Waterloo's Pioneer Day: Showing the Past While Living in the Past at the Colonial Cabin

Monday,  October 5th.  The weatherman tells us we have a week or more of perfect autumn weather.

Same on Tuesday.

Wednesday they say slight chance of showers over the weekend.

Thursday tells us sun on Saturday but pretty much an all-day rain on Sunday.

Friday they say rain from Saturday night into Sunday.

Saturday wound up being a near perfect fall day,  with temps in the low 70s and sun with a few clouds.

Saturday evening we had rain throughout the night.  

Sunday morning,  October 11 - Pioneer Day - we finished loading our van then split to Waterloo.  It rained mostly all the way there.  However,  by the time we arrived at the farm,  the rain had stopped.  In fact,  aside from a spittle of drops here and there,  no rain fell,  though a slight mist showed up off and on as well,  but nothing to ruin the day.

Then it rained nearly the entire drive home,  only to find that it had rained all day in the metro-Detroit area.

Whew!
We certainly dodged a bullet out in Waterloo.

Weather can make or break an event such as Pioneer Day.  

This event,  though beneath a thick layer of clouds,  was saved!  Even with the large amount of low-hanging clouds people / visitors were ready and came out in droves to enjoy historical presentations.

Like last year,  a few of us showed colonial life in and around the cabin,  as usual,  and even had our grandkids,  once again,  working with us.  But as you shall see,  we were not the only people there to celebrate and show American history,  for there was a lot going on.

We're ba-ack~~~
Here is most,  but not all,  of our cabin crew.

This whole 18th century cabin experience all came about back in 2020 when I had a dream that I was in the Daggett House...but I wasn't just visiting - I was in my period clothing and actually working there!  But I wasn't working as an employee - - - for some reason I,  and a few others with me,  were sort of living there and made the house come to life by actually living as if it were 1770.  Well,  you can imagine the disappointment within me when I woke up knowing it was just a dream.  But it got me to thinking - - what if...hmmm? 

Then we took a  "guy"  photo,  which included a couple more of our Citizens of the American Colonies as well as three members of the 1st Pennsylvania Revolutionary War reenactors,  and two men  (top row on left)  who reenact the 17th century.

So I worked out a plan to hopefully make that dream come true.

And that's when I thought of the only place that ever allowed me,  with a few chosen people,  to make a historic place my home  (aside from Charlton Park).  So I got in contact with Waterloo Farm Museum in rural Munith,  Michigan not too long ago after,  and we discussed an idea I carried over from my dream as well as from our our Civil War experiences at their farm house 15 years earlier.  My plan was to have a  Fall Harvest Day - but rather than portray the 1860s inside the house,  it would be the year 1770...in the cabin right next to the house.  

A top rule was to keep the number of participants somewhat low,  for my plan at the cabin was not going to be a typical reenactments;  with the opportunity to utilize a frontier log house I wanted to keep it a bit real...experiencing 18th century life,  and to have too many participants would not work for authenticity or accuracy.  Also the cabin is a cabin and,  therefore,  is not very large,  so there's that as well.

Ideally,  with this sort of plan,  I wanted everyone involved to feel  as if we were in 1770.  

Just trying to keep it as real as can be done.

My long-time friend,  Larissa,  was the first person I asked to be a part of this,  for we have been presenting together for years and when it comes to 18th century domestic history,  I knew of no one who who has more knowledge than she.

When she & I do our historic farming presentations,  we present ourselves as a farm couple,  and we explain each of our chores as male and female in and around our home.  

Most of our ladies - it was difficult to get everyone together at one time.

So,  once I knew Larissa was on board,  I went to work on the others  (Charlotte and Jackie),  speaking with the chosen few to help with ideas to make this work.

Over time I invited others,  such as Norm and my wife Patty.  

Not trying to sound bossy,  but this is my gig,  so to speak.  We have a sort of hierarchy,  in the order as the involvements occurred.

As I've noted,  there are rules that I require everyone to adhere to,  and all are important.  For instance,  one rule is to be as period-correct as we can.  This means clothing.  This means cooking.  This means no farb to be seen - even if we are all on our own with no public about.  Another rule?  No modern politics - not even hinting.  We have members of multiple political parties and there is no need to create any animosity.    Then there is the no changes to our plans unless we discuss it first.  I mean,  if we are going to have a cabin at our disposal,  then we are going to do it right.  Obviously,  no one is forced to come out.  But if they do,  they must understand what is expected.

Well,  that first time went off pretty amazing.  So I worked out more cabin living history opportunities

Yes,  I have bent the rules here and there,  but that's ending.  I / we have worked too hard to make this an  "experiencing our research"  experience.  Making it like no other.

Are we perfect?
Nope.

And I am not sure we can ever be perfect.

But we can sure try---something to shoot for! 

We are not reenacting.  That thought needs to leave the brain.  Most rules that pertain to reenacting are thrown out - we have our own way of doing things.  And now,  six years and forty living history days later,  this is us.

By the way,  at the bottom of today's post are links to each time we've done living history here at the log house.  Check  'em out to see how we've grown.

My wife,  Patty,  and I were very pleased when our two oldest grandkids asked if the could come and participate with us again this year.  Well,  granddaughter Addy came here to the Waterloo Log House for the first time this past spring.  Grandson Ben came here a couple of times in 2025.  Here we have them both together,  doing chores and activities that children their age  (10 & 12)  would be doing in the 1770s.

Ben  (12),  his grandfather  - me  (affectionately known as Papa),  Addy  (10),  and Patty,  their grandmother  (affectionately known as Nonna)

A year ago,  Ben helped me make cider and really enjoyed doing it.  This year he was able to do the process himself...from cutting the apples...

...to smashing them into a mash  (or pulp)...

...the stick he is smashing the apples with is called a cudgel.

Next up is to scoop the pulp onto the cheese cloth in the press.

As his sister watched,  Ben continued to load the pulp into the press.

I was told that the person who normally makes cider for Pioneer Day did not show up this year,  so Ben was the only cider maker there.

Now it's time to turn the T-Handle screw to push down the press plate  to squeeze the juice from the apples...

Yes,  my grandson has long dreadlocks.  He is his father's son,  so since this is our hobby,  sometimes you have to let things go to some extent.

...and the juice from the apples spill into the pan below.
Fresh-made cider!

As for my granddaughter:

Nonna  (Addy's grandmother--and my wife)  continued to teach Addy how to spin on a spinning wheel.

In the 18th-century,  grandmothers frequently taught their granddaughters how to spin.

As women aged,  the heavy physical toll of walking back and forth operating a  "great"  or  "walking wheel"  became more difficult.  Grandmothers often transitioned to seated,  lighter,  or more stationary work,  such as carding raw wool into fleecy rolls or operating a smaller,  foot-powered  treadle  (aka known as a saxony)  wheel.  This kept them in the center of domestic activity,  where they could supervise and guide children.

Minister Heinrich Mühlenberg  (Norm),  a patriot,  took notice of the two generations spinning,  for during the 18th century,  spinning wheels became a powerful symbol of patriotic resistance and political action for American colonial women. 

As Parliament imposed taxes like the Stamp Act and Townshend Acts,  colonial women used non-importation and non-consumption agreements to boycott British cloth,  tea,  and luxury goods.  Women,  young and old,  described themselves as an army armed with spinning wheels,  "shifting the power of the consumer landscape to bypass British textile monopolies."

Visitors were captivated.

Once again I did my heirloom apple presentation,  and brought along the Roxbury Russett,  the Snow Apple,  the Esopus Spitzenburg,  Nonsuch,  the Pitmaston Pineapple Apple,  McIntosh,  and even the more recent Honeycrisp  (to show a more modern apple in comparison to the older varieties).

I first acquired an interest in heirloom apples many years ago at the Firestone Farm apple orchard tours.  Firestone Farm is located at Greenfield Village.

Being that apples are associated with autumn,  this display added to the season.

Charlotte and Norm sometimes took over for me when I would step out of the cabin for a while.

Jackie churned butter.

What goes well with homemade freshly churned butter?
Why,  fresh bread,  of course.
Here is my granddaughter working the bread dough under the watchful eyes of Theresa.

The flow of interested visitors was a constant.

Turkey,  potatoes,  and carrots prepared and ready for the fire.

Cooking on the hearth.

So let's take a break from the cabin and mosey around the grounds:

Speaking of making bread,  here is master baker,  Jeff,  who baked bread and pretzels in the restored bake house. 

Norm learns how to make a tied pretzel from Jeff.
Just in case you were wondering:  tied pretzels were indeed present in the 18th century,  particularly as German and Dutch immigrants brought their traditional recipes to North America.   These pretzels became popular among the working class due to their affordability and unique taste.

Jim and Brian showcased tools and guns used in the 17th and 18th centuries.

This young man was very interested in the kind of muskets that was used by the pilgrims of 1620.

Here is Norm with members of the 1st Pennsylvania,  originating in 1775.

My son,  Robbie,  impressed folks by writing a letter using quill and ink...and writing in cursive!

No...not the Green Mountain Boys  (lol)  but the 1st Pennsylvania.

Guess who else was at Pioneer Day?

Toyman Tom was there with period-oriented toys for sale.

Waterloo Historical Society did something unusual for this year's Pioneer Day:  they turned the farm house into a house of 19th century mourning.  And they utilized the knowledge of the very talented mourning historian,  Kim Parr.

Here is the front of the Waterloo Historic Farm House,  all  "dressed"  for mourning.
Quite an elaborate hearse.

The side of this historic home is also ready for mourning...and autumn,  which,  when you think of it,  go kinda well together.

In the 19th century,  horse-drawn hearses became increasingly elaborate,  often featuring intricate designs and decorations that reflected the status of the deceased.  These vehicles were a significant part of funeral processions,  symbolizing respect and mourning during that era.

A woman mourns...
My long-time friend,  Kim Parr,  has been researching and presenting on mourning practices for literally decades.  For the first time,  she presented at Waterloo Farm Museum inside the historic farm house.  There was even a 19th century hearse set out front,  which garnered loads of attention and brought out the curiosity of the guests/visitors.

Death in the 19th century was much more an accepted part of life than today.  Of course,  the religious faith played a major role in allaying that fear,  for folks were far more openly religious - far more than anyone alive today has ever witnessed - and that was their comfort,  for they believed strongly in an afterlife.

From the front parlor looking out at the horse-drawn hearse.

The parlor  (usually the  "best"  room)  was commonly used for wakes and funerals,  serving as a formal space for mourning rituals.  Think of  "funeral parlors"  of today.

Inside the home mourning took on an appearance that many here in the 21st century would consider morbid,  for virtually anything reflective  (or shiny in many cases)  would be covered,  such as mirrors and glass of any kind,  including picture frame glass.  Crepe could also be draped over fireplace mantels,  windows,  shelves,  and other household items,  especially in the bedroom of the deceased.

Kim also had a constant flow of interested visitors.

Clocks would be stopped at the time of death and would not be restarted until the burial was over.  Ribbon or flower-covered black wreaths were hung on doors,  windows,  and mantels.  Window curtains and shades were also drawn and shutters closed.

A basic wooden coffin.

According to Bernadette Loeffel-Atkins:  "The home was to remain quiet and calm,  there was to be no confusion or loud talking while the body remained in the house.  The departed loved one would be placed on viewing in the family parlor of the home."

Many coffins included glass viewing plates,  allowing family members and other mourners to see the deceased.  This was a popular trend during the mid-to-late 19th century.

Sadly,  this coffin was built for a child...

Back outside we go~~~~

I'm not sure what his plans were for the large log,  but he certainly had a wide range of period tools on hand.

Chopping through the knot...

The up-and-down pit saw,  commonly used in early America,  involved two sawyers working together—one above the log and the other below—using a long saw that cut on the downward stroke.  This method was efficient for converting logs into lumber.

Alexander was on his own here.

He did get help,  however,  to get that large log atop of it.

Alexander explained the workings of a pit saw,  as well as gave a demonstration.

Beer brewing in the mid-1800s.

My connection to beer brewing has always been the way it was done in the 18th century.  However,  beer brewing underwent significant changes from the 1770s,  for example,  to,  say,  the 1850s,  which is what I believe we have here,  evolving from local,  small-scale production to a more industrialized process with larger breweries and national brands. 

One thing that remained was hops.  Hops is one of the main ingredients for making beer.

In the 1770s,  beer was often brewed at home using local ingredients including pumpkin and corn,  having more of a reliance on the available resources in the local area.

Brewing beer in the mid-1800s may have been changing,  but the manner in which it was made certainly looked  (and smelled)  in the same manner as was done in the 1700s,  as I've seen at the Daggett House.

By the middle of the 1800s,  the brewing industry saw the emergence of large-scale breweries,  leading to a decline in home brewing as beer became more commercially produced.  The arrival of German immigrants in the 1840s brought new brewing traditions and styles,  impacting local practices,  and  transforming beer production and consumption..

There's the mash...which actually smells like Malto Meal!

"The mode of beer consumption changed a lot from the mid-19th century onward.  The 1840s marked the beginning of a large wave of immigration from what we know today as Germany.  Immigrant German men came and transformed brewing into a professional industry in America.  For the first time,  you have truly large-scale breweries in urban centers around the country."

Beer brewing in the 1850s continued,  especially out on the frontier~

The real  "on tap"~~~

"In the mid- and late-1800s,  German beer and places to enjoy it were really embraced by Americans.  That changed with World War I,  when Germany became the enemy on the battlefield.  Then these breweries,  whose beers people had grown up drinking,  or had come to have an affection for,  suddenly came to be seen as a kind of foreign entity within American borders.  So it was with the coming of the war that the ethnic nature of breweries became something for Americans to note.  This antipathy towards people who were not considered  “American”  was one factor that led to Prohibition."


Next up---sheep shearing:

Though mostly done in the late spring,  sheep were sometimes sheared in the fall during the 19th century,  particularly in regions where wool production was significant.  This practice allowed farmers to manage the wool harvest.

In the 19th century,  sheep shearing was predominantly done by hand using blade shears,  which were large scissors-like tools.  This method was labor-intensive and required skill to ensure the sheep were shorn efficiently without injury.

This was another fine demonstration showing farming chores of the past.

The ladies picked through the sheered wool before washing.

Caning chairs was being done.

Broom making~

Old time music was all around.

The 9th Kentucky Civil War unit and a guest.

I absolutely love hearing old-time tunes played in a traditional manner using period-style instruments.  And at Pioneer Day we were surrounded with such sounds.

These two fellers really fit the part!

Listening to and watching performers play some wonderful old-time tunes on acoustic instruments really set the atmosphere.

Guitar playing alongside a...

...mountain/lap dulcimer.

There was also a pie-eating contest.

Such a carriage!
Perhaps for driving to church.

Always smiling Chrissy looks wonderful in her 1860s clothing!
Now to get her man to dress...lol

Our minister lead us all in saying a prayer before our meal.

We enjoyed an amazing meal - all cooked on the hearth!

We always enjoy having our minister dine with us.

I know my grandkids enjoyed seeing their Uncle Robbie all dressed in clothing of the 1770s.
The candle holder there is an authentic piece from around the mid-1750s.

Nonna and Papa sitting across from our two eldest grandkids.

Nonna and Addy exploring the land.

Here are many,  but not all,  who worked and volunteered to make Waterloo Farm Museum's Pioneer Day such a great success.  I see 17th century,  18th century,  19th century,  perhaps early 20th century,  and then President Chad  (in the red t-shirt left center top)  21st century.

I think the comment I loved most was being told that one or two visitors mentioned that seeing kids working in the cabin really seemed to make it all come to life,  adding that touch of realism not often seen.

Pioneer Day at Waterloo Historical Museum is,  perhaps,  in my top two favorite events of the entire year.  It is an Autumn Festival to beat all Autumn Festivals.

And,  another day at the cabin means another opportunity to get our period clothes dirty.  Whether from the dirt while planting,  or preparing food to be cooked over the open hearth,  or doing any number of period activities - even getting splashed while making cider - the clothing we wear to do such chores - our work clothes - are bound to get dirty or stained.  

That's how we do living history;  showing the past while living in the past.

More cabin adventures are forthcoming...

Until next time,  see you in time.

Besides myself,  other photographers whose images are included in today's post came from Chad,  Charlotte,  Jackie,  Patty,  Theresa,  and the Waterloo Historical Society.

Beer Brewing information came mostly from HERE

Here's our documentation of our time in the past.

To see posts about our other colonial cabin excursions,  please click any of the links below:

~To read about our 2020  autumn harvest excursion - our first time at the cabin - click HERE

~To read about our 2021 wintertime excursion at the cabin - click HERE

~To read about our 2021 springtime excursion at the cabin - click HERE

~To read about our 2021 summertime excursion at the cabin - click HERE

~To read about our 2021 summer harvesting of the flax at the cabin - click HERE

~To read about our 2021 autumn excursion - click HERE

~To read about our 2022 winter excursion at the cabin - please click HERE

~To read about our 2022 spring excursion at the cabin - please click HERE

~To read about our 2022 summer excursion at the cabin - please click HERE

~To read about our 2022 autumn excursion at the cabin  (Pioneer Day) - please click HERE

~To read about our 2023 winter excursion at the cabin  (Candlemas) - please click HERE

~To read about our 2023 spring excursion at the cabin  (Rogation Sunday) - please click HERE

~To read about our 2023 late spring at the cabin - click HERE

~To read about the 2023 early summer - please click HERE

~To read about the 2023 summer  (Lammas Day) - please click HERE

~To read about the 2023 autumn Pioneer Day - please click HERE

~To read about our 2023 Thanksgiving harvest celebration - please click HERE

~To read about our 2024 Winter experience at the cabin - please click HERE

~To read about our 2024 spring excursion at the cabin - please click HERE

~To read about our 2024 late spring with just Patty & I - click HERE 

~To read about our 2024 summer  (Lammas Day) - please click HERE

~To read about our 2024 mid-and-late-summer - please click HERE

~To read about our 2024 mid-September - click HERE

~To read about our 2024 autumn Pioneer Day Celebration - please click HERE

~To read about our 2024 Thanksgiving Harvest - please click HERE

~To read about our 2024 Christmas at the Farm Cabin presentation - please click HERE

~To read about our 2025 winter & Candlemas Day - please click HERE

~To read about our 2025 spring/early May Rogation Sunday excursion - please click HERE

~To read about our 2025 Memorial Day/Late May visit,  please click HERE

~To read about our 2025 (Lammas Day)  Celebration,  please click HERE

~To read about our 2025 September visit with my grandson experiencing living history,  click HERE

~To read about our 2025 Pioneer Day event,  please click HERE

~To read about our 2025 Harvest Thanksgiving Celebration  (including my grandson!),  click HERE  

~To read about our 2025 Colonial Christmas Celebration/Christmas at the Farm  click HERE

~To read about our 2026 Early March/Late Wintertime at the cabin,  please click HERE

~To read about our 2026 Early April - time spent with Grandchildren at the cabin,  please click HERE

~To read about our 2026 Springtime Planting in 1776 - Grandkids again,  please click HERE

~To read about our 2026 Summer/June cabin excursion,  please click HERE

So...adding this current visit,  that makes 40 days spent in the 18th century at this cabin - wow!.

And,  God willing,  these adventures will continue for a long time to come.

God's Blessing be upon you all~~~

.