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 7, 1787 – Delaware became the first state to ratify the US Constitution. The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island …
Author Archives: Michael Carver
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 7, 1787 – George Washington dies at his estate at Mount Vernon.
Building an Inexpensive Fly Tent
Before the latest wave of COVID shut it down, the Regimental Brewmeister was planning to operate a tavern as part of the “Frost Faire” at Pottsgrove Manor. Since running taverns at reenactments is our ultimate goal, I feel the time spent planning that event was well spent even though we were ultimately forced to cancel. …
First Crossing at Washington’s Crossing Sunday, December 13, 2020
CANCELLED Due to COVID 19 Each December, thousands of people gather on the banks of the Delaware River to watch the reenactment of George Washington’s 1776 Christmas night river crossing. Special Colonial-era activities and demonstrations in the Historic Village offer a full day of family fun and learning. Admission is charged. Sadly, this event had …
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A Colonial Tavern!
Want to Buy Beer from the Colonial Brewmeister? Help us build a Tavern and Brewery. Perhaps it the pandemic or years of working a job that while I am good at it, I really don’t love but next year, we are taking the plunge and building a new business. In 2026 America will celebrate its …
Why was a British Musket called a “Brown Bess”?
At the beginning of the 18th Century when the nickname immerged, soldiers came from the lower orders of society. “Bess” was the nickname for a common woman, much like the name “Sheila” has been used in Australia. For example in 1683 Henry Purcell composed a popular song that came to be known as “Bess of …
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REPOSTED — TAKE BACK the FLAG!
Okay, this is not my article but I am ready to start taking back our national symbols. For the last four years our flags, our monuments, and our patriotic expression have been taken over by the far Right Wing. Now lets let them know that WE THE PEOPLE — ALL the people of this nation …
Turkey? Why Turkey?
For many a Thanksgiving meal is centered on turkey. Turkeys are indigenous only to parts of North America and Europeans only first came into contact with turkeys roughly 500 years ago. So how did turkeys (the bird) end up being named so similarly to Turkey (the country)? As far as we can tell, the first European …
A “Modern” Thanksgiving Story
Again, I will apologize to those who read this blog for historical content, this is a personal story from my history and while I have been told that I am “old” this is not a story of Colonial American history. This is just a memory I want to share. I’m not sure why but this …
A Proclamation by the President
“Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor—and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me “to recommend to the People of the United States a …
Michael Carver -- Historical Interpreter/Reenactor 