On July 18, the Colonial Surveyor visited Fort Mifflin and demonstrated the basic techniques and tools used to survey the Northwest Territories. Veterans of the Revolutionary War received land grants instead of back pay or other remuneration. Bounty-land warrants, often for 160 acres, were issued to most soldiers who served for the duration of the …
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Rum’s origin lies in the 17th century Caribbean Islands. The first distillation of rum took place on the sugarcane plantations, located on the island of Barbados. Slaves from the plantations discovered that by fermenting molasses, a byproduct of refining sugarcane, they could create alcohol. Then by distilling this alcoholic drink, they could create a concentrated …
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. July 15, 1715 – The Riot Act took effect in Britain. Assemblies of more than a dozen people could be forcibly dispersed in order to maintain the peace. The …
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. July 14, 1789 – BASTILE DAY: The crowd gathered outside the Bastille, a medieval armory, fortress, and political prison near the center of Paris, calling for the surrender of …
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. July 11, 1789 – The US Congress chartered the US Marine Corps as an independent force from the Navy. These marines would be deployed by Thomas Jefferson in 1802 …
MEET THE COLONIAL SURVEYOR Did you know that George Washington’s first job was as a surveyor? Learn the art and science of surveying the land in the 18th century manner with a colonial surveyor. Attention Scout groups! Reserve in advance for special opportunities – contact FortMifflinInfo@gmail.com or call the office at 215-685-4167 This will be a …
The guild title “chandler” refers to someone who makes or directs the manufacture of candles, soaps and other consumable goods such as lye, saltpeter, gunpowder, and other chemicals. Candles were made by either dipping a wick in molten wax or pouring that wax into a mold around the wick. By the late 1700s, many of …
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. July 9, 1790 – RESIDENCE ACT was passed by Congress creating a new national capital on the Potomac River in a site selected by President George Washington and carved …
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. July 8, 1776 — The citizens of Philadelphia were summoned to the State House Yard by the bells of the city. At noon, Colonel John Nixon publicly read the …
I know Reinheitsgebot permits only water, hops, and malt as ingredients in beer but if you want to make beer, mead, cider or any other alcoholic brew, you need to add yeast. In the 21st Century, many homebrewers just rip open an envelope of dried yeast from the local homebrew shop and add it to …
Michael Carver -- Historical Interpreter/Reenactor 