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 …
Author Archives: Michael Carver
US Marines in the American Revolution — Defeat on Lake Champlain
13 October 1776 In the fall of 1776, the American Revolution appeared doomed to the ignominious fate of a suppressed insurrection. The invasion of Canada had collapsed with the assault on Quebec, where General Richard Montgomery was slain, and the ocher colonial commander, Benedict Arnold, severely wounded, was forced to flee southward with his men. …
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Historical Tidbits — Birth of U S Navy
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 13, 1775 — The acquisition of a fleet of ships that would become the United States Navy was authorized by an act of the Second Continental Congress. The …
The Ugly History of Hops
Hops are a relatively new addition to the brewmaster’s toolkit. Prior to the widespread adoption of hops, beer, sometimes called gruit, was bittered and flavored with spice and herb mixtures. Any number of herbs and spices went into gruit including henbane, wild rosemary, heather, ginger, spruce, juniper, and bog myrtle, just to name a few. …
Medicinal Properties of Hops
Beyond beer, what are hops used for? Well, humulus lupulus (hops) is related to cannabis (humulus cannabis) and while you can’t smoke it, the herb is used for calming: reducing anxiety, encouraging sleep, and many other medical properties. As a tea, hops are quite bitter and the flavor. Its bitterness is actually a plus when …
Growing Hops at Home
I grow hops at home and not just because fresh hops make better beer. First of all, hops area a wonderful ornamental plant. I would grow hops for my wife just because she thinks they are pretty. Hops are also a powerful medicinal herb. You can use hop tea (or beer by the way) to …
Yankel’s Tavern
Forgive me if today I take a little departure from American History. Let’s talk taverns, Jewish Taverns, and the quintessential Jewish Tavern would have been in 18th Century Poland. It was Sunday, and from church after morning Mass,They came to Yankel’s to drink and relaxIn everyone’s cup grey vodka swished‘Round with a bottle the barmaid …
The Hammersmith Ghost
Well, you would think that the Candlelight Tour season at Fort Mifflin would be more than enough “ghost stories” for one year but, alas, I have found another. In October, November, and December of 1803, a number of people in the Hammersmith area of London claimed they had seen and, in some cases, even been …
Powers of Two – Defense of the Imperial System of Measurements
There is a lot of controversy over Imperial vs Metric units of measurement. Let’s be totally honest, metrics based on base-ten measurement (ie metric) are much easier to use IN MODERN SOCIETY but this has not always been true. Imperial metrics are historically significant and easier for preliterate societies to use. In a society where …
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Guns, Horse Races, and Beer – What could go Wrong? Herzlich Willkommen beim Oktoberfest!
Oktoberfest began on October 12, 1810, Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig, married Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. The Bavarian royalty invited the citizens of Munich to attend the festivities, held on the fields in front of the city gates. This festival lasted for several days with free food and beer served to all. The celebration concluded with …
Michael Carver -- Historical Interpreter/Reenactor 