The colonies of Maryland and Pennsylvania both claimed the land between the 39th and 40th parallels according to the charters granted to each colony. In 1632, King Charles I gave Cecilius Calvert a land grant for a colony in America to be named Maryland. The boundaries for Calvert’s land were: in the north the 40 degree north latitude line; …
Category Archives: Ideas
Ask your Tavernkeeper
Perhaps its just that sort of week for me but its definitely 5:00 HERE so here are some terms to take with you to your local watering hole to show you understand the drinking habits of we merry 18th Century barmen… Bene Bowse — good beer, or other strong liquor Bingo — brandy or other …
Oh yeah, Metric Units Are Just Too Complicated
Lets just take a look at how simple the British Imperial System that everyone loves is: British Imperial and U.S. Customary systems of weights and measures Standard Measuresshort ton20 short hundredweight, or 2,000 poundslong ton20 long hundredweight, or 2,240 poundsshort hundredweight100 pounds, or 0.05 short tonlong hundredweight112 pounds, or 0.05 long tonpound16 ounces, or 7,000 …
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The Metric System is just “Too French”
If you are of a certain age, you were taught both the United States Customary System (USCS) for weights and measures (inches, pounds, and gallons) and the International System of Units (SI) or the Metric System (meters, grams, and liters) in elementary school. Much of this was focused not on using the metric units but …
Historical Tidbits — THE QUEBEC ACT
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. June 22, 1774 – THE QUEBEC ACT established the Royal Province of Quebec and expanded its territory into much of what is now southern Ontario, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, …
Weird Celtic Holidays? Maybe but Maybe not.
Summer (in the Northern Hemisphere, for those of you in the real south, this will be winter but the timing is the same) officially begins this year June 21, 2023 at 10:50 am. This is when the when the sun is at its zenith along the northernmost path in the sky. Of course, it’s felt …
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Louis and Clark were not the only men sent to survey Louisiana
Everyone knows Louis and Clark but Thomas Jefferson sent many explores and surveyors into the new Louisiana Purchase. One was Zebulon Montgomery Pike who was one of the first white men to explore the vast wilderness that is now Colorado. Born in New Jersey in 1779, Pike joined the U.S. Army at the age of …
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Hire the Regimental Brewmeister for your Event or Site
Add excitement and authentic color to your special event, or create one for your site, with Philadelphia’s best Colonial Brewer and tradesman. Whether it is a reenactment, motion picture, a tavern night for a private event, or other endeavor, I can bring can bring a real sense of authenticity and fun to your event and …
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The Immediate Future of the Regimental Brewmeister
I won’t burden my readers with the atrocities committed at the Philadelphia Renaissance Faire (one of which was a substantial loss to Fort Mifflin) but before anyone asks, the before anyone asks, I am not running nor attending the recently announced Colonial Cocktails or Cast-Iron Chef events at Fort Mifflin. Jefferson once wrote in a …
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Dog Days of Summer
The first day of summer arrives with the solstice this year on Wednesday, June 21, 2023 at 10:58 a.m. EDT. The summer solstice is the time at which the sun reaches its maximum declination. More practically for most of us, the summer solstice is the longest period of daylight in the year. The term “solstice” …
Michael Carver -- Historical Interpreter/Reenactor 