A Party In Honor of George Washington

It's been a long,  cold winter.  We literally,  in the truest sense of that word,  have had a tough few weeks in the middle of the season.  According to my Google search,   our sub-freezing streak lasted from January 21st until February 10th in this year of 2026.  During this period,  metro Detroit logged approximately 450 continuous hours below freezing.  Many of those days were single digit daytime highs and below zero nighttime lows.  While intense,  this 19-day run did not approach the all-time Detroit record of 45 consecutive days set in 1976.  So I suppose you can count your blessings.

As for snowfall,  this year,  so far at the time of the party  (for it's still February),  Detroit Metro Airport has recorded 27.2 inches of snow.  Last year,  at this point,  we had received just 12.3 inches of snow.

So it's been a heck of a winter!

Time to get rid of the winter blahs!

January started off well in the reenacting world,  with our Civil War Christmas Party and my colonial 12th Night Party.  But it's been pretty quiet since.  

Until February 21st.  

'Twas the day before George Washington's legitimate birthday when Tony Gerring and his father threw a party in honor of the Father of our Country,  celebrating his 294th birthday.  Tony's been hosting such a party ever since 2019,  and not only is it a chance to get back into our period clothing during this bleak mid-winter time of year,  but it does do us good to do honor to President Washington.

A younger George Washington...

George Washington was born in Virginia on February 11,  1731,  according to the then-used Julian calendar.  In 1752,  however,  Britain and all its colonies adopted the Gregorian calendar which moved Washington's birthday a year and 11 days to February 22,  1732.

A year and 11 days??

But,  how can that be?

New Year's Day had been celebrated on March 25 under the Julian calendar in Great Britain and its colonies,  but with the introduction of the Gregorian Calendar in 1752,  New Year's Day was now observed on January 1.  When New Year's Day was celebrated on March 25th,  March 24 of one year was followed by March 25 of the following year.  When the Gregorian calendar reform changed New Year's Day from March 25 to January 1,  the year of George Washington's birth,  because it took place in February,  changed from 1731 to 1732.  In the Julian Calendar his birth date is Feb 11,  1731 and in the Gregorian Calendar it is Feb 22,  1732.  Double dating was used in Great Britain and its colonies including America to clarify dates occurring between January 1st and March 24th on the years between 1582,  the date of the original introduction of the Gregorian calendar,  and 1752,  when Great Britain adopted the calendar.

Jackie admires George~~~

George was the oldest son of Augustine and Mary  (Ball).  His birthplace is located in Westmoreland County,  Virginia,  at Popes Creek Plantation  (also known as Wakefield),  with the plantation house,  which was probably a simple one,  built by his father,  Augustine Washington,  in the 1720s.  Augustine,  with his wife Mary controlled a plantation of 1300 acres with several outbuildings and twenty to twenty-five slaves from this home.

It is unfortunate that the house was destroyed by fire about sixty years later,  in 1779.  Later,  Washington's step-grandson,  George Washington Parke Custis,  placed a stone marker on the site in 1815 or 1816 commemorating his grandfather's birthplace, explaining, 

"Here On the 11th of February,  1732,  Washington Was Born."

Yet despite the holiday often being referred to as  “Presidents’ Day”  in practice,  the official federal holiday is actually  “Washington’s Birthday.”   When George Washington himself was alive,  people honored the occasion with balls and banquets.  The celebration continued after his death as a way to remember what America’s first president did for the Nation.

Norm said grace and a prayer.
He has a replicated 1733 New Testament bible.

George Washington’s primary accomplishments include leading the Continental Army to victory in the Revolutionary War,  presiding over the 1787 Constitutional Convention,  and serving as the first U.S.  President  (1789–1797).  He established essential,  lasting precedents for the executive branch,  including the cabinet system,  the two-term limit,  and a peaceful transfer of power. 

Ken & Greg.

Everyone here was/is a Patriotic American,  and I could not be any prouder to hang out with such people.  Plenty of conversations took place,  and not just on President Washington, but we also spoke of the many interesting scenarios numerous of us have taken part in over the years of doing living history.

I informed everyone of a few newcomers who came to the gathering as well as of the upcoming reenactment of Patriot's Day in April and of America's 250th 4th of July celebration coming up this summer.
My buddy,  George,  was standing watch.

I informed everyone that at such events to please refrain from bringing modern social issues and politics into our midst.  No one's opinion is so important that they feel they have the right to ruin others'  good time.  Everyone agreed.

Toasts were also given as tributes to President Washington.

Not all but most there consider George Washington to be their favorite President.  I'm right there in agreement.  I might not agree on everything he did  (the Whiskey Rebellion comes to mind,  though he did pardon the two main perpetrators),  but I believe he set a standard.  By the way,  I really like John Adams when he was President as well.

Mill Race Village does not allow open flames inside their historic buildings,  so we used the battery-operated electric candles.
You do what you gotta do.

I believe more people came this year than in previous years.
It was a fine gathering.

At a time when so many are politically and socially divided,  I like that there was plenty of laughter and camaraderie and friendship going on.  Even amongst the newcomers.

The wonderful ladies who joined in the festivities this evening.

"18th-century women generally did not frequent taverns as casual patrons,  as these were considered male-dominated,  "unclean"  spaces for gambling and drinking.  However,  women frequently entered taverns to dine with family,  stay overnight while traveling,  or attend authorized events like balls,  often using separate parlors or doors." 
For the Washington party,  the rules were bent a bit.

Good folks I've known for quite a while. 
The three ladies are long-time Civil War reenactor friends of mine.

Tony's portrait of George Washington.

Historical analyses of George Washington's  "Farewell Address"  indicate his concern that partisan politics would divide the country and tear it apart.

Hmmm?

He was also concerned that alliances with foreign nations would corrupt American politics.

Hmmm?  Hmmm?

Washington also had worries that ambitious,  self-seeking politicians would exploit political chaos to gain power and destroy the republic.

The men who took part in the festivities.

There was a discussion about whether or not men wore their hats inside a tavern in the 18th century.  We've had this discussion before and what's been found about this etiquette is:

"Taverns,  tap-rooms,  and inns were viewed as extensions of the  "outside"  or public sphere.  In these bustling environments,  men typically kept their hats on while drinking and socializing.

While hats stayed on in taverns,  they were strictly removed in private homes,  churches,  or in the presence of social superiors as a sign of respect.

In more  "respectable"  or exclusive establishments like private clubs or high-end restaurants,  gentlemen were expected to remove their hats upon entry." 

The evening air was not too cold,  so a few of us went outside to snap a few images,  taking advantage of the nighttime shadows.

Tom Bertrand and I.

About to enter the tavern.

Another interesting Washington fact was George Washington’s greatest personal fear was taphophobia,  or the fear of being buried alive.  This was a common fear in the 18th century,  as doctors sometimes mistook the comatose for the dead. 

As he lay dying on December 14,  1799,  Washington made his secretary,  Tobias Lear,  promise to wait at least two days after his death before placing his body in the family vault to ensure he was truly deceased.

During the 18th century,  cases of premature burial were a known concern,  prompting the invention of  "safety coffins"  equipped with bells and air pipes. 

Here is a decorated redware plate made at the Greenfield Village pottery shop,  as was the mug in the bottom right corner.  The hat?  Why,  that's mine!

Thank you,  Tony,  for pulling this all together.  It was a great time.

And your dad,  I know,  helped out an awful lot.  

I am very much looking forward to celebrating and participating many of the 250 events coming up this year.  As I present as a colonial farmer as well as Paul Revere,  I have plenty of opportunities to take part in such historical outings.  And I could not be any more excited.  I was too young to do anything back in 1976,  but,  thankfully,  I'm not too old to participate here in 2026.

And I'll be doing all I can.

Until next time,  see you in time.

To learn more about Washington's death,  click HERE

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~