as much as the signers did.

From the idea of declaring independence to composing to printing and then delivering this most important American document...oh yeah,  there is a lot more history to our Declaration than I ever realized!

I had the privilege of reading the Declaration at
an event in Indiana.
A true privilege.

The Great Declaration of July 4th, 1776: Reactions From Those Who Were There

What does the Declaration of Independence and our celebration of this great document every 4th of July mean to you?  Is it a chance to party?  A time for burgers  'n'  dogs barbecues?  Spending the day at the beach?  Fireworks?

Well,  hopefully each of these suggestions will play a part in your celebration.

So...how did the original 1st independence generation celebrate.

Here's how....

The Citizens of the American Colonies were among
the many who came out to hear Benjamin Franklin recite
the Declaration of Independence,  welcoming all to
witness the birth of the United States of America.

Independence Day at Mill Race Village: A Spirit of '76 Celebration

One of the best times I've ever had celebrating the 4th of July since 1976!

Yes,  a few of us living historians - more than 25! - showed up at historic Mill Race Village to help celebrate the 4th of July.  As throngs of visitors came through the dusty dirt road they were engulfed in the past,  and they witnessed military,  citizens,  celebrations,  and even a reading of the Declaration by none other than Ben Franklin himself!

I cannot think of a better way to celebrate this great American holiday.

Witnessing everyday life in America for the Common Folk
in the period that produced the Declaration of Independence

The Best of My 4th of July Celebrations: "You look like American history!"

This is why Independence Day is second only to Christmas in my list of favorite holidays.  For years I have been celebrating the birth of our great Nation historically,  so in 2020,  I put together a sort of  "best of"  compilation of photographs and memories of these celebrations.

A coffee pot made by Paul Revere.
Yes,  the  Paul Revere!

With Liberty and Justice For All: The Fight for Independence at the Henry Ford Museum
An amazing collection 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!

Did you hear?
The Congress is declaring that we are to be
FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES!

The Revolutionary Greenfield Village
Many people who visit this historic open-air museum do not know that inside these hallowed walls of history there are a few of the historic houses that have direct ties to America's Revolutionary War...three specific homesteads which are situated near each other:  the Plympton House,  the Daggett Farmhouse,  and the Giddings Home,  all of which have been transported from their original New England location and rebuilt & restored here inside Greenfield Village,  and the long past inhabitants of  each of these historic 18th century houses played a role to some varying degree in the Revolutionary War.  

Think for a moment about the tragic

 thoughts that ran through Nathan Hale’s 

mind at this moment.

Turn: The Original Culper Spy Ring Members
I haven't loved a television show as much as I do AMC's Turn:  Washington's Spies since I can't remember when,  and the series,  though not as historically accurate as I'd like,  got me interested in a part of the Revolutionary War that I previously knew little about.

The best part?
Many who had little interest in the Revolutionary War found themselves loving our great American history---due to this TV show!
So I did some research about RevWar spies.
What I did here is write short but accurate biographies of  Washington's original spies from Long Island.  Also,  inserted throughout are pictures from the 4th  (and final)  season of the show,  for good measure.

Jonathan Smith fought in the
Battle of Long Island on
August 29,  1776. 

Faces of History:  Original Photographs of Revolutionary War Vets
Yes,   you heard right!  Actual photos of the men who fought in the Revolutionary War.  Of course,  the pictures were taken when the men were of an old age many years after the war had ended,  but still...looking into the eyes of those who were there - of those who actually saw  (and heard)  George Washington,  heard about the Declaration of Independence when it was current news,  and saw the British surrender at Yorktown - is quite a thrill.

Taverns were the pulse of 18th century urban life, 
and their importance to the local community
cannot be overstated. 

Travel and Taverns
The long air-conditioned  (or heated)  car ride.  Motels without a pool!  Can we stop at McDonalds?  I'm hungry!
Ahhhh....modern travelers never had it so good.
I've always had a fascination of travel back in the day,  and I decided to find out as much as I could about how it actually was.
I wasn't disappointed - - - I dug through my books,  went to a historic research library,  'surfed the net'  (does anyone say that anymore?),  and asked docents who work at historic taverns questions,  looking for the tiniest bits of information to help me to understand what it was like to travel and stay at a tavern in the colonial times.
This post is the culmination of all of that research,  and it made me realize just how much our country's founding relied upon the tavern.

.................................................

The fateful news traveled swiftly on the post road from Philadelphia,  covering more than ninety miles and crossing five rivers in just a couple of days.  Precise copies were then made of the thirteen-hundred-word broadside,  titled  "A Declaration,"  that arrived at the Mortier mansion headquarters,  and by Tuesday July 9,  General Washington was ready for every soldier in his command to hear what Congress had to say.

From the book by Rick Atkinson  "The British Are Coming"

Due to a letter John Adams wrote to his wife,  Abigail,  many like to believe that our
original celebration date is July 2nd.  However,  one just needs to look at the actual Declaration of Independence  document to know the date truly is  July 4 of 1776.

.................................................

And there you have a few of my postings that intertwine well with each other.  I certainly hope the time you spent clicking the links included here and reading about our wonderful past will help you to understand and appreciate what life was like in America for the Common Folk in the period that produced the Declaration of Independence. 

Happy Independence Day!

"Another of our friends of  '76 is gone..."

This right here tells you how so very special that year of our Declaration of Independence still was to John Adams and Thomas Jefferson that they continued to remember when a long-time friend had passed away,  not in his age,  but of the accomplishment and contribution he made 37 years prior.  Those 56 men who signed that most important of documents had a connection - a relation - unlike we could ever know.

"Another of our friends of  '76~"

Yes...my American heroes...

.................................................

Now,  before we end the celebratory post,  I would like to include one more thing:  movies about the Revolutionary War era.

I've said many times that the 4th of July - Independence Day - is my second favorite holiday.  Only Christmas tops it.

And,  like Christmas,  there are plenty of awesome movies to watch to help in my celebration:

John Adams mini-series comes to mind first,  which is my favorite of them all.  Nine hours and twenty minutes of pure immersion. The Patriot is good to watch,  too  (I know it's not accurate but I still love it---the battle scenes are great),  The Crossing,   Mary Silliman's War,  and April Morning are all excellent.

And so is the docu-drama Legends & Lies:  The Patriots,  which plays much more like a movie/mini-series than a documentary;  it is engulfing in every sense.

Of course,  Turn: Washington's Spies is pretty darn amazing - forty three and a half hours of Revolutionary War engrossment.  And for a lighter look,  the Felicity movie based on the American Girl Doll stories is also a good watch,  especially for the younger set.  Then there's PBS's  A Mid-wife's Tale,  showing daily life pretty accurately.

Yup---plenty of fine films based around our Revolutionary history to watch as part of your celebration.

(To read my reviews of American History movies,  please click HERE)

American history - so much of what was not taught in school.

~Until next time,  see you in time.

~   ~   ~

Greenfield Village 2021: The Springtime Visits

My first time ever going to Greenfield Village was in the early 1970s.  I believe it was in 1973.

Other  '70s visits were spotty at best,  but on our first date in November of 1982,  my future wife and I spoke of going the Village the following year,  which we did.  From that point forward - for the rest of the  '80s,  then into the  '90s,  and,  of course,  here in the 21st century up through today - we continue our visits.  Memories of springtime involved watching the farmers plowing,  harrowing,  and sowing.  My kids think of it as the  "old neighborhood,"  for due to being there so often,  they have the same type of memories as those who lived over a hundred years ago.

And this year more memories continue to be made... 

So,  as you can see,  Greenfield Village has played a very important role in my family and our lives.

It still does,  for I still visit often;  I never cease to get tired of that wonderful feeling of immersion being surrounded by all of that history.  

So I thought I would post a few of my favorite pictures taken during my multiple visits from this past Springtime 2021.  

And there are bits of historical information added to boot.

It's not difficult to locate The Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village.
No,  Dorothy,  you're not in Philadelphia...but this is a sign for fans of history
that they've come to a special place.
Yes,  Henry Ford replicated Independence Hall exactly,  even using the same brickmaker and included any mistakes that may have occurred in the original - - and there were a few mistakes,  such as the windows in the tower being slightly off center
by a couple inches. 
He spared no expense.

So then,  let's begin at the beginning - - Ford's beginning:  the last historic building Henry Ford had personally moved to Greenfield Village before his death was the first one he preserved:  his family homestead.  It was in this house,  on July 30,  1863,  in which Henry Ford,  the first of William and Mary's six children,  was born.

He showed more of an interest in machinery than agriculture and left the farm at age
16 to pursue his fortunes as a machinist in Detroit.

In 1919,  highway officials decided to extend Greenfield Road south through the Ford farm.  Unfortunately, the homestead was directly in the proposed road's path.  The family's decision to move the house and the outbuildings prompted Ford's first restoration project.

I have not read why Ford hadn't moved the home to Greenfield Village before 1944,  but,  evidently,  the restored farmhouse's chances of survival in a developing area and the need for 24 hour security protection from vandals worried him.

However,  available space inside the Village did not permit the transferring of all of the barns and sheds.  But,  once put in place as best as could be done,  the completed restored homestead,  with the white picket fence and outbuildings,  were arranged in their original positions.

That being said,  the ladies who work inside the Ford home bring the house to life by not only cooking on the wood stove,  but in doing Victorian crafts such as punch pin rug making.  By the way,  they also throw quite the 4th of July bash,  as if it were 1876.

Stay tuned for that!

Ford created a business district along a Main Street inside the Village.
Included were a replication of his first factory,  as well as original city buildings
 including the Cohen Millinery Shop from Detroit. 

Straight outta Detroit~
With the classic architecture of the mid-to-late 19th century,  this building had been through a number of businesses before Mr. Ford became its owner.

This millinery shop,  originally located at 444 Baker Street in Detroit,  represents the new wave of specialized stores in the larger cities in the late 19th century.  It was here that Mrs.  Elizabeth Cohen made her living decorating women's hats from 1892 to 1903,  catering to mainly the middle class genre.

From Dayton,  Ohio we have the Wright Cycle Shop.

From 1899 until 1909,  the building served as the Wright Brothers'  first experimental laboratory and design studio,  dedicated to creating that first flying machine. 
 Charles Webbert was the owner of the building and leased it to the brothers.

Henry Ford purchased the building from Webbert in 1936 with the understanding that it would be dismantled and moved to Dearborn,  where it would be reconstructed in Greenfield Village.  For reasons unknown,  the Webbert sign at the top was never added to the Wright Cycle Shop when it was restored inside the Village in 1937. 

In 2018,  research work began,  and the focus was on recreating the sign to more accurately represent the building’s appearance in 1903.

The sign was built in sections,  with each decorative element individually hand-crafted,  just as it would have been in 1897.   And now,  over 100 years later,  the Wright Cycle Shop is now complete once again,  and looks exactly as it did when the Wright Brothers were there,  inventing the first airplane in 1903.

When people ask me what my favorite restaurant is,  I never hesitate in saying 
"The Eagle Tavern."

 

The Eagle Tavern,  built around 1831,  serves up a real  "taste of history"  in the truest sense.  In all honesty,  the whole concept of serving historical food is worthy of praise and patronage,  for what is being served on our plates is every bit as important as the presentations I hear inside the historic homes.

The dining area:  whether daytime or during one of their rare
evening suppers,  the Eagle Tavern is always lit by candlelight.
No artificial light allowed!

Ambience is just as important as the food served.

Nature shines as one strolls through the Village during springtime.  In front of the 1822 Noah Webster Home,  where the American lexicographer,  textbook pioneer,  English-language spelling reformer,  political writer,  editor,  and author completed his first American dictionary in 1828,  we see an... 

...apple or cherry blossom tree in full spring bloom.

The Plympton Home
This structure played a role in the wee early morning hours of  April 19,  1775,  when
the brother of Samuel Prescott,  who rode with Paul Revere the night before, 
came here to notify Thomas Plympton that the Regular Army  ("the British")  were
on the march to Concord,  and he was to let the local militia know. 

The weeping willow over the Ackley pond near the Burbank House from 1800.
There are many legends and myths about weeping willows:
Some believed the wind in the willow leaves were elves who whispered and talked among themselves as people were passing underneath.  Some willows were planted near homes to ward off bad luck.  It is also said that if you confess your secrets to a willow tree,  the secret will be forever trapped inside the wood.  Native Americans tied willow branches to their boats to protect them from storms and to their lodges for the protection of the Great Spirit.

From ancient times,  weeping willows have also been associated with death and mourning.  The willow motif is sometimes seen on gravestones,  especially those made during the Victorian period in America.  Sometimes mourners wore a willow sprig to signify their loss.  The willows were sometimes planted in cemeteries and were featured in art devoted to themes of death and mourning.

Of course,  the wonderful old country tune,  Bury Me Under The Weeping Willow Tree,  dating back well over a hundred years,  remains popular to this day for traditional folk music lovers.  The song's lyrics relate that the singer's lover has left him or her  (in some descriptions just prior to their wedding).  The singer asks that he/she be buried beneath the willow tree,  in the hopes that his/her lover will still think of him/her.

The Ackley Covered Bridge was originally built near West Finley,  Pennsylvania
near the border of West Virginia in 1832.
It's been spanning the Ackley Pond in Greenfield Village since 1938.

From a letter to Henry Ford penned by William Plants in 1938,  the same year the bridge had been re-installed inside Greenfield Village:

"One thing that might be of interest to you in connection to the bridge,  in about the year 1879,  when a lot of people in the hills of West Virginia - not far from this bridge,  were very poor and not much schooling - there was a young man by the name of George Meris who made  "lasses"  (molasses)  from sorghum cane,  he fell in love and went a-sparkin'  a young girl.  He finally popped the question and wanted to get married.  She said she had no dress except the old faded calico one she had on.  He had  .50 cents.  They went to the little store and got calico enough for  .35 cents to make a dress.  And,  dressed up in that they went up to the creek to this bridge,  and so happened that the  'Circuit ridin'  parson'  came along.  And they got married on this same Ackley Bridge you have.  And he gave the preacher the  .15 cents he had left of the 50 for his fee.  THIS IS THE TRUTH."

Every single time I cross this bridge that story comes to my mind.

Every single time.

It is a short walk from the entry gate to the road that takes you to Firestone Farm.  It is along this road that the visitor gets their first taste of the immersion experience that this 19th century farm emits,  for you may see the farmers already toiling in the field or,  as this photo shows,  horses and cart headed your way.

I do not believe there is a better Victorian farming presentation and experience anywhere else in the U.S.,  at least,  not that I've seen or heard of,  than right here at Firestone Farm.  Firestone Farm,  restored to about the mid-1880s,  is a real working farm,  and the interpreters who work there are actually farmers,  for they do all the work that a farm family would have done a hundred and forty years ago.

Here we see Firestone Farm,  originally built in Columbiana,  Ohio in 1828.  The Firestone Farm,  as it stands now in Greenfield Village,  is a living history re-creation of life on a farm of the 1880's in eastern Ohio,  and has been restored to look as it did in 1882,  when Harvey's parents remodeled the house to give it a more modern look. 
Those are heirloom apple trees on the right.  

I remember when they first planted this apple orchard back in the 1980s,  and hearing them explaining to me that the apple trees were of heirloom varieties,  something I had not heard of before.  And now they are planting the next generation of apple trees,  though still of the same heirloom varieties such as Maiden's Blush,  Roxbury Russet,  Belmont,  Rambo,  and Baldwin.

Being that Firestone Farm is a real working farm, the workers there can be found
working the land seasonally,  just as it was done in the 19th century.

The presenters,  however,  are not strictly presenters,  but,  rather, 
they are interpreters,  helping to keep the farm going as if it were
in the 1880s.

And it isn't a  "show"  for the public,  but actual work that needs to be done,  such as preparing the kitchen garden.  The ladies will use what is grown here to accent their meals cooked inside on the coal stove.

For many of us,  gardening is a hobby or even a passion.  And there are many people

 leading perfectly satisfying lives without ever having a garden.

But it hasn’t always been this way. 

Each family during these times long past,  for the most part,  needed a garden in order to live.  Now really think about that for a minute.  The garden was where you found the greater majority of your food,  of course,  but it also provided medicine,  fragrances,  dyes,  and aromatic herbs for the home.

As soon as the weather permitted,  a kitchen garden was planted with an acute sense 

of urgency.

So...as I stood in the side yard at Firestone and spoke with Nicole, 
with the sun shining down,  an idea for a photo popped into my head, 
and it turned out exactly as I had hoped.
It was hard,  I must say,  getting up from the ground  (lol).

As the horse and cart moved along the road,  Nicole ducked out of the way,  thinking she might be in the way of my picture.  I asked her to stay right where she was,  for she would actually complete the scene.  So glad she did for now every part of this picture is a perfect 1880s scene.

The pleasant little scene in the above photo isn't quite as pleasant as we'd think...for this is a manure wagon,  and the guys are going out to the fields to do some spreading!

Sheep shearing is another activity that the Village shows.

Heavy coats of fine wool made Merino sheep a popular breed among nineteenth-century wool producers. 

 

Every spring,  shearers carefully navigated blade shears to remove each sheep's thick fleece -- a process that could take several hours. 

And now,  here in the 21st century - more than a 140 years later - presenters demonstrate this labor-intensive blade-shearing process at Firestone Farm.

The Firestone Farm truly makes for an authentic living history immersion experience.  One can spend hours watching and speaking to the presenters.  It could very well be the most  "living"  part of the entire historic complex.

To leave you can take the same road that lead you to the farm. 

On the complete opposite side of Greenfield Village is another farm,  though this one is about 120 years earlier than Firestone.  However,  though the Daggett House area is presented as a farm,  it is interactive in a different manner than Firestone.

Now,  if you are a regular reader of Passion for the Past,  then you should already know that the Daggett House is my absolute favorite,  for due to all of the extra research I've done on this house,  as well as the original occupants  (Samuel & Anna Daggett and their family),  and 18th century farming practices and daily life routines,  I feel a kinship here.  So much so that I have partly  "Daggett-ized"  my own home!

It's early spring in the 1760s,  and the ladies of Daggett have gathered,  perhaps to plan what they may grow in this year's kitchen garden.

By mid-May much of the asparagus,  re-seeded from previous years,
   is ready to be picked!

Gigi shows us her yield.
You know that fresh-grown heirloom asparagus will certainly taste good!

Daggett House also has a kitchen garden,  and,  like the Firestones,  the interpreters
who work here will use the yield as part of their dinner or supper.
Yes,  they really do eat what they grow!

It seems the wooden hand rake has a few tines missing.
It's time to run out to Home Depot to get a new one!

Ahhh...not so in the 1760s!
Chuck,  here,  will make new tines to replace those that are broken.

Perfect fit!
Chuck has really found his niche there and has proven himself to be able to step into
the shoes of wood and house wright Samuel Daggett!

Meanwhile,  Jan is sewing buttons in the same way as was done in the 18th century.
In fact,  each Daggett House presenter,  including Jane & Roy  (not pictured) 
have found many niches in bringing this house to life.

At the bottom of today's posting will be a number of links for more Daggett information,  should you want to pursue further research into this amazing colonial house and family.

Greenfield Village past:

Here is a picture going back to May 8,  1988 from the Detroit Free Press.

Note the man in the middle of the first picture - my friend,  Mr.  Fred Priebe,  in the days he portrayed Samuel Daggett.  As Mr. Daggett,  he would give a speech in front of the Daggett House.  

Detroit Free Press
May 8,  1988

Here is a portion of the speech Fred,  as Daggett,  gave:

"You town folks and neighbors come gather by and give an ear to Sam Daggett.  Most of you know me,  by name or by sight,  a patient and God-fearing friend and neighbor.  Why,  I helped build some of your houses and barns...

I pray you listen to me now,  'cause there's a fire kindlin'  under me in this year of 17 and 87 that's roarin'  a storm within,  and I can't lay it by." 

It then goes into a historical oratory,  and includes thoughts on Shay's Rebellion and the Articles of the Confederation,  among other things,  which I found to be pretty fascinating.

This second photo shows the Daggett house as it appeared in the late 1980s.

Yes,  I remember being at Greenfield Village in those days...

Fred has since made his name portraying President Abraham Lincoln.  In doing so he has found himself on the cover of Time Magazine as well as on TV shows.  Not only has he presented as Lincoln throughout the midwest and east coast,  but he has also done so internationally,  in Australia, Canada, England and France.  While dressed as Lincoln he has even met President Gerald Ford!

And to think it all started as Samuel Daggett.

Speaking of Fred Priebe:

Here he is standing in front of the English Cotswold Cottage,  built in 1620.
His new wife,  Virginia,  had never been to Greenfield Village before,  aside from Holiday Nights during the Christmas season.  So we met up on a late spring day and had such a fine time indeed!

Greenfield Village Past:

When Henry Ford first acquired the Susquehanna House from Maryland, 
he believed it was built in the 1600s,  and up until the 1980s that's how
the house was presented.  It was in the  '80s,  through a series of
 circumstances,  that it was found out the house was actually from
around 1840 or shortly before.

Upon visiting the house in the early 1980s,  historians from Maryland became suspicious of claims that it dated from the late 1600s.  They told museum officials that there were only two buildings from before 1700 standing in Maryland -- one in Anne Arundel County and one on the Eastern Shore.

This alerted the staff at Greenfield Village that something was amiss.

Soon the staff realized there were major flaws in the story of Susquehanna.  After doing tree-ring dating on the beams of the house and doing archaeological work on the home's Maryland site,  it was determined the house wasn't so old.  It likely dates to the 1830s.  The Village staff knew they had to make changes. 

And because the historians of Greenfield Village,  with the help of historians from St. Mary's County in Maryland,  un-earthed the true  history of the Susquehanna House,  it is now presented more historically accurate,  and the year 1860 - just before the Civil War - was chosen.

I give the powers-that-be a lot of credit in their willingness to admit when a mistake had been made...and,  more importantly,  they corrected it.

The importance of the local gristmill to our ancestors cannot be overstated.  And Greenfield Village has the Loranger Gristmill from Monroe,  Michigan.  Though now mostly for show,  at one time this gristmill would grind grain into flour to be sold at the Village store.

And then there's the Giddings House.
Whereas the Daggett House shows rural 18th century living,  Giddings shows a
more upper class urban home from the same period in time.  

The log cabin birthplace of  William McGuffey,  author of the McGuffey Reader, 
the most popular school book of the 19th century.
The cabin was built by William's parents in 1789.

The cabin was not open for visitors last year due to rotted floor boards.
Well here we are - new floor boards and open to the public once again!

You are peering into the front entryway to the Menlo Park Laboratory of
Thomas Edison,  where such great inventions as the incandescent light
and phonograph were born. 
However,  this is a replication of the original building...  

It was unfortunate that the original site was nearly completely dismantled not too many years after Edison's move to West Orange,  New Jersey in 1887 by neighboring farmers.  Many of these local residents began using the quickly dilapidating building's boards to repair their own deteriorating barns and hen houses.  A severe storm blew what was left of the building over in 1913.

Luckily,  with Mr.  Edison's help,  many of the original boards were found,  including some that were in storage,  while others were regained through purchase of the sheds and other farm buildings mentioned above.

Edison himself supervised the reconstruction.

It is an exact replication...except,  according to Edison,  "It was never this clean!"

Earlier you saw our visit to the Eagle Tavern.  Well,  directly across the Village Green from the tavern we'll find the Logan County Courthouse:

One of my favorite things about visiting the Village is seeing all of the patriotism - the traditional red,  white,  and blue flags,  swags and buntings positioned on so many of the buildings - such as what we see here on the Logan County Courthouse.

When the 2012 movie about Abraham Lincoln  (“Lincoln”)  starring Daniel Day Lewis and Sally Field was released all those years ago,  what I read and heard about the making of it really made me stand up and take notice:  it had to do with the sound effects.  To help make this movie come alive,  the film makers actually used original period sounds to give it that note and tone of realism.  For instance,  the pocket watch Daniel Day-Lewis  (as Lincoln)  has is a prop.  But the ticking you hear coming from it is not.  That's because the sound man,  Ben Burtt,  recorded the faint tick tick tick  from one of the actual time pieces Abraham Lincoln owned.

But that's not all...

The ringing of the steeple bell from St. John's Episcopal Church,  of which our 16th President attended often,  is heard as well,  along with the sound of the church floor boards - the very same that Lincoln walked upon over 150 years ago - with the wearing of period shoes and walking across the floor,  all the while recording the sound being made.  Ben Burtt even went as far as to record what it sounded like when Lincoln sat down and stood up from his pew!  In the executive office of the White House,  there is a clock that's been there since the time of Andrew Jackson,  and the sound of that clock is used in many office scenes in the movie.  Other sound effects from the White House include door latches being latched as well as the opening & closing and the knocking upon those original doors - the very same that were there when Lincoln occupied the building.

But the capper may be having the opportunity to hear the squeaks from the springs of the original carriage that took the President and his wife to the Ford Theater on the evening of April 14,  1865. 

But guess what?  We are lucky enough to hear the same sounds that Lincoln heard as well,  for inside of Greenfield Village is the original courthouse where Mr.  Lincoln once practiced law in the 1840's. Henry Ford spared no expense restoring this structure:  even the original plaster was preserved,  having it reground with new plaster and included in the restoration.  And on a personal note,  during the Civil War Remembrance reenactment,  I have stepped upon the floorboards inside this building – the very same that Abraham Lincoln himself did – while in my period clothing,  including similar style shoes worn during Lincoln’s time,  also hearing  (and making)  the sounds of the past.

It's these little things like sound-effect details that bring history to life for me,  whether in a movie or while at a museum or even at reenactments.  

And this is why Greenfield Village is so magical;  this is why I visit often;  there are so many ways to experience the past there…through sight, sound, smell, touch, and even taste.

Until next time,  see you in time.

.......................

If your interest in the houses and history at Greenfield Village have been whetted,  please check out the following links:

Bringing Historic Homes to Life:  The Daggett House  (part 1)

In this posting we learn more about the Daggett House itself,  including its own history and how it came to be relocated to Greenfield Village,  a more in-depth tour and study room by room,  with virtual tour videos included as well from the presenters who work there,  and even information on the kitchen garden.  Sixty photos,  most of which you may not have seen before.

And HERE is a  "part 2"  of the above posted link,  with many more photos and much more information to help in bringing the Daggett Family to life in a way that has not been done before.

To learn how I turned a portion of my own home into a Daggett room,  please click HERE

The Revolutionary Greenfield Village

What many visitors don't realize is that inside these hallowed walls of history  (Greenfield Village)  there are three specific homesteads which are situated near each other,  and the long past inhabitants of  each of these historic 18th century houses played a role to some varying degree in the Revolutionary War.

This is their collective story.

Ackley Covered Bridge 1832
At one time, covered bridges were commonplace. Not so much anymore. But Greenfield Village has one from 1832.

Doc Howard's Office - The World of a 19th century Doctor
It's 1850 and your sick. Who are you going to call on? Why, good ol' Doc Howard, of course!

Eagle Tavern
Learn about the Eagle Tavern and 19th century travel

Eagle Tavern: Eating Historically 
Taste history while being immersed in the 1850s
 
Firestone Farm at Greenfield Village
Learn about the boyhood home of Harvey Firestone, the tire magnate.

The Giddings House
Revolutionary War and possible George Washington ties are within the hallowed walls of this beautiful stately colonial home.

The Logan County Court House

Through well-made historical movies centering on Abraham Lincoln,  the Court House that sits inside Greenfield Village becomes even more alive.

And just look at the latest additions!

Noah Webster House
A quick overview of the life of this fascinating Founding Father whose home, which was nearly razed for a parking lot, is now located in Greenfield Village.

The Plympton House
This house,  with its long history  (including American Indians)  has close ties to Paul Revere himself!

Preserving History
Henry Ford did more for preserving everyday life of the 18th and 19th centuries than anyone else! Here's proof.

Tales of Everyday Life in Menlo Park (or Francis Jehl: A Young Boy's Experience Working at Menlo Park)
Menlo Park is brought to life by one who was there. First-hand accounts.

Richart Carriage Shop
This building was much more than a carriage shop in the 19th century!

And for some haunted fun, 
Ghosts of Greenfield Village
Yep - real hauntings take place in this historic Village.

To learn more about the beginning of Greenfield Village,  please click HERE
To see the Four Seasons at Firestone Farm,  click HERE

~   ~   ~