Most of us grew up associating Punch Bowls with a huge, overly ornate bowl, often bucket sized, that our parents or grandparents kept on a sideboard and only used for fancy parties. In the 18th Century, that punchbowl would have seen much more use. According to legend, punch was introduced to England in the early-to mid-17th century …
Monthly Archives: October 2022
Supplying the Army with Muskets – The birth of Mass Production in America
“A good musket is a complicated engine and difficult to make — difficult of execution because the conformation of most of its parts correspond with no regular geometrical figure.” – Eli Whitney We all know Eli Whitney for his invention of the Cotton Gin but it was his contribution to industrial engineering and the manufacture …
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John Jay Appointed 1st US Chief Justice
After the Constitution was ratified, President Washington needed to make several political appointments. In September 1789, he offered John Jay the position of Secretary of State. Though a new title, it would’ve been the same duties he was already performing as Secretary of Foreign Affairs. Jay turned down the offer. Still eager to put Jay …
Historical Tidbits
When reenacting or acting as a historical interpreter, its good to have a few historical dates and stories to share. This series will publish a few. October 19, 1780 Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown In April 1781 British General Lord Cornwallis led his weary and battered troops toward the Virginia coast, where he could maintain seaborne …
Come Help Us Create a Unique Portable Bar at Fort Mifflin
On September 17, 2022, Fort Mifflin took possession of an Amish surrey style wagon approximately 5 ft wide and 7 feet long in serviceable condition. This buggy was donated by Warehouse on Watts and transported to the fort by Fort Mifflin staff. The buggy is in “good” condition but not roadworthy and does need minor …
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Mead was not Mainstream in Colonial America
Honey bees are not native to North America. They were originally imported from Europe in the 17th century. In a letter written December 5, 1621 by the Council of the Virginia Company in London and addressed to the Governor and Council in Virginia, “Wee haue by this Shipp and the Discouerie sent you diurs [divers] …
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Baldwin Apples
If you are serious about drinking cider, then you almost certainly know that US President John Adams also drank cider enthusiastically, and professed to consume a gill a day, before breakfast. Cider was John Adams’ orange juice, and in his day, it was understood that a good quantity of cider, and the Vitamin C that …
Historical Tidbits
When reenacting or acting as a historical interpreter, its good to have a few historical dates and stories to share. This series will publish a few. October 18, 1775 Falmouth Burnt. After the march on Lexington, the British in Boston were cut off from the land and their only means of supplies was by sea. …
Historical Tidbits
When reenacting or acting as a historical interpreter, its good to have a few historical dates and stories to share. This series will publish a few. October 17, 1770John Adams DEFENDS the soldiers accused of murder as a result of the Boston Massacre Although a devout patriot, John Adams agreed to risk his family’s livelihood …
Historical Tidbits
When reenacting or acting as a historical interpreter, its good to have a few historical dates and stories to share. This series will publish a few. October 17, 1777 Surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga In the summer of 1777, General Burgoyne led an army of 8,000 men south through New York in an effort to …
Michael Carver -- Historical Interpreter/Reenactor 