Colonial Frankenmuth 2025: Cass River Colonial Encampment

Another fine event that seems to continue to grow.  

And with America's 250th anniversary at hand,  why wouldn't it?

Notice it says  "Colonial Encampment" -- not Revolutionary War Encampment or French & Indian War Encampment.  This event encompasses a few decades of time in the 18th century,  from the Voyageurs to Natives to the colonials. From military to daily life.

That's what you will see here.

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My hat is off to Brent Kemmer for hosting the excellent Colonial Frankenmuth event that takes place in mid-July - just two weeks following the 4th.

This is a tough one for me because this is the weekend where I reenact two different time periods and live in a third!  The day before I go to Frankenmuth,  I am reenacting in the period of the 1860s - the American Civil War,  at the wonderful historic Charlton Park open air museum in Hastings,  Michigan.  It's about a 2 1/2 hour drive one way from where I live.  The following day I then head the hour and a half drive to Frankenmuth.  So there is quite a lot of driving that weekend----

But well worth it:

This is such a great event - - there never seems to be enough time to see everything and everyone,  though.

For the morning parade we have The King's Colours leading the way for the 
49th Regiment of Foot

"In the 18th century,  "the King's Colours"  referred to the British flag,  commonly known as the Union Flag or the Union Jack.  It represented the uniting of England  (St. George's Cross)  and Scotland  (St.  Andrew's Cross)  by combining their flags in a union design.  The cross of St.  George  (red cross on a white background)  is superimposed on the cross of St. Andrew  (white saltire on a blue background)."

The Massachusetts Provincial Battalion

I have known Susan Reid for a couple of decades now - from Civil War reenacting and now Revolutionary War - so when it comes to spinning and pretty much all things wool, 
she is the go-to person. 

The homespun yarn in Sue's Carrot Patch Farm Shop
For all of your woolen needs~
Lookit those colors!

Here I am with my friend Theresa Suave.
Theresa is another long-time reenactor from the Civil War period.  I've been on her to give the 18th century a try - she did and she loved it!!

But,  you see,  Theresa also makes her own soaps,  salves,  and other natural creams  (which we buy from her every Christmastide),  and so she set up her Cozy Cabin Shoppe~~  
It's great to have such vendors with product I can personally vouch for.

The SAR  (Sons of the American Revolution)  had their set up at the event.
Are you  a Revolutionary War descendent?

Because my wife has a patriot ancestor,  our male offspring - sons and grandsons - are now SAR members!  You can read about it HERE

Bob Stark  (aka Benjamin Franklin)  has his Salty Lantern Shop,  in which he sells books,  wood-framed beds,  teas,  lanterns,  writing utensils,  and more & more!
A third great sutlery I can personally vouch for.

Bob's daughter,  Abby,  helps him run the shop.
She also gives presentations on historic teas and oftentimes presents herself as Abigail Adams.

Ben Franklin giving a speech on the Declaration of Independence.

The first battle of the day took place on the covered bridge.

This was no particular battle - instead it gives the impression of what an 18th century
battle sounded  (and looked)  like.

The cannon here with the Queen's Rangers is a smooth bore.  I was told that it would have been pulled by a goat during the war,  but one person can move it around quite easily on his own.  

 It fires a one pound lead ball about the size of a golf ball.  It can also fire shrapnel and buck shot.  

Brent,  the man you see facing his troops in the center,  is actually the host of the Frankenmuth event.  He hosts it with his unit,  The Massachusetts Provincial Battalion

These next two images are about as good as it gets,  when showing the power of the musket and cannon used at reenactments.

I snatched this from Brent Kemmer's page.
Just look at the flash in the pan as a stream of flame shoots out of the barrel.

Another amazing photo I snatched from Brent Kemmer's page.
Not bad for  "pretending,"  eh?
Nope---no pretending here - the weapons used are the real deal,
'ceptin'  nobody gets killed  (thankfully).

EJ has been reenacting for,  I believe,  six years. 
He went from military  (Continental)  to Voyageur.
This young man knows his stuff~~~

I truly wish more young people would find their way into the great hobby of preserving the past by way of reenacting.  

This is showing a very small portion of the many,  many reenactors camped there,  plus walk-on day-trippers like me.

Dr.  Trippe removed a musket ball from a wounded soldier.

Dr.  Bloodsworth  (Tom Bertrand)  was also on hand.

Ms.  Jan and I had a fine conversation.
She is another who has been reenacting for quite a few years.

A few guys representing the US Militia.

There were plenty of historic replicated guns here at the gunsmith shop.

A matchlock from the mid-to-late 1600s.

A Revolutionary War era flintlock~

I love seeing the different historic flags.

DeWall's Forge / Blacksmith set up

"King of France's Royal Corps of Marine Infantry". 

"The 13th Pennsylvania Regiment,  also known as The Pennsylvania State Rifle Regiment and Miles’s Regiment,  was raised March 6,  1776 as a state militia regiment and later for service with the Continental Army.  The regiment would see action during the New York Campaign,  Battle of Trenton,  Battle of Princeton,  Battle of Brandywine,  Battle of Germantown,  and the Battle of Monmouth.  The regiment was merged into the 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment on July 1,  1778."

After the event ended,  Patty and I went into the town of Frankenmuth and had a fine chicken meal at Zehnder's.

I keep hearing that reenacting,  as a hobby,  is faltering.

Yes,  depending on the era being portrayed,  that might be true to an extent---this hobby does have its  highs and lows...its ups and downs.  It's a changing world out there and the hobby may not be the same as it was 50,  30,  20,  or even 10 years ago.  But that's not all bad.  As long as the root---our focus - remains steadfast on history,  and to show it as accurate as can be done  (and not follow current agenda-filled trends),  it should continue on--the same as it ever was.  Everything has highs and lows,  but ultimately the highs return.  Civil War reenacting is a dying hobby,  or so I've been told.  This past July's Charlton Park Civil War event,  however,  proved those predictions wrong.  Many reenactors and many many spectators were there.  And it wasn't very long ago I was told the same about Revolutionary War:  "Why do you want to get into that?  No one goes to Revolutionary War reenactments!"

Well ha!  This week's Colonial Frankenmuth event is proof that interest in our Nation's founding is still strong...and growing.  Plenty of reenactors and a large amount of spectators were there.

Thank you Brent Kemmer and all involved in this wonderful event - those who work behind the scenes to make it so successful - for all of your hard work in putting this event on.  Such a great turnout!  People are truly interested in tAmerica's great history!

Celebrate!

Celebrating America 250!

Again,  thank you.

Until next time,  see you in time.

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