Unchained in America

Dan and I spent a long weekend in Ticonderoga, New York visiting my former place of employment, Fort Ticonderoga, for their annual Grand Encampment of the French & Indian War. This annual two-day event is the largest French & Indian War reenactment in the country and usually draws around 1,000 reenactors for the weekend and well over 2,000 visitors to the site.

We really miss the encampment so we thought it would be fun to go back, especially since I wouldn’t have to work it! So we loaded up our car with our 18th-century clothes and gear and headed north for the 1,000-mile drive. If you want to read about where we ate along the way check out Dan’s blog.

I’m going to tell you instead about a non-chain shopping experience with a twist. A way you can support local craftspeople and mom and pop vendors while shopping 18th-century style!

If you’ve never been to a reenactment, a typical day for a 21st-century visitor to Fort Ticonderoga can consist of any of the following: touring the Fort and its museum, touring the military camp and talking to the men, women, and children as they do their daily activities,

watching a battle between the French and their Native American allies vs the British and their American Colonial forces, eating in the Fort’s Log House restaurant, or shopping among the perhaps 50 or so sutlers in what is called “Sutlers’ Row.”

Sutlers are vendors who come with 18th-century style tents that they set up and fill with all sorts of period-correct goodies you can purchase to take home with you. Some of the vendors sell things only a reenactor might want. These people tend to be the clothing vendors, but it’s fun to go in and look! Whether you watch an 18th-century lady get fitted for her stays (modestly of course wearing them over her chemise!) or for her newest frock, or a man trying on his new britches ,it can be quite spectacular.

Here’s a photo of Dan getting some final touches on his green silk waist coat made by Goodwife Spickerman. Dan waited several years for her to complete this magnificent coat — and it was well worth the wait. He received many compliments on the coat and many people stopped us for photos!

However, anyone can make awesome purchases in Sutlers’ Row. Here’s some neat finds you might find enjoyable. Smiling Fox Forge is always at the Encampment and this is a lovely pewter Chocolate Pot that would look lovely in a dining room.

Or if you love copper, check out Westminster Forge, where for 25 years they have been making their own beautiful copperware that anyone would be proud to have in their home. We have several of their pieces and they are exquisite! These works of art are heirlooms you will want to pass down in the family!

Three of our favorite sutlers were not at the Fort – in fact two of them don’t travel any more. But you can still purchase their exquisite items on-line so I wanted to mention these vendors. We became friendly with all three, which is what happens when you shop non-chains. And let’s face it, shopping in a canvas tent with someone wearing 18th-century clothing is about as non-chain as you’re going to get!

The Trunk Shoppe is owned by Katie and Steve Freede, and they make, of course, trunks. Oh my, the most beautiful trunks! Trunks you just want to curl up inside and take naps in (except they are kind of small). Here’s a lovely carriage trunk so wonderfully made.

Talk about heirloom! We loved when Katie and Steve came to the encampment too. They were tons of fun. Here’s the Goodwife introducing her Mastercraftsman husband.

Debi and Cleon Grover own Historical Reproductions. They are wonderful people who share their love of 18th-century history, art, and swordsmanship with everyone. Deb is a wonderful folk artist and has been frequently named to the Early American Life artisan directory. You can see her painting’s better here. She is known for her reverse painting on glass which is a technique that is very hard to accomplish. Cleon makes reproduction swords and they both demo sword fighting and fencing, which is fascinating to watch if you are lucky enough to get to see it.

Finally, I would be remiss if I did not include my dressmakers, who, alas, do not travel much anymore. And again, unless you are a reenactor, it’s doubtful you would make a purchase in their establishment. But The Silly Sisters have been too good to me to not include them. Their clothing is carefully researched and documented and beautifully sewn. I am always dressed head to toe in Silly Sisters clothing.

Here I am at Fort Ti with my good friend Mistress Anne (I’m in the black hat). I’m sporting a Silly Sister short gown, petticoat (no that’s not my undergarment), shift (yes, that’s my undergarment) apron, modesty piece, mob cap, and stays. New black hat from Williamsburg. (Here’s a great link that illustrates a woman getting dressed step by step 18th-century style that shows all these layers of cloths and how they should be worn. )

So next time you see a reenactment advertised in your neck of the woods, whether it be a Revolutionary War, Civil War, or French & Indian War one, go check it out and shop Sutlers’ Row for some unusual non-chain purchases while supporting mom and pop vendors and crafters.

Please let me know if you already are a reenactment shopper. Tell us about your experiences – we want to know!

Tags: Crafts, French and Indian War, museums, reenactments, shopping

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 7th, 2009 at 2:31 am and is filed under Shopping. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.