We do our best to incorporate historical tools, activities, surroundings, and clothing in seeking to give ourselves a sense of stepping back in time. That's what living history is all about.
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| Hi, my name is Ken, and I'm a...Living Historian~ |
"If you could build up any muscle to be a historian, I'd say it's the empathy muscle.
Go out and do empathy exercises; put yourself in their place."
David McCullough (1933 - 2022 historian and historical author)
And, if done correctly with the right thought process and the right people, a strong sense of time travel seems to happen.
Living history, by the way, is not better or worse than other forms of reenacting - just a different pathway to the past.
It's not for those who prefer to only "camp in funny clothes."
It's not for those who insist on talking modernisms: of Trump or Harris or Biden or any other current topic - there is no place for any of that in our time travels (though we all make mistakes).
It's definitely not for those who have the tendency to interpret past events in terms of modern values and concepts --- believers in presentism. Ugghhh!
And neither is it for those who believe in diluting historical accuracy in favor of diverse perspectives (known as postmodernism). Ugghhh!
Nope---not at all - - - - - -
It is looking and experiencing history from the point of view of the time being interpreted.
And here's how it turned out for me in 2024~
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I retired in June of 2023. One thing I wanted to make sure of when I retired was that I wasn't going to sit around bored watching TV all day. And I certainly didn't want to go back to work part-time like many retired people I know. That's why I have a hobby. Reenacting/living history keeps me going---keeps giving me something to look forward to. And, unlike most reenactors, I keep quite busy in this hobby year 'round. Even in the cold north country in wintertime.
Don't believe me?
Well, let's begin with January
January for most living historians can be dull, boring, pretty much a non-existent hobby here in Michigan. However, as I've done in previous years, I threw a Christmas/12th Night party to help to drive the cold winter away.
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| January 2024 This was the first year I held it at what was once a tavern - the Cady Inn - which sat in the Michigan town of Northville, though is now inside the park of historic Mill Race Village---a mini-open-air museum. |
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| January 2024 I was very pleased at not only how well it went, but the amount of living historians who came out! |
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| January 2024 This year I commissioned my friend Bob to make for me a shaving horse, and he had it ready for me by the time of my party. So I took it home and broke it in properly! |
As you may know, a few of us journey multiple times a year to what I call the frontier colonial cabin, where we will live for a full day, and do daily chores and activities that those of the founding generation did 250 years earlier.
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| January 2024 And it was at our winter cabin excursion that I tried my new shaving horse out for the first time. In this picture, Larissa is holding still a large stick that I hope to make into a broom handle. |
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| January 2024 Norm and I watch as the ladies of the house/cabin cook our dinner meal in the hearth. |
February
February was a slow month in the reenacting world this year. About the only thing we had was a celebration to honor the birth of George Washington.
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| February 2024 Tony Gerring enjoys having a party celebrating the birthday of the Father of Our Country. This year, that party was held at my house, since I created a sort of a colonial great hall in my own home. It was a fine gathering indeed! |
March
Early in March - just a week after the Washington party, I had two events on one day:
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| March 2024 Paul Revere, Sybil Ludington, and Ben Franklin spoke to the members of the Rochester, Michigan Paint Creek Folklore Society - a wonderful group of musicians who play old-timey music on all kinds of stringed instruments, from the hammered dulcimer to the guitar to the fiddle and banjo and even the piano. And since they are rooted in history, they wanted to hear our Patriots Presentation. |
And from there I drove across town to the Plymouth Historical Museum where I took part in their "A Night At The Museum" event as Paul Revere for a group of young kids
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| March 2024 I try to engage the young ones to hold their interest. I enjoy asking them history questions and am rarely disappointed in their responses. |
And less than a week later - -
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| March 2024 Larissa & I portrayed an 18th century farming couple, explaining daily life to high school students at Warren Woods Tower High School! |
And then it was only two weeks later that what I call "Christmas in March" occurred:
The Kalamazoo Living History Show!
If you are a pre-20th century reenactor, then this is the place for you, for there are three full-size wedding halls filled with vendor after vendor after vendor selling whatever anyone needs to improve (or begin) their historical impression.
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| March 2024 I mean, if you reenact the pre-electric era, this is the place for you, whether it's accessories or clothing or whatever you need. Many come just to see friends! |
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| March 2024 This year I purchased a new 18th century coat from Samson's Historical. Pretty sharp, eh? |
April
Closed since late December, Greenfield Village reopened its gates in mid-April, and I went twice that opening weekend, including one time dressed in my 18th century clothing.
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April 2024 Now, I am not at the original Independence Hall in Philadelphia (called the Pennsylvania State House until 1876) - but, instead it is an exact replication. Henry Ford not only had the bricks made from the same brick-maker of the original, but also included measurement mistakes as well! However, one thing that most people are not aware of - this building we know and love - our Independence Hall - did not look quite like this back in 1776 at the time our Founding Fathers held meetings inside, preaching sedition, and the place where the Declaration of Independence was signed. |
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| April 2024 My friend Lynn & I with Daggett House presenters inside the Daggett great hall. |
There's just something special about visiting a historic village while wearing period clothing. And, as you shall see, I do this numerous times at Greenfield Village throughout the year.
Tom Bertrand and I teamed up later in April as part of a historic timeline at the Military Museum in Eastpointe. I spoke to the visitors about the beginnings of the Revolutionary War, and Tom presented on 18th century medical procedures.
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| April 2024 We were the first part of the timeline people saw as they came in the door. I hope we didn't scare anyone off! lol |
Every year since 2019 - except for the covid years of 2020 and 2021 - I've hosted Patriot's Day. This is Michigan's version of the 1st battles of the American Revolution: the Battles of Lexington & Concord, which originally took place in Massachusetts, where they still have their annual reenactments. But many from our area cannot make it out to the east coast so I came up with this idea and made it come true, with many thanks to historic Mill Race Village in Northville Michigan. Mill Race is a mini open-air museum.
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| April 2024 The redcoats marching through our version of Lexington. |
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| April 2024 Later in the day we also had the Battle of Concord. This event will take place again in 2025 - the last Saturday in April. And that will honor the 250th anniversary of this occurrence in American history. |
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| April 2024 Here are those who came out and participated in the 2024 Patriot's Day event - our largest group of reenactors yet! And there were a few who did not make it into the picture! |
Now we are in May
May was one very active month for a few of us in the living history world.
It was one of the best for me, to be honest.
May 11 is mine and my wife's wedding anniversary, and on that date (our 39th!) we spent another day in time 250 years earlier at the Waterloo Cabin celebrating spring planting. This was Waterloo's big spring event - a sort of re-opening of the historic site for the season.
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| May 2024 And I am happy to say that we, the "cabin crew" (Charlotte, me, Norm, Larissa, and Patty) came out to take part by living life as if it were 1774. |
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| May 2024 Happy anniversary to us! And we got to celebrate it with friends...in the past! |
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| May 2024 Patty & Charlotte spent most of their time out in the kitchen garden. Through research I learned that 18th century farmers oftentimes planted and grew flowers indoors beginning in the later winter, only to transplant them into the garden when the weather broke, and by using the same dirt, the plants acclimated much easier. |
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| May 2024 The Taylor event was a fine event indeed - - and it will be happening again this year of 2025! I'm loving all of these opportunities to share history! |
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| May 2024 Some of us civilians at Taylor~ |
Three days later - May 21st, and Larissa and I did another school presentation - our daily colonial farm life program at the Catholic school St. Michael the Archangel in Livonia, Michigan.
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| May 2024 Imagine a teacher who gets so into her history lesson that she convinces her students to dress the part by having their parents either make or purchase period costumes/clothes so they can live for a day (while at school) as if it were during the time of the American Revolution. |
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| May 2024 As per usual for our presentations, we called on kids to come up to try out some of the items we brought along, such as the yoke and buckets (as seen in this picture), a tricorn/cocked hat, and even Larissa's apron, and she showed them how to turn an apron into a small sort of carrying basket. |
May 25 - GFV
As I wrote earlier, I very much enjoy visiting Greenfield Village while in my period clothing, and my friend Norm & I do it a number of times each season.
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| May 2024 We often dine at the historic Eagle Tavern. |
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| May 2024 Two gentlemen moving up to the Pennsylvania State House. Perhaps we will hear more on these rumors for Independence! |
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| May 2024 I just really enjoy this picture - - standing in an English garden waiting for the sun...if the sun don't come I'll get a tan from standing in the English rain... (thank you to John Lennon) |
Another week passed and, on May 25, the Sunday of Memorial Weekend, Patty & I went back to the cabin to care for the garden.
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| May 2024 It was on this day we planted a few pumpkins:
Psychological reasons~~ It seems more legit in stating that this is a colonial garden and colonial crop & food all done in a colonial manner from beginning to end.
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| May 2024 You know we had to visit the Daggett House! |
The summertime month of June follows~~~~~~~
You know, I really enjoy timeline events, and, especially with America's 250th nigh, I think such events are very important. The "History Alive" event in Chesterfield, Michigan, taking place very early in June, is one such event. Some years there are reenactors from each war period in American history, while other years, such as in 2024, it was not quite as large. I have high hopes for larger turnouts in participation for these 250th celebration years.
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| June 2024 A Mountain Man, a Native American, and thou...er...me. |
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| June 2024 And then there were those who showed American soldiers in Vietnam, which is the earliest war I personally have actual recollections of. I recall seeing war news footage on the TV, as well as seeing the protests against the war. The draft was a topic often spoken about whenever I saw my older sister's guy friends come over - anyone male near draft age. Then there was the music - the A.M. hits and the F.M. alternative. |
We're in mid-June, and so we have another period-dress trip to our favorite local open-air museum:
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| June 2024 Looking like I am walking down a road in colonial America, does it not? The trees and the shrubs and bushes and grass are all in their summertime glory. |
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| June 2024 When Norm & I visit Greenfield Village while in period attire, we stick mostly to the 18th century buildings, including the Giddings House seen here. |
Waterloo Blacksmith, Soldier, and Log Cabin Weekend at Waterloo Farm Museum.
You'll notice this is the same cabin as we use for our colonial excursions. Well, a cabin is a cabin is a cabin...meaning there is little change from colonial times to the early part of the 20th century - generally little has changed with these frontier American homes. So whether one shows 17th, 18th, or 19th century, it all works quite well.
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June 2024 A few rough-n-tumble-looking guys from the 1860s. I'm not nearly as excited to wear my 1860s clothing as I am when I wear my 18th century clothing. But these guys? Yeah...they're cool guys. It feels like 1863. Yeah...I can fit in and hang out with them.... |
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| June 2024 Brian Dewey took this amazing shot of a cannon firing. This is a part of the Waterloo Blacksmith, Soldier, and Log Cabin Weekend. |
At the end of June I was honored to be asked by the Sons of the American Revolution to participate in the Major Thompson Maxwell dedication ceremony. When I was asked if I could take part in paying tribute to who I would consider to be a true revolutionary hero, one who is buried in a grave that is within a half hour of my home (and not out somewhere on the east coast), I knew it would be quite an honor. And then I was asked to come in period clothing to reveal the plaque dedicated to this man - this Thompson Maxwell - how could I say "no"?
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June 2024 The program for the ceremony - June 29~ |
This guy played a part in the French & Indian War
The Boston Tea Party
The Battle of Concord on April 19, 1775
The Battle of Bunker Hill
The War of 1812 (in Detroit, nonetheless!)
I mean, this Thompson Maxwell was early American history! |
June 2024 All who were "dressed" to pay homage. Friends of the DMC SAR (Detroit Metro Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution) - (l to r) Charlotte Bauer, Ken Giorlando (moi!), Patty Giorlando (my wife, a DAR member), and Pastor Norman Gerring, joined by Michigan SAR (Sons of the American Revolution) Honor Guard members Harry Rinker and Bill Sharp. |
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June 2024 I've never done anything like this before, so, for me, it was a true honor. Just think - I did this for an actual Revolutionary War soldier! |
America's birthday month of July is next.
You know, I almost get just as excited for the 4th of July as I do for Christmas. I just simply love and live this American holiday!
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| July 2024 Our annual visit to Greenfield Village's Salute to America patriotic event to celebrate Independence Day. We went on July 3 - only days after paying homage to American Patriot, Thompson Maxwell. That added a bit of patriotism to both my wife and I. |
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| July 2024 We are standing at the door of the Logan County Courthouse, built around 1840, where, shortly after, Abraham Lincoln once practiced law before becoming our 16th President. The 4th of July isn't only for the Revolutionaries, but all of American history. |
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| July 2024 Lynn Anderson captured me speaking to the visitors about the events leading up to the Declaration of Independence. |
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| July 2024 Ben Franklin recites the Declaration in its entirety to an enthralled crowd, including Continental soldiers. |
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| July 2024 And Abigail Adams - yes, we remembered the ladies - read what she wrote to her husband, John Adams, on the reaction of the people of her time: "...and all the people shall say Amen." - Abigail Adams~ Our Abigail Adams reading from her letter to her husband, John, describing the 1st Boston reading of the Declaration of Independence. This young lady is within a year and a half of the age of Mrs. Adams on July 4th, 1776! Photo taken by Bill Annand |
When the readings were done, we did a "Three cheers!" for the new United States of America, for Ben Franklin (as being a part of the Committee of Five), and for George Washington.
And all cheered along.
It was then when...
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July 2024 ...the bells rang, the muskets were fired, and the people watching here at Mill Race Village received a wonderful impression of what it was like back in July of 1776! This presentation is, perhaps, my favorite of the entire year! I just love it and the patriotism that goes with it. |
And so, as it goes, as we headed onward into the month of July, my favorite Civil War event took place - Charlton Park. Why is it my favorite?
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| July 2024 Because the good folks at Charlton Park, through the good graces of their trust in us, allow us, for one day, to experience the time of the American Civil War through different senses, which was accomplished by allowing us to use one of their historic homes, the Sixberry House, built in the 1850s, as our own---as we have been doing since 2010. And I believe we add greatly to not only our personal experiences, but to the experience of the visitors who came in to tour the house as well. |
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| July 2024 Every year we hold our own ice cream social, where we make our own ice cream by way of a replicated 19th century ice cream maker. |
The Frankenmuth colonial reenactment is always the same weekend as Charlton Park, so I spend one day at both events - usually Saturday at Charlton Park and Sunday at Frankenmuth.
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| July 2024 One of the things I very much enjoy about Frankenmuth is there is a native encampment there. Sadly, having such a group come out to show their history doesn't happen as often as it should. |
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| July 2024 Charlotte came out as well, so we hung out for a bit. Here we are in an actual horseless carriage = no horses to take us anywhere! |
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| July 2024 Grant’s Co, 42nd Highlanders are Marching along... |
After the two larger reenactments above here, a few of us then traveled to the more peaceful Summer Colonial Cabin circa 1774.
I do a lot of reenacting throughout the year, even during the heat of summer or when the bitter cold of winter strikes. And I have to say, out of all the times I spend in period clothing, my most favorite of these times spent in the past are when we utilize the Waterloo cabin as our 18th century frontier "home," where we do cooking, gardening, and other period chores, and live the day as if it were 250 years earlier.
And we do this in all four season of the year, no matter the weather.
So that's where we were July 27th - right smack-dab in the middle of summer!
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| July 2024 Our Colonial Cabin Crew~ |
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| July 2024 My wife and I - - I do love it when she joins me at the cabin! |
We all have our work clothes (except our minister, who works in other ways). We are a religious bunch, both in the past and in the present, and we're not afraid to express ourselves. The Great Awakening occurred in mid-century but didn't just end abruptly---it continued on pretty strong through the end of the century and even into the 19th century.
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| July 2024 At the cabin we all put in our work time. |
We also celebrated the ancient Lammas Day holiday.
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| July 2024 It was a pretty steamy day so we ate outdoors. |
Now we dive head first into August where we will
"Step back in time at the Port Oneida Fair and experience life as it was in the late 1800's and early 1900's." The fair is held at six of the historic farmsteads in Port Oneida (northern Michigan). Each farm has a variety of artists, crafts, food, and activities for visitors.
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| August 2024 Here we are: me, Patty, and Larissa. All three of us presented this year - normally it's just me & Larissa. |
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| August 2024 Visitors stick around for questions & answers after we finish our presentation. |
On a mid-August day - August 17 - was when Tony Gerring, head of the Revolutionary War military unit, the 1st Pennsylvania, set aside as a sort of work day at the cabin, so the members of his unit could work on their clothing, hats, shoes, or leather straps that needed to be repaired or modified while in a historic environment. They also practiced the manual of arms and did some marching, learned some regimental history, and did whatever else needed to be done.
All in this historic setting.
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| August 2024 Hanging out with Tony & his father, Norm, and a few others from the 1st Pennsylvania. |
No women joined us for this visit.
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| August 2024 Since I'm not military, I spent some of my time out in the garden, for the beginning of the summer harvest was taking place. |
Back in my Civil War clothing for the Jackson Civil War Muster.
My first Jackson event was back in 2004, and I was blown away by the sheer size of it. Never before had I seen so many reenactors in one place. And the event grew over the following decade. I mean it grew beyond expectations.
Then, after the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, the bottom seemed to have dropped out. I stuck with the event through 2016, and by 2017 the venue changed and I stopped going altogether. However, in 2022 I returned, for Jackson returned to its original location at Cascades Park. But, rather than spending the entire weekend camping as we used to do, I began to day-trip it, pretty much making the drive by myself. And I do continue to do so at present time.
2022 saw an upswing in both reenactors as well as visitors. 2023 saw an even greater upswing.
This year of 2024 was the best in probably a decade!
That makes me happy.
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| August 2024 The quality of the reenactors is top-notch, as can be seen by these wonderful ladies. |
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| August 2024 The battle? One of the best depictions - just like in the reenactments of 15 and 20 years ago. |
But we're still not done with August yet!
On the last day of the month - August 31st, the Saturday of Labor Day Weekend - my wife and I found ourselves, once again, in the 1770s at Waterloo, tending the kitchen garden:
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August 2024 We did not plant the zucchini, but the person that did had not come out very often to care for the garden, so, rather than let them go, we picked 'em! |
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August 2024 Patty also picked a couple buckets full of green beans while I went after the pumpkins. I've been wanting to grow pumpkins there for a while but it just never happened. Until this year. However, next year perhaps I'll plant them a few weeks later - I'd like them to continue growing into late September and early October so we can show them off for Pioneer Day. The pumpkin I am holding here just fell off the vine as I tried to turn it a little. |
September is up next, and this means we are now heading into my favorite time of year: Autumn!
And though "technically" Autumn didn't begin until September 22 in 2024, I still consider Labor Day Weekend the opening of Autumn and the exit of Summer.
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| September 2024 A few days after Labor Day and I was, once again, found in my colonial clothes, this time walking up to my favorite house - the Daggett House, built sometime around 1750-1754. |
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| September 2024 Norm joined me on this excursion. Norm is a super guy and I enjoy when we hang out. |
Patty and I had a mid-September cabin get-a-way, for we knew that there were veggies in our garden there that were ready for harvesting, since it was that time of year. Norm joined us.
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| September 2024 For my wife Patty, gardening is just about as relaxing a chore or hobby as she can have, along with crocheting, knitting, and spinning wool into yarn. So to get her to come out here on a nice day - a 90 minute ride - is not usually a problem. |
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| September 2024 As for me, I am so proud of my pumpkins! I plan to increase the number for 2025~ |
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| September 2024 Myself, my wife, and our good friend Norm. This certainly was a fine September day! |
Later in the month there is a pretty awesome timeline event known as River of Time, and it's held up in Saginaw. I usually portray Paul Revere here and do a presentation for the public. Since it's held at a cider mill, most people who come don't expect to see history - they are usually pleasantly surprised.
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| September 2024 Paul Revere at your service. Yes, I was asked to speak a bit of "my" ride on the night of April 18, 1775. |
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| September 2024 Ben Franklin and his daughter set up their sutlery shop: The Salty Lantern. |
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| September 2024 As I said, River of Time is a timeline event, so there were Voyageurs there along with folks depicting the eras of the Civil War and World War II. Here is a Civil War soldier with his family having their tintype taken. |
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| September 2024 Mr. Stark (Ben Franklin) is also a woodworker, and he made for me another shaving horse, largely replicating the one inside the Samuel Daggett Home inside Greenfield Village. He brought it to River of Time, so I was able to pay him and put it in my van. So, here I am trying it out - - - - |
And to end September, me, Norm, and another friend, Karen, dressed in our 18th century and went a-visiting to Greenfield Village during their harvest weekend.
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| September 2024 Beer making at Daggett! |
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| September 2024 Norm, Karen, and I ate at the Eagle Tavern. |
For some odd reason, this year Greenfield Village decided to close up for the month of October. They've not done that before. I mean, yes, last year they closed the houses up but at least kept the Village open for "strolling days" for the membership (though in previous years they remained opened normal hours for October). Autumn is so beautiful there in the Village, but unless one paid extra money for Hallowe'en tickets, as I did---and I shouldn't have had to---they were screwed out of enjoying the fall season there.
Such a disappointment. I certainly am complaining - whether they like it or not, Greenfield Village is a place of history---of learning. They need to remain open for October in some form. Or if they're not, cut us a better deal on the membership price. Sadly, they did this to December a couple of decades ago - yes, the Village used to be open for daytime hours on weekends in December, but that ended.
Now October.
Will November be next? They'll definitely lose me if that's the case.
By the way, I've heard the excuses why and I call BS.
The beauty of Autumn really comes forth in the month of October.
Our first living history event for October was the Vermillion Creek Rev War reenactment.
It's a bit of a drive to travel from where I live to Laingsburg, Michigan. I mean, it's not extremely far - only about an hour and a half - but it's far enough with high gas prices. And it's in the middle of nowhere - true rural Michigan. But the event is well worth the drive,
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| October 2024 I enjoyed the opportunities to visit with friends on a beautiful fall day. |
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| October 2024 The council held at Vermilion Creek was stemmed on the re-affirmation of alliance and trade with British and the local Anishnabek (Indian) tribe. It was fascinating to see this. This was not Hollywood - - this was a historically accurate presentation. |
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| October 2024 Look at the muskets in the center - - - yes, they meant it when they said, "Fire!" to discharge their weapons. In fact: |
The next event I attended took place the very next day: Pioneer Day at Waterloo.
Pioneer Day, very much a Fall Harvest Festival, is a day I look forward to all year: a day to celebrate the fall harvest, a day to celebrate history, a day to celebrate tradition, and a day to celebrate farm life in the past.
A day to celebrate autumn.
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| October 2024 Jennifer watched as Patty spun on her spinning wheel. Well...in this picture Patty is carding wool. She finds the spinning chore and all that goes with it very relaxing. She also spoke to the public about spinning flax, but unfortunately, the flax wheel was not cooperating. |
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October 2024 I was pleasantly surprised at the interest in not only the flax process, but the heirloom apple display as well. Yes, we had apples from the 18th century on display. It was a perfect presentation for the apple season! |
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| October 2024 The practice of saying Grace before meals is rooted in the Bible, where Jesus and Saint Paul pray before meals. The term "Grace" comes from the Ecclesiastical Latin phrase gratiarum actio, which means "act of thanks." |
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| October 2024 Two lucky kids got to pick our two remaining pumpkins in our patch. |
Mid-month and I went to Hallowe'en at Greenfield Village.
I was a bit frustrated that in order for me to enjoy the Autumn colors in that historic setting, I had to shell out more money (and I'm a paying member!).
Luckily the weather was perfect!
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| October 2024 Walking through the beauty of Autumn in Greenfield Village. This was one of the Hallowe'en events that Patty & I went to, though Patty was in modern clothing. |
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| October 2024 This is Katie - a storyteller who gave a reading of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow for the Hallowe'en event. |
November is up next, and things did slow down a little - - slightly...only slightly...
November 1st came and Greenfield Village reopened up...but just on weekends. Norm and I took advantage of this - trying to get the most out of our membership, I suppose, before more is taken away.
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| November 2024 We will usually spend most of our time in the colonial area of the Village - mainly the Daggett House. Why? I've always felt that had I lived back in the 1700s, I would probably live the life resembling Samuel Daggett: a farmer (although he was a jack-of-all-trades as well - he knew how to make money and survive). |
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| November 2024 Even though it is early November, much of the fall foliage still had color. |
And only a couple days later a few of us celebrated a 1774 Thanksgiving at Waterloo Cabin.
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| November 2024 I made a cudgel to mash the apples so we could make cider. Larissa is making sure I'm doing it right lolol~ |
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| November 2024 Again - grace before our harvest meal--true Thanksgiving. |
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| November 2024 We stayed into the evening to enjoy the nighttime darkness with a bout of candlelight, just having a wonderful conversation. |
But December started off right!
But my reenacting year did not end just yet---there was one more period dress visit to Greenfield Village. My friends Jennifer and Amy joined me on the final night of the Holiday Nights event - December 28 - which happened to be the last time the Village will be open until mid-April (April 11).
Norm and I spent December 1st in the 18th century, once again at Greenfield Village.
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| December 2024 Here we are at the Giddings House, built in the mid-18th century. |
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| December 2024 What would a visit to Greenfield Village be without going to the Daggett House. |
And less than a week later, me, Norm, and Charlotte spent a day at Waterloo Cabin presenting on a colonial Christmas.
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| December 2024 Here I am with Charlotte & Norm at Waterloo Cabin. |
Too often people have this very mistaken impression that folks who lived in the 18th century did not celebrate Christmas, that Christmas celebrations "began" in the Victorian period.
Nope---not true at all! |
| December 2024 Me and ol' St. Nicholas. Not Father Christmas - but St. Nicholas, as he was known in the American colonies. Many are mistaken that the jolly old gent was called Father Christmas here. Again---nope---not true... |
It was nice to be able to teach about 18th century Christmas celebrations. I've been studying that topic, finding primary source material through deep research, and yet, people are adamant in telling me that the colonials didn't celebrate this holiday - yet...well...I just don't get it!
By the way---though it was banned---outlawed---here in the colonies (and in England, too), it was only for a short while in the 17th century. The ban was lifted after it was found too many people continued to celebrate.
However, I'm proud to say that we received numerous compliments from visitors. |
| December 2024 We dined on a fine meal of pasties cooked right there on the hearth. Charlotte also made gingerbread - real gingerbread! So good!. |
Now I've been there dressed in my 1770s clothing in sleet, rain, snow, 6 degree temps, high winds - you name it. But I've not experienced 57 degrees on a late December evening!
Until this year.
It was downright balmy!
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| December 2024 Jennifer on the left, Amy on the right, and me in the middle with two Daggett presenters. The ladies were dressed for much colder weather than it actually was. |
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| December 2024 Me, leaving the Daggett House for the last time in 2024. 'twill not be until mid-April a-fore my next visit. |
In my living history world, 2024 was probably one of my best years ever. And I hope for a continuation in 2025 and even in 2026, especially with America's 250th birthday commemoration beginning to happen.
I knew nothing about reenacting way back during the Bicentennial (1976), so I need to make the most of what they're calling the semiquincentennial!
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| I hope to see you come out to a few events! |
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| "The United States Semiquincentennial, also called the Bisesquicentennial, the Sestercentennial, or the Quarter Millennial, will be the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence. Festivities will mark various events leading up to the Declaration's anniversary on Independence Day, July 4, 2026." And I plan to somehow - even if on my own - take part. |
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| May 29 to December 28 A Tale of Two Seasons Eyeing the Daggett House from the Cotswold Cottage yard. My own personal 250th participation~ |
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| April 19th will be the 250th for Lexington & Concord, considered the 1st battles of the American Revolution, and is also known for the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere! Of course, April 26 will be the date for our commemoration/reenactment of this special Revolutionary moment. |
Until next time, see you in time.
For my other "best of" postings:
The best of 2023
2017 - 2017 was my first "year end" post.
How about our colonial life cabin excursions? Here are links for each visit:
~To read about our 2020/1770 excursion - our first autumn at the cabin (separating wheat from the chaff & chopping down a tree with an axe...and cooking on the hearth), click HERE
~To read about our 2021/1771 wintertime excursion at the cabin (processing flax and spinning it into linen), click HERE
~To read about our 2021/1771 springtime excursion at the cabin (spring cleaning and planting flax), click HERE~To read about our 2021/1771 summertime excursion at the cabin (garden work), click HERE
~To read about our 2021/1771 summer harvesting of the flax at the cabin (harvesting flax), click HERE
~To read about our 2021/1771 autumn excursion making candles at the cabin (making candles), click HERE
~To read about our 2022/1772 winter excursion at the cabin (mainly keeping warm in the bitter cold), please click HERE
~To read about our 2022/1772 spring excursion at the cabin (gardening), please click HERE
~To read about our 2022/1772 summer excursion at the cabin (soldiers and gardening), please click HERE
~To read about our 2022/1772 autumn excursion at the cabin (Pioneer Day - processing flax & spinning), please click HERE
~To read about our 2023/1773 winter excursion at the cabin - (making candles and celebrating Candlemas), please click HERE
~To read about our 2023/1773 spring excursion at the cabin - (planting and celebrating Rogation Sunday), please click HERE
~To read about our 2023/1773 late spring at the cabin - (more planting), click HERE
~To read about the 2023/1773 early summer (gardening/weeding) at the cabin, please click HERE
~To read about the 2023/1773 mid-summer (gardening and celebrating Lammas Day), please click HERE
~To read about the 2023/1773 autumn Pioneer Day (processing flax and spinning), please click HERE
~To read about our 2023/1773 (Thanksgiving harvest celebration) in early November, please click HERE
~To read about our 2024/1774 Winter experience at the cabin (working the shaving horse), please click HERE
~To read about our 2024/1774 spring excursion at the cabin (planting and working the shaving horse), please click HERE
~To read about our 2024/1774 late spring (more planting with just Patty & I), click HERE
~To read about our 2024/1774 summer (gardening, Lammas Day celebration, and working on the shaving horse), please click HERE
~To read about our 2024/1774 (two separate mid-and-late-summer garden visits), please click HERE
~To read about our 2024/1774 mid-September (kitchen-garden harvest with soldiers), click HERE
~To read about our 2024/1774 autumn Pioneer Day Celebration (processing flax, spinning, & gardening), please click HERE
~To read about our 2024/1774 Thanksgiving Harvest, where we made our own cider the colonial way, please click HERE
~To read about our 2024/1774 Christmas at the Farm/Cabin presentation, please click HERE
By the way, I simply cannot thank those special folk at the Waterloo Farm Museum for their allowance for us to have such experiences.
We are so honored.
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