Historical Tidbits — When Rabbits Ruled the Netherlands

Okay, let’s be honest.  For people who don’t speak either English or German, learning Dutch is confusing. For starters, many Dutch words are hard to pronounce and because, like German, you combine nouns in Dutch, you end up with words that frankly make you give out an angstschreeuw (cry of fear). Then there are the …

Historical Tidbits — Liberty Bell Commissioned

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. October 28, 1751              Liberty Bell Commissioned The Liberty Bell started out simply as the bell commissioned by the colonial legislature of Pennsylvania to hang in the steeple of the …

Philadelphia is founded on October 27, 1682

When people think of Philadelphia, images of Independence Hall, the drafting of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, come to mind. Philadelphia is the largest city in Pennsylvania and for most of the 18th Century the third largest city in the British Empire. At the time of the American Revolution, it was clearly the …

Historical Tidbits — DELAWARE WANTED FREEDOM FROM BOTH ENGLAND AND PENNSYLVANIA

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. Last week, we celebrated Ceasar Rodney’s infamous ride to Philadelphia so that he could vote for independence in July 2.  We take it for granted that Delaware was a …

Historical Tidbits — John Nixon publicly read the Declaration of Independence.

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. July 8, 1776 — The citizens of Philadelphia were summoned to the State House Yard by the bells of the city. At noon, Colonel John Nixon publicly read the …

The Centennial Bell

In 1876, Philadelphia city officials discussed what role the Liberty Bell should play in the nation’s Centennial festivities. Some wanted to repair it so it could sound at the Centennial Exposition being held in Philadelphia, but the idea was not adopted; the bell’s custodians concluded that it was unlikely that the metal could be made …

Historical Tidbits — District of Columbia

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 20, 1790 – During a dinner meeting with Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton and James Madison drafted a bill to move the Federal Capital to a …

Historical Tidbits — Marbury vs Madison

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. February 24, 1801            Marbury vs Madison Politics in 1800 were contentious. Thomas Jefferson and his political party, the Democratic-Republicans, had soundly beaten John Adams, a Federalist, in the …

The OTHER Clock at Independence Hall

When you visit the Philadelphia State House (AKA Independence Hall), you will be told the story of the Liberty Bell and it multiple recastings before being hung in the tower behind the hall. You will no doubt hear the bells (now the Centennial Bell) as it chimes on the hour and of course most photos …

Historical Tidbits — When Rabbits Ruled the Netherlands

Okay, let’s be honest.  For people who don’t speak either English or German, learning Dutch is confusing. For starters, many Dutch words are hard to pronounce and because, like German, you combine nouns in Dutch, you end up with words that frankly make you give out an angstschreeuw (cry of fear). Then there are the …