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 the candles used in the American colonies were produced by commercial chandlers. Soap is a natural by-product of candle making, so many chandleries also sold soap. To make …
Category Archives: Ideas
Memorial Day 2021
“I believe in the United States of America as a government of the people, by the people, for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed; a democracy in a republic; a sovereign Nation of many sovereign States; a perfect union, one and inseparable; established upon those principles of freedom, …
Colonial Surveyor – Determining your Position using Celestial Navigation
A sextant is an intimidating complex instrument. It consists of an A-shaped frame with an apex of 60° on a sextant or 45° on an octant. Along the rounded lower edge of the frame is an arc, the limb, that is marked with numbers for the degree of the angles that the sextant can measure. An index …
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Surveyor’s Class was a Success
Yesterday, six intrepid explorers ventured out of the western sallyport of Fort Mifflin on a survey mission to map a path to the High Batteries. It was a rough day weather-wise but our surveyors persevered to not only find these ruins but to do so with a high degree of accuracy. Between 1866 and 1876, …
Beer Recipe: Victory at Yorktown
October 17, 1778, General Charles Cornwallis raised a flag of truce over the fortifications at Yorktown after having suffered not only the combined French and American attack but also disease, lack of supplies, inclement weather, and a failed evacuation. With the French navy in the York River and siege lines advancing on his position, defeat …
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. May 30, 1783 – The Pennsylvania Evening Post became America’s first daily newspaper. Benjamin Towne published the first issue of the Post on January 24, 1775. The paper was supportive of …
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. May 29, 1787 – At the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, the Virginia Plan calling for a bicameral legislature, an executive, and a judiciary branch of government was proposed by …
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. May 29, 1790 — Rhode Island became the last of the 13 States to ratify the US Constitution. Rhode Island became the 13th state to enter the Union after …
Upcoming Event
“Hands on” 18th Century Surveyor class May 29, 2021 — 11:00 am & 2:00pm (two sessions) 11:00 – 12:00 Mapping the Fort (urban surveying)Military survey of grounds inside the fortPreparation of plat plan for use by military architect1:00 – 2:00 Wilderness Survey (beyond fort’s walls)Military survey of trail and paths to mortar casematesPreparation of surveyor’s …
Mapping the Fort – 18th Century Surveying at Fort Mifflin
We will be conducting an 18th Century Surveying Class on May 29th at Fort Mifflin. Join us to learn the art and science of surveying the land in the 18th century manner. We will measure and map the Fort interior at 11 am and learn basic surveying and mapping skills then take a “Wilderness” expedition …
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