Come to Crooked Billet and Learn to Survey

Saturday, April 26, 202510 am – 4pmKeith Valley Middle School227 Meetinghouse Rd, Horsham, PA In my persona as “David Rittenhouse,” I will be conducting hands-on surveying demonstrations at this years Crooked Billet History Fair in Horsham. The first surveyors in America arrived with the Jamestown Company in 1621.  Given the goal of quickly settling Virginia …

Taverns are Essential to Democracy

In our modern world, we often confuse hearing “news” with the ubiquitous presentations on television, radio, and social media.  Long before we were bombarded with broadcasted information and opinions, we shared “news” in a more human and sociable way, … at the local tavern.  Public houses and taverns played an integral role in the life …

Historical Tidbits — The Midnight Ride

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. April 18, 1775     The Midnight Ride of William Dawes and Paul Revere. Thanks to Longfellow, hardly a scholar or school child alive does not know the name of Paul …

Anna Strong May not Have Been a Spy

During the Battle of Long Island in August 1776, Washington, then commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, was repeatedly surprised by the British. He only escaped the destruction of his army thanks to fog, adverse winds that blocked the British fleet from cutting him off and the caution of British commander William Howe. Fresh off his …

The Regimental Brewmeister does “Talks” as well as brewing demonstrations.

The Regimental Brewmeister is happy to give talks and lectures at your site to audiences of any size. I ask that you provide appropriate auto visual projection equipment and event promotion. I typically come in 18th Century attire and conduct interactive discussions. While I am happy to consider talks on other subjects, I have delivered …

Historical Tidbits — Abolish Slavery!

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. April 14, 1775 The Society for the Relief of the Free Negros Unlawfully Held in Bondage first meets in Philadelphia.  The Society for the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully …

I’m Back!  — The Admiral of the Blue Apron will run this year’s Cannonball Tavern at Fort Mifflin

Saturday, April 19th6:00 pm – 10:00 pm While few Officers’ Clubs survived the Cold War, we are going to bring back the tradition at Fort Mifflin this year.  Military Officers’ clubs date back to the Middle Ages and were establishments where officers from the aristocratic landowners congregated.  These were meant to be distinct from the …

Come to Crooked Billet and Learn to Survey

Saturday, April 26, 202510 am – 4pmKeith Valley Middle School227 Meetinghouse Rd, Horsham, PA In my persona as “David Rittenhouse,” I will be conducting hands-on surveying demonstrations at this years Crooked Billet History Fair in Horsham. The first surveyors in America arrived with the Jamestown Company in 1621.  Given the goal of quickly settling Virginia …

Beer Recipe: 3/5th Compromise Brown Ale

Are you a Constitutional Originalist? Do you hold that the US Constitution must be followed EXACTLY as the framers intended when they wrote it? Some in our country hold that the provisions in the US Constitution are perfect and complete guidelines for how our government should operate. These people clearly CANNOT READ! “I am not …