Rally on the Raisin Historical Timeline: Piercing the Veil of Time

The weather was sunny and warm.

The company/participants/spectators were outstanding.

The location was historical.

The event was amazing~~!~~

Another awesome timeline!

"Piercing the Veil of Time describes transcending human limitations to look beyond the present.  It means uncovering hidden truths,  understanding the past or future,  or recognizing a reality that exists outside our normal perception of time."

~`~`~`

I don't think timeline events get the credit that they should.  I remember in school I would stare and study timelines in my history books,  for at a quick glance one could see how we got from one end -  *there*  to the other end -  *here*.  

At one glance we could see the history of any particular subject.  

At one glance we could see the history of America!  

History at a glance.

Now,  imagine seeing that timeline come alive right before your eyes...actual people from those in-between notations seemingly popping out off the line and standing right before you!

That's what timeline events are all about.

I've participated in timelines for years and enjoy the heck out of them.  In fact,  one of my favorites was one called Michigan History Told Through Fashion: 17th Century Through the 20th Century.  

For this Semiquincentennial year of 2026,  a few of us took part in the River Raisin Timeline in the city of Monroe,  showing America's past come to life.

American history at a glance!

But,  as you shall see,  this was more than a timeline---it was history come to life:  living history!

First,  a quick lesson on why Monroe,  Michigan has such a historical stronghold,  River Raisin Battlefield included:

"River Raisin National Battlefield Park was officially created in 2009,  following efforts to preserve the historic battlefield site.  The park commemorates the January 1813 battles of the War of 1812,  known as the Battle of Frenchtown  (click HERE),  and their aftermath.  The establishment of the park involved the collaboration of various local and state organizations and the passage of the River Raisin National Battlefield Act.   

It was in the 1980s when the Monroe Historical Society,  the city of Monroe,  and other local entities began working to preserve the battlefield site.   The park preserves the battlefield site,  commemorates the battles,  and educates visitors about the War of 1812.   It includes a visitor center with exhibits,  a theater,  and ranger talks."

Inside the Visitor's Center is a meticulously made diorama of French Town  (now Monroe) and how it looked shortly before the War of 1812 battles that took place here.
The building I am focusing on in the above two pictures - a barn - is the exact spot we were in at that moment inside the Visitor Center location. 

Here we have the Navarre-Anderson Trading Post situated in the area  (according to the diorama)  where it was originally located.
The diorama is killer - my next visit I plan to photograph each part of it,  a little at a time.

So...now since this was a historical timeline event,  we'll see a combination of daily life as well as military,  for inside the Visitor's Center there were living history presentations,  mostly of early America.  It's inside the River Raisin National Battlefield Park Visitor and Education Center that most of the daily life photos are from---but not all.  Normally the Visitor Center features interactive exhibits on the Old Northwest Territory,  Native American cultures,  and even showing the French settlement.  Each exhibit is wonderful,  but on this special weekend,  it all came to life beyond the norm.

Let's begin our timeline,  then,  with the earliest part of our nation's history - the early 1700s and the Anishinaabe natives of the lower Great Lakes region:

A replicated Anishinaabe Long House

A Native American longhouse was a large,  communal,  permanent wooden dwelling traditionally used by agricultural tribes.

These permanent dwellings were occupied by multiple families.

From what I was told at Plimoth Patuxet in Massachusetts,  the number of fire pits denoted the number of families living there. 

In between the two fire pits we can see where food is prepared.

Inside the Long House.
You can see the beds on both sides.

I very much enjoyed the local Indian experiences and their history exhibits.  I only wish natives would have come out as part of the timeline.  There was much knowledge to be shared between all of the cultures who settled in North America,  including Maple Sugaring:

By the second half of the 18th century,  the tradition of maple sugaring heralded the arrival of spring.

It is said that it was the Native Americans of the northeast who began the practice of maple sugaring in North America.  Though some claim their tribal ancestors to be the discoverers of tapping for sap,  no one knows for certain which tribe it actually was.  But they spread their sugaring knowledge to other tribes and also taught the European settlers how to make it as well,  who increased the productivity when they arrived with iron pots for boiling.  

"The Sugar-Tree yields a kind of Sap or Juice which by boiling is made into Sugar.  This Juice is drawn out,  by wounding the Trunk of the Tree,  and placing a Receiver under the Wound.  It is said that the Indians make one Pound of Sugar out of eight Pounds of the Liquor.  It is bright and moist with a full large Grain,  the Sweetness of it being like that of good Muscovada." Governor Berkeley of Virginia,  1706 
(Muscovada is unrefined sugar)~

There is an exhibit which features a reconstructed 1790s-era trading post built using authentic French architectural methods and local  "witness oak"  logs.  A  "witness oak"  log is wood cut from a historic or landmark tree  (known as a  "witness tree")  that was alive during a significant cultural,  historical,  or environmental event.  These logs are highly valued for historical preservation,  restoration projects,  and commemorative woodworking.

Richard posed in front of the trading post.
Though the trading post represents one from the 1790s,  it works well for one from an earlier time,  such as the 1750s,  as we see Richard French and Indian War military fashion. 

Richard portrayed a French Marine during the French and Indian War.

He had a fine blanket of accoutrements to show and speak about. 

Next up in the timeline are a couple of non-military:
Martha Washington and Paul Revere  (moi!).

But I was not only presenting as Paul Revere and spoke of his famous ride,  but my main passion for the past is showing/presenting daily life,  and though I spoke to visitors as Paul Revere,  I was also able to experience,  and even show,  some daily life during the 1770s.

My 5th great grandfather,  William Raby,  was a weaver back in the 1700s in England.   So,  in honor of this ancestor of mine,  I was only too happy to work the 200+ year old loom inside the museum.

Here I am,  weaving on the loom set up in the museum.  This was my third time actually doing a small bit of weaving - sort of reenacting my ancestor,  William Raby. 
I was invited to return next year to continue my progress.
So much to learn!

It is my goal to learn to work the peddles more efficiently.

"Polle gon to carre yarne to the weaver."

Molly Cooper April 29,  1773

In the 18th century,  professional weavers were predominantly men.  While women and girls handled the highly time-consuming prep work of spinning and carding fibers,  the actual operation of the large,  professional floor looms was a specialized,  male-dominated craft that required formal apprenticeships.  Professional weaving was a trade that required years of training.

I was a sort of apprentice to the woman here - she knows her stuff! - and I am very thankful for her patience and willingness to guide and teach me.
I want to do more.

There's flax!
I/we grew flax at Waterloo Cabin.  We planted it by seed,  harvested it after three months,    retted  (soaked)  it,  dried it,  processed it.  Then I gave it to my wife to spin into a linen thread.  From there we dipped candles using the linen thread as wicking,  dipping it into the raw,  pure beeswax.
A true period candle.

But on this day I was weaving on the loom.
Weaving looms,  because of their size and bulkiness,  were usually set up in a large,  unfinished  (usually unheated)  space,  like an attic,  shed,  or unoccupied bedchamber.  Sometimes the loom may have been set up in a room called a  "weaving room."
I was really beginning to get the hang of it. 

Richard,  Charlotte,  and I were lucky - blessed - that we could remain inside the Visitor Center to do our presenting,  for it was a fairly hot and slightly muggy day outside.  But the greater majority of the historic presenters/reenactors were outside.  Luckily,  they had tents or flies to keep themselves shaded.

Revolutionary War medical procedures are next on the list with Dr.  Bloodsworth,  who was on hand once again to teach about medicine and surgery during the Revolutionary War.

Tom is also a vexillologist - a collector of flags...with flag knowledge too boot.
With this flag he is celebrating America's 250th birthday coming up soon~ 
Plus we have a few of his medicinal bottles captured in this picture.

Revolutionary War-era redcoats can't seem to find their way to the battle.

When Richard took a break,  I helped him out a bit if visitors came up.
They loved holding his musket.  I made sure dad took photos.

Let's move up from the Revolutionary War - - 

Here we are in 1794 where we have a member of the the 1st American Regiment.

Now we will jump up to about 1803.

The trading post sign.

The witness logs that I mentioned earlier in this post were used to rebuild this replicated Navarre-Anderson Trading Post inside the Education Center at the River Raisin National Battlefield Park Visitor Center.  

"These timbers are referred to as  "witness oaks"  because they are old-growth wood from Michigan trees that were alive and may have literally  "witnessed"  the historical events of the War of 1812. 

A couple of guys were showing visitors what trading was like in such a time and place.
Notice the witness wood/logs.

It was at the trading post where one could find furs and pelts,  crafted goods,  firearms and supplies,  tools including agricultural,  maple sugar,  coffee,  clothing,  cups and plates and bowls and even silverware...

The actual and original Navarre-Anderson Trading Post is historically preserved at the River Raisin Territorial Park,  of which you will see shortly,  but a dedicated replica and interactive exhibit representing an early French home and post life is what we see inside the Education Center at the River Raisin National Battlefield Park Visitor Center.

Now we'll head into the period and war that this area centers on---the War of 1812.

War of 1812 military men.

An example of a pit saw...

Or what some might call an up-and-down saw.
These saws have been around since the Medieval period and were used into the 20th century. 

The Federal era - Regency
A  "living"  wood worker was on hand,  showing his skills as he made a
wooden carriage for the cannons.

You can see one cannon carriage he had already made on the lower right.

A replication of the inside of a house from roughly the War of 1812 period.

This Education/Visitor Center is truly an amazing museum.

I plan to return again and bring a few folks with me.

For this timeline,  one day we might hopefully have a representative of all wars America had been involved in.  Not that I'm wanting to glorify war or anything,  but wars have always been a period to signify a sort of stopping point on timelines,  denoting great event. 

So with no representation of the Mexican-American War  (1846–1848),   let's move up a few years from the War of 1812 to the Civil War.

Civil War artillery

Xavier is portraying a soldier from one of the Michigan Colored Troops.
He also does British Rev War  (49th Regiment of Foot),  but decided to try being on the winning side this time!  lol

Union Civil War camp.

Many presenters bring along a good selection of artifacts to represent their time period or their military accoutrements,  such as what we see here for the 1860s Civil War,  to show what they may have with them when they're tenting on the old campground.

Sadly,  there were no Civil War era civilians.

From the 1860s we will bypass the Spanish-American War  (1898)  and visit the early part of the 20th century and the Great War,  also known as WWI.

The Great War - WWI

Following The Great War our country went through the Jazz Age and Flappers of the 1920s,  Radio,  Prohibition,  Women voting,  growing record and phonograph popularity,  and then into the Great Depression of the 1930s.

Then in December of 1941,  Japan bombed Pearl Harbor.  We were now involved in a second word war,  more formally known as WWII.

Most timeline events are often WWII-centric,  meaning there is usually a large amount of those who reenact that period.

In the United States,  World War II reenacting is widespread and continues to grow,  typically drawing hundreds of participants per event. 

In fact,  Civil War's loss is WWII's gain,  for many men and women have left the 1860s for the 1940s.

Though I still do Civil War civilian here and there,  the colonial/RevWar period is my time,  and I seem to be kept pretty busy back in the 18th century.
I don't know...for me to do WWII would be too modern for my taste,  with electricity,  automobiles,  record players,  radio,  electric lamps,  flashlights,  telephones,  etc.

Inside the Education Center there was a history of religion during wars of the 20th century:

I believe his displays ranged from WWI up through the modern wars.

There were men there to represent the more modern wars,  but I'll be honest,  I personally know little about the uniforms and can't tell them apart.  So for today's post I decided to end the wars here and go back to the later 18th century. 

A few years ago,  Richard Reaume and I and a few friends took part in a reenactment at the River Raisin Territorial Park,  the location of the historic original Navarre-Anderson Trading Post   (click HERE).  So I suggested that since it was only about a ten minute drive from where we were at the Visitor Center,  and since we were in our period clothing,  and since Charlotte has never been there,  that perhaps we should go check it out for a few photo opps.

Just so you are aware,  the Navarre-Anderson Trading Post assemblage of historic buildings,  officially preserved within River Raisin Territorial Park,  is a historic complex that features the oldest wooden residence still standing in Michigan,  offering a rare glimpse into French-Canadian homestead life from the late 18th century.  And that structure just happened to be the Navarre-Anderson Trading Post.  Right next to this building we have the Cookhouse.  While the 1789 Trading Post represents a French Canadian homestead,  the Cookhouse,  which was built in 1810,  serves as a prime example of a 19th-century summer kitchen and rural tavern space.

It was wonderful to be there with good friends amidst this local early United States history.

To get to Territorial Park,  we had to walk across a wooden bridge that spans a little jut from the River Raisin.

Just in front of Charlotte and Richard we can see the small foot bridge.

And at the sign post up ahead:

Read all about it~~

Once we crossed the bridge,  the historical complex spread out before us.
The yellow cedar building in this picture is the oldest wooden structure in the Lower Peninsula,  which served as a vital fur trading post and French colonial homestead - now known as the Navarre-Anderson Trading Post. It was built in 1789.     The small structure next to it is the Cookhouse from 1810.   Both are within the top five oldest structures built and still standing on Michigan soil and both are located in Monroe at Territorial Park.
 The barn on the far right is a historically accurate replica of a 1790s French-Canadian style barn. 

So---near the very top of this post I showed a bit of the diorama situated inside the Visitor Center.

Here is another portion of it,  only this time we can see the Navarre-Anderson Trading Post---front and back:

It is situated in the diorama in what was its original location.

And here is the real deal!

Charlotte,  Richard,  and Me.
Here is a better view of the two oldest buildings in Michigan's Lower Peninsula directly behind us.

It was a wonderful surprise to learn the buildings were open!

Inside the trading post.
  It also reminds me of an 18th century tavern - it has that look and feel.

Charlotte  (aka Mrs.  Washington)  was none too pleased of the accommodations.

Richard checked out the traps.

Just call us The Doors~~~~~~

Doot doot doo
Lookin'  out my back door.

There is almost an ethereal feel to this image of Charlotte looking out the front door.

There I am stepping out the front door.

My friends,  I cannot even begin to explain the feeling I get - others of my ilk as well I'm sure - when I am inside such a building as this while wearing the clothing of the period.  

A number of years ago I wrote of my thoughts upon entering historic homes,  for I don't look at old buildings as just old structures;  I sort of  "see"  and  "feel"  the spirits of the past in them.  No,  not literal ghosts - - - but,  well,  here...this is how I think:

"Just imagine...Those who once lived in this 18th century trading post/home were living human beings and not just characters in a book.  They had feelings the same as we do:  they felt happiness,  sadness,  anger,  pain,  concern,  and contentment.  They celebrated the coming of spring planting and of harvest time.  They enjoyed church picnics and weddings,  and certainly mourned when loved ones,  whether friends or family,  died.  They spoke of their crops,  the weather,  their troubles,  told stories,  and studied the Bible.  Just imagine the discussions and probably even debates they had of the news of the day - how interesting it would be to hear conversations and opinions about this new country directly after the Revolutionary War;  their thoughts on the forming of the new nation with its own Constitution,  and hearing of George Washington becoming our first president as it was happening!

Just imagine...this building stood on Michigan soil during the same time period as Thomas Jefferson,  John Adams,  James Madison,  and,  as mentioned,  George  (and Martha)  Washington.  I mean,  if the walls of this structure had ears,  they most certainly would have heard at least some talk about these great events and people.

And if the walls could talk,  imagine the tales they could tell.

I can only imagine…"

The walkway was stony,  so Charlotte held my arm as we left to walk the complex so she would not fall.
"Yes,  Mrs.  Washington.  We shall find accommodations more suitable to your husband's taste."

The welcoming into the Cookhouse.
Mrs.  Washington explained to the cooks what meal she would like to have served to her husband upon his return.

Research shows that the Trading Post did have a separate kitchen when it was built in 1789,  so though it may not be the original kitchen to the post,  this Cookhouse is still historically accurate to have situated as it now is.  And I would imagine the original did not look much different than the one here from 1810.

Charlotte and Richard went inside to check it out.

Whoops!
Richard must've done something to anger Mrs.  Washington~~~
"No!  You may not speak with the president.  You have had him for 16 years of our married life and we are going home to Mount Vernon!  Now get your act together and run this country properly!"

A window to the past.

Inside the Cookhouse.

Wow---raised garden beds!
I love the grounds improvements!
The fence and raised beds are wonderful additions!

From the back of the barn looking toward the Cookhouse and the Navarre-Anderson Trading Post.

A Conestoga wagon was being stored inside the barn.

While there we ran into a few of the River Raisin workers.

I have to clean the cider barrels - - 
Summer apples will soon be ready for picking,  then we can make cider.

After strolling around the historic complex,  it was time for us to make our way back.

If you look toward the center of this picture,  you can see me walking.  

If you look closely you can make out each of the three Territorial Park historic structures behind the trees.

It is so beautifully scenic at Territorial Park!

Meanwhile,  back inside the Visitor Center...the sounds of the past matter much:

La Compagnie Musical Dance Troupe played wonderful early music from the 17th and 18th centuries.

Thank you to the River Raisin Visitor Center staff for the kindness they showed,  for the knowledge they shared,  and for putting on such an event!

If you ever feel the want to visit the River Raisin National Battlefield Park Visitor Center,  it is located at 333 N. Dixie Highway in Monroe,  MI.   You can tour the center,  visit the historical buildings at the Territorial Park complex,  and even tour the actual battlefields where the War of 1812 took place over 200 years ago  (see the links below).

Happy 250th America!!

Until next time,  see you in time.

Interested in more about the battle history of the War of 1812 in Monroe?  Click HERE

Check THIS POST out for a wonderful reenactment that took place at historic Territorial Park a number of years ago~ 

Thank you to Charlotte Bauer and Richard Reaume for allowing me to use some of their photos alongside mine.

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