Historical Tidbits — New York Weekly Journal

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. November 5, 1733 – The New York Weekly Journal became the first newspaper regularly published in North America.  One year later, John Peter Zenger, its printer and publisher was …

The New Guy Fawkes — the real legacy of Donald Trump

On January 6, 2021, following the defeat of U.S. President Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election, a mob of his supporters attacked the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. The mob sought to keep Trump in power by preventing a joint session of Congress from counting the electoral college votes. While still President …

The New Guy Fawkes — the real legacy of Donald Trump

On January 6, 2021, following the defeat of U.S. President Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election, a mob of his supporters attacked the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. The mob sought to keep Trump in power by preventing a joint session of Congress from counting the electoral college votes. While still President …

The New Guy Fawkes — the real legacy of Donald Trump

On January 6, 2021, following the defeat of U.S. President Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election, a mob of his supporters attacked the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. The mob sought to keep Trump in power by preventing a joint session of Congress from counting the electoral college votes. While still President …

Ben Franklin DID NOT Invent Daylight Savings Time!

Well, today we say goodbye to Daylight Savings time.  I hope you all enjoyed your extra hour of sleep.  Before the middle of the 19th Century, keeping time was more of an art than a science.  Time pieces and clocks were available, even common in certain circles but they were notoriously inaccurate.  However, the act …

The New Guy Fawkes — the real legacy of Donald Trump

On January 6, 2021, following the defeat of U.S. President Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election, a mob of his supporters attacked the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. The mob sought to keep Trump in power by preventing a joint session of Congress from counting the electoral college votes. While still President …

The Hawthorne Fence

Early American settlers enjoyed fortifying their drinks. Stone fences mix hard cider and rum, shrubs mix wine with switchel, rattleskulls mix rum with beer, and the coo woo even fortifies brandy with rum.  Rum, whiskey, and other spirits were staple goods produced to help farmers ship bulky products like corn and sugar to distant markets.  …

American Historical Mythology

If you hang around Fort Mifflin very long you will, no doubt, be regaled with stories of the supernatural and the pseudoscience that supports its existence. These are all good fun but let’s be clear, SOME people actually believe these things and even though the scientifically minded dismiss THESE beliefs, they are quick to then …

The New Guy Fawkes — the real legacy of Donald Trump

On January 6, 2021, following the defeat of U.S. President Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election, a mob of his supporters attacked the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. The mob sought to keep Trump in power by preventing a joint session of Congress from counting the electoral college votes. While still President …

The Scourge of Slavery (#5) — John Casor is Declared Slave for Life in America

John Casor was originally an indentured servant.  When he became a slave, it was through a contract of indenture, which obligated him to work for its holder for the period it set after which he was to set free.  Many of the early colonist in British North America came as indentured servants.  This was how …