Planters’ or Jamaica Punch

Planters or Jamaica Punch begins with the Hibiscus sabdariffa, often called roselle, a plant indigenous to continental Africa that now flourishes in tropical regions of the Western hemisphere. The punch gets its name because the main ingredient, the hibiscus plant, was originally brought over to America from Jamaica.  When enslaved Africans were brought to the …

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 …

Come to Crooked Billet and Learn to Survey

Saturday, April 26, 202510 am – 4pmKeith Valley Middle School227 Meetinghouse Rd, Horsham, PA In my persona as “David Rittenhouse,” I will be conducting hands-on surveying demonstrations at this years Crooked Billet History Fair in Horsham. The first surveyors in America arrived with the Jamestown Company in 1621.  Given the goal of quickly settling Virginia …

I’m Back!  — The Admiral of the Blue Apron will run this year’s Cannonball Tavern at Fort Mifflin

Saturday, April 19th4:00 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 …

The Cockroach of the Sea

A lot of people consider lobster to be a culinary delicacy.  In 17th century colonial America, however, it wasn’t exactly desirable. The seafood was mostly fed to those with little say in their diets, such as prisoners and indentured servants working off their contracts.  Seen as the cockroach of the sea, 17th century European settlers …

Civilized Men Drink Their Beer from Glasses — and for good reasons!

Valentines Day(2/14) 1873, Joe Johnson of Lockport, New York was celebrating his good fortune. His friend and brewery owner John Gibson agreed to Johnson fulfilling a dream by spending a night in the brewery. It was a ill-conceived celebration; his body was found, head hanging down into a wooden, open-tank of beer. His glee over …

The Holiday of Hansel

Handsel Monday, the first Monday after January 1, was an old 18th century Scottish tradition where masters would give their servants presents and give them the day off. Sweet! “Handsel” is a Middle English word meaning good luck or good omen. The handsel present was typically money, meaning even the poorest servant had a little extra cash …