Historical Tidbits — MASSACRE AT HANCOCK’s BRIDGE

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. March 21, 1778 – MASSACRE AT HANCOCK’s BRIDGE In Thomas Fleming’s novel, Liberty Tavern, there is a chapter telling the story of General Howe’s army burning houses as they …

The Irish in the American Revolution

It was coincidence only that Evacuation Day in Boston and St. Patrick’s Day fell on the same date.  No one appreciated this concurrence more than George Washington who surrounded himself with officers of Irish birth, an whose army was estimated to be at least 48% Irish born Catholics.  It was noted that the Commander-in-Chief made …

Historical Tidbits — British Retreat from Boston

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. March 17, 1776 – EVACUATION DAY:  Following a protracted siege by the Continental Army, and the emplacement of artillery upon Dorchester Heights, the British retreat from Boston. On March …

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 …

Historical Tidbits — Battle of Guilford Courthouse

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. March 16, 1780                 Battle of Guilford Courthouse The Battle of Guilford Court House was fought at a site which is now in Greensboro, North Carolina. A 2,100-man British …

Historical Tidbits — Newburgh Address

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. March 15, 1783                 Newburgh Address General George Washington, having learned that his officers planned to meet to discuss a fiery petition to mutiny if Congress failed to provide them …

Eli Whitney Patented the Cotton Gin on March 14, 1794

In 1794, U.S.-born inventor Eli Whitney patented the cotton gin, a machine that revolutionized the production of cotton by greatly speeding up the process of removing seeds from cotton fiber. By the mid-19th century, cotton had become America’s leading export. Despite its success, the gin made little money for Whitney due to patent-infringement issues. Also, …

When someone asks you ‘Are you a God?’, you say YES!”.

In the movie Ghostbusters[i], Gozer asks Ray “Are you a God?”   After the first disastrous encounter, he is then admonished by Winston:  “Ray, when someone asks you ‘Are you a God?’, you say YES!”  The problem with that is then you might have to prove your omnipotence.  Eclipses often were viewed as supernatural phenomena and …