Cocktails are traditionally thought of as an American innovation, but they were actually inspired by British punches—big bowls of spirits mixed with fruit juice, spices, and other flavors, consumed in punch houses in the 18th century. The term cocktail was even first seen in a British newspaper printed March of 1798. But the term wasn’t …
Monthly Archives: February 2023
Historical Tidbits — 11th Amendment to the US Constitution
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. February 7, 1795 11th Amendment to the US Constitution was ratified The Eleventh Amendment was adopted to overrule the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Chisholm v. Georgia (1793). …
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Okay, The East India Company is Really Famous for … Tea.
Tea is arguably the world’s most popular beverage. It is enjoyed by millions of people around the globe daily. But this wasn’t always so. In addition to trading in luxurious goods such as exotic spices, fine fabrics and bullion, The East India Company played a pivotal role in introducing tea not only to the British …
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HOW THE EAST INDIA COMPANY INTRODUCED COCOA TO EUROPE
The Spanish first discovered cocoa beans during voyages to the New World. English Privateers (AKA Pirates) – under authorization from Queen Elizabeth I – soon discovered this as well by looting of the Spanish ships. While the Aztecs had prized the cocoa that grew on their lands higher than gold – even using cocoa beans …
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Historical Tidbits — French Alliance
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. February 6, 1778 ALLIANCE with FRANCE Treaty of Alliance The most Christian King and the United States of North America, to wit, New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhodes island, Connecticut, …
Come Help Us Create a Unique Portable Bar at Fort Mifflin
February 12 at 10:30 at Fort Mifflin! We are moving forward with our plans to build a bar wagon. Our first work day is February 12 and we plan to make big changes to the structure of the wagon so that it transforms from a carriage into a bar back that can be placed anywhere …
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Can’t afford a painted portrait – Make a Silhouette
In the 1st century, Pliny the Elder told the story of Dibutade, a 5th century Corinthian girl, who traced her lover’s shadow, cast by candlelight, because she wanted to keep the image of her lover with her when he went away on a journey. A renaissance of this art form occurred in the 18th century …
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Historical Tidbits — George Washington Elected President
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. February 4, 1789George Washington is unanimously elected President of the United States. With 69 electoral votes, Washington won the support of each participating elector. No other president since has …
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THE BILL OF RIGHTS: A BRIEF HISTORY #3
Insurrections often are propagated upon misinformation. So too are the most recent band of domestic terrorist who like to hide behind our most sacred American institutions. In this series, I want to explore the Bill of Rights and why some of the hype and hyperbole thrown around by the extremist is not just wrong but …
Basic Colonial Brewing #3 — What is a “Colonial Beer?”
Reenactors seem to revel in the debate over historical accuracy. We either passionately focus on authenticity or we bristle at those who do. Colonial brewers are reenactors and we run the gamut from casual historical entertainers to passionate academic historians. There is a place for everyone but we need to acknowledge the range of expression …
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Michael Carver -- Historical Interpreter/Reenactor 