The reason many of us in the West feel such intense pressure around productivity, why we bring our phones with us everywhere, why we eat at our desks, and push all our personal needs (including housework, yardwork, and other work) to the “weekend” is a product of Mercantilism. Before Britain invented the mercantile system in …
Monthly Archives: October 2024
Warm Beer?
The temperature of a beer changes the drinker’s experience. Warmer temperatures reveal the range of flavors in a beer but cooler temperatures are considered more refreshing. Drinking chilled beer didn’t really begin until the development of artificial refrigeration in the 1870s, so 18th Century beer would always be fermented and served at room temperature (~20C) …
Doctor Heal Thyself — 18th Century Medicine Gone Wrong
Humphry Davy Nearly Died Laughing Surgery in the 18th Century was a brutal affair. Often the last resort treatment for severe wounds, surgery was undertaken in the 18th century only when death was likely as the act often resulted in infection and death anyway. What was needed, beyond an understanding of germ theory and clean …
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Man Does Not Live on Beer Alone – 18th Century Cocktails
We all know the Sugar Trade and Rum fueled the Boston and Philadelphia economies in the 1760’s. There is no denying that our founding fathers frequently enjoyed a stiff drink. George Washington owned a distillery that produced rye. Thomas Jefferson treasured his French wines. Even the staid and ultraconservative John Adams had a gill of …
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My First-Person Impressions
In the world of Living History there are three distinct impressions people tend to assume when presenting people from the past. When we act as a third-person interpreter, we are just demonstrating what life was like at the time we are portraying. In third person interpretation, we openly acknowledge that this is the 21st Century …
A New England Beer Run!
On August 15, 1620; the Mayflower and the Speedwell set sail for VIRGINIA. Unfortunately, after only about 200 miles in the rough waters of the north Atlantic, the Speedwell sprang began taking on water and had to turn back. The decision to abandon the Speedwell and transfer many of its passengers onto the Mayflower set …
October 1666, King Charles II Granted an Audience to Two Men Who Would Build a Huge Fur Trading Empire in North America and Eventually Lock England in a World War with France.
When Jacques Cartier sailed up the St. Lawrence River in 1535 in search of the Northwest Passage, he met 50 canoes filled with Micmac Indians, who signaled a desire to trade by waving furs on sticks. This began the very fruitful trade between Canada’s First Peoples and the Europeans, first the French and later the …
Colonial Spymaster (#15) — Exploiting Potential Turncoats
All spying tools and techniques have little worth unless you have a reliable source of information. A great deal of useful information can be acquired passive observation. Troop counts and movements, rumors, and observations of the comings and goings in the enemy camp can give you insights on what they plan to do but the …
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Why Did Washington Only Serve Two Terms?
We applaud George Washington for his decision to end his presidency after two terms. The peaceful transition of power is the hallmark of American History and with only one exception, every president has chosen to follow Washington’s lead. George Washington helped unify the new nation and was a leading force behind the ratification of the …
Historical Tidbits — The Incredible Fear the British Bayonet Charge Creates
When reenacting or acting as a historical interpreter, it’s good to have a few historical dates and stories to share. This series will publish a few. October 7, 1763 — Royal Proclamation of 1763, issued by King George III, forbade all settlement west of a line drawn along the Appalachian Mountains, which was delineated as …
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Michael Carver -- Historical Interpreter/Reenactor 