Today when we want to make a copy of a letter or a map all we do is strike a few keys on a computer or place the document on a Xerox Copier screen and within a few seconds, we have a near perfect duplicate. A few decades ago, the process was a bit more …
Category Archives: Ideas
A little Fun — 18th Century Emoji
One of the great services a Colonial Tavern would perform is to provide news and newspapers, often read aloud, to both travelers and locals. Good newspapers have editorials and/or political cartoons. In researching political cartoons from the Revolutionary War period, I found three which could easily be argued to have been written in emoji. Sorry …
Okay, I have a Facebook Account…
For years, I have eschewed the idea of having a Facebook account. It seems very narcissistic and I am not going to go there constantly to post my “feelings” or other personal things. But I recently joined 1NJV and they use this as their primary means of communication so I will add it to mine. …
Basic Colonial Brewing #2 — Brewing in the 18th Century
Beer was once considered the most health drink to give to children and vital to survival. To understand this, you must first understand that centuries of dense urban living had left the water in Europe unsafe to drink. People of the 18th Century did not understand why but they did observe that people who drank …
Continue reading “Basic Colonial Brewing #2 — Brewing in the 18th Century”
Fighting the War behind a Desk
History books are filled with glorification of exploits on the battlefield and we have all heard the story of Alexander Hamilton bristling at the role of Aide-du-Camp and demanding his opportunity to prove himself in the field. The reality of military operations, however, is very different. Much of the real WORK of a military commander …
The Elephant in the Room
Okay, unless you are not paying attention you should be concerned about COVID-19 and the upcoming events at Fort Mifflin. We have not reached the point where canceling or rescheduling this event is necessary but we are taking certain safety precautions and will appreciate your compliance with the following: If you are ill, stay home. …
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. The Battle of Golden Hill was a clash between British soldiers and the Sons of Liberty in the American colonies that occurred on January 19, 1770, in New York City. Along with the Boston Massacre and the Gaspée Affair, the event …
“Beer” Recipe — Black Cider
One of the biggest atrocities of the Revolutionary War was committed not by our enemies the British or even the Hessians, it was committed within our hallowed halls and ultimately enshrined in the Constitution and that atrocity was slavery. Eighteenth Century white men all felt that they were morally and intellectually superior to men of …
What Language is that written in? Understanding 18th Century Handwriting
Several years ago, I was giving tours at Independence Hall when one of the guests approached me outside Congress Hall to ask questions about the Articles of Confederations (BTW, volunteers love to be asked questions, that’s why we do this so don’t hold back. If you ask us a question that we don’t know the …
Continue reading “What Language is that written in? Understanding 18th Century Handwriting”
How to Survey Land with 18th Century Tools — Using the Sector
The sector and the related proportional compasses (proportional dividers) were developed in the second half of the 16th century. There are several inventors, most of them from Italy but most people attribute its development to Galileo Galilei. The sector consists of two arms connected by a pivot joint. For example, linear, trigonometric, and logarithmic scales …
Continue reading “How to Survey Land with 18th Century Tools — Using the Sector”
