How to Survey Land with 18th Century Tools – Measuring Lines

Land surveys consist of six basic tasks: Determinizing your position on Earth using celestial navigation methods Measuring distances with a Gunter’s Chain. Measuring changes in elevation with a Range Pole Measurement of directions and angles using a Compass. Drawing the map on a Plane Table, and Computing areas with basic plane geometry In this series …

Historical Tidbits — 1st Bank of North America established

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. December 31, 1781          1st Bank of North America established Chartered May 26, 1781, by the Continental Congress under the Articles of Confederation, this enterprise was the first national and truly …

Historical Tidbits — Arnold Attacks Quebec City

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. December 31, 1775 — Patriot forces under Colonel Benedict Arnold and General Richard Montgomery attempted to capture the British-occupied city of Quebec and with it win support for the …

The “beer before liquor” rule has no scientific basis.

I am sure you’ve heard “Beer before liquor, never been sicker; liquor before beer, you’re in the clear.” This is an adage of unknown origin claiming that low alcohol-by-volume (ABV) beverages (like beer) are best imbibed at the end of a night of drinking rather than early on. There are, however, NO scientific studies supporting …

Historical Tidbits — General Montgomery killed

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. December 31, 1775          General Montgomery killed General Richard Montgomery launched a courageous attack on the lower city of Quebec (along the river beneath the walls) in the middle of …

The Birth of Urban Planning in America

Despite what you may think today, Philadelphia was America’s first planned city.  William Penn had a broad vision for the new settlement and started a revolution in city planning: the open grid plan that became Philadelphia.  Having witnessed plague in London in 1665 and the famously calamitous fire of 1666, Penn wanted his Philadelphia to …

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. December 1, 1779            2nd Encampment at Morristown While much in made of the harsh conditions at Valley Forge, the winter of 1779 was the harshest in the war.  “A …

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result

Donald Trump has been indited and convicted 33 times but still manages to con the United States into allowing him to be President. In many states, felons are barred from voting so it follows that felons also should be barred from holding office. Those who vote for a criminal do not have the best interests …