Living History at Historic Charlton Park - Summer 2022

We've been through a lot,  we who comprise the 1860s Logan family.  We have been portraying this scenario for so many years;  I personally have been reenacting inside the Sixberry House since 2008,  only missing two years between then and now - 2019 due to illness,  and 2020 due to the covid pandemic shutting everything down.  It was in 2010 while at Charlton Park that I came up with the idea of creating an 1860s family,  where a few of us who work so well together in this capacity - oftentimes falling into immersion and 1st person - mostly as a Maryland family during the Civil War.  Our only time portraying southerners.  

It was in 2014 where I found my,  shall we say,  permanent  1860s family:  my friend,  Larissa,  reenacts as my wife,  Jackie my sister,  and Candy  (as well as Carrie/Agnes)  as our servants.  And over the years we've had various young ladies portray our daughters.

Here  'tis,  the 1858 Sixberry House,  which a few of us have called  "home" 
at least one day a year for over a decade.
It really does feel like our home.

We all returned once again this year to bring the past to life in our own living history way,  though we did not have  "our"  daughter along this time  (I suppose we could say she got married).

So here we are,  back as the Logan family,  and very much enjoying spending our time together once again.

That's Jackie on the left and Larissa on the right.

And in the top row in the back we have our two servants who have been
with us for years,  Agnes behind Jackie and Candace behind Larissa.
And these two ladies truly do act as our servants - they are amazing.
~Living History~

The definition for Living History is:  an activity that incorporates historical tools,  activities and dress into an interactive presentation that seeks to give observers and participants a sense of stepping back in time.  Although it does not necessarily seek to reenact a specific event in history,  living history is similar to,  and sometimes incorporates,  historical reenactment.  Living history is an educational medium used by living history museums,  historic sites,  heritage interpreters,  schools and historical reenactment groups to educate the public or their own members in particular areas of history,  such as clothing styles,  pastimes,  and crafts,  or to simply convey a sense of the everyday life of a certain period in history.

That last line there -  to simply convey a sense of the everyday life of a certain period in history...this is what we do.  In order to do this we work to bring back the visual,  the feel,  and the correct historical information  (as best in our knowledge).  

This just may be the most  "textbook Victorian"  picture I've taken yet.
Yep---bringing this mid-19th century house alive once again.

We spend countless hours researching every minute detail of actual history,  including clothing,  accessories,  hair,  lifestyles,  furniture,  and to a lesser extent,  language  (it's hard to do language properly without sounding Hollywood or silly/stupid).... 

Now,  to some this may seem like pretending...kinda sorta,  yeah...but in all honesty we are so much more than that.

We blur time...and we teach,  which is why we must be diligent in how we go about this whole concept.

I suppose the years of experience between all of us helps - we have learned what works and what doesn't. What fits and what doesn't.  What sounds silly and what doesn't.

And we continue to strive for what works,  and realize what doesn't.

One of the things we enjoy most of all while reenacting inside the Sixberry House
is that we'll get visitors,  such as Mrs.  Cummings and her daughter.  and fine
conversations will ensue.

We also went visiting,  too:

Larissa getting ready for our walk through town.

Strolling along the walk,  we came across Mr.  &  Mrs.  Carlson.
Mrs.  Carlson did a wonderful job portraying the Head Mistress of a
finishing school we sent our daughter to a few years ago,  if you recall.
(click HERE)

We also stopped by to see Mr.  and Mrs.  Assenmacher.
They had a new tintype taken of themselves in their home.

And Mr.  Beech,  photographer,  was the man who captured their image taken
with an authentic 19th century camera.

On the top we see another tintype taken by Mr.  Robert Beech.
This is of Mrs.  Frederick,  Miss Schimenti,  and friends.
I took the bottom picture here...

Word was getting around that there was to be a battle in our little town...

I think the double loaded powder - man!  was it loud!

The booming of the cannon sent folks a-scurrying,  including our own family members.

I don't believe I've seen better battle scenarios than what they do at Charlton Park.

The Union Cavalry showed as well.

I really like this photo - - we came out to watch the battle from a safe distance.
Now,  if we were truly watching an actual battle,  we'da been hiding in the cellar.

One of the best purchases I've made as a living historian,  besides my clothing  (obviously),  is a hand-cranked ice cream maker.  After years of watching the historical presenters at the 1880s Firestone Farm make ice cream every 4th of July - and wanting to taste some but,  of course,  not being allowed to - I found one on an on-line search and,  naturally,  bought it.  Lucky for me,  I was also able to procure a period recipe as well  (actually,  it's a combination of the same one that the folks at Firestone use as well as one taken directly from the Buckeye Cookbook,  printed in 1883)!  So now it's become an annual late Saturday afternoon activity to make ice cream while at the Charlton Park event.

This period activity has become a mainstay with my reenacting family,  and we make a pretty big deal out of it,  including inviting other reenactors to enjoy the period treat.  

The bucket is prepared with the ice,  rock salt,  and the cream.

Then we all take a turn to churn.

Jackie.

The youngest of the Schroeder children.

Another Schroder child is having a blast!

Mrs.  St.  John took a turn.

Peter helped out as well.

As you can see,  neighbors and friends from all over stopped by.

Freshly picked raspberries added flavor.
It looks like it's ready to serve...don't you think?

Visitors brought their own cups and bowls.

As Larissa put it,  we had a regular ice cram social!

This was a fine mid-summer's eve period tradition that we plan to continue as we did in years past. Even modern visitors still wandering inside historic Charlton Park Village enjoyed watching,  some hoping for a taste.  We were all being drawn into the world of long ago...through sight, sound, smell,  touch,  and taste.

Yeah...I believe we were there,  back in that summer of 1862.

Four of the Schroeder children...all growing up!
I am so glad they joined in our little party.

It had been since 2018 that we'd made ice cream at Charlton Park,  and, 
in my opinion,  as wonderful as our day was,  this was the hit: 
the toppermost of the poppermost.

Another group shot.

I would like to thank the kind folks at Charlton Park who allow us such opportunities in bringing the past to life in our own unique way.  I do hope they are pleased with our actions.

With all my heart I thank them for their trust in us.

Until next time,  see you in time.

I was not the only one taking photographs - 

Peter Miceal Kent and Ian Kushnir also took a few that I borrowed for this post.

To see a history of our bringing history to life at the Sixberry House,  please click HERE

~   ~   ~