Bloomsbury Inn and Camden, S.C.

According to its web site, Historic Camden, "the oldest existing inland town in South Carolina, was part of a township plan ordered by King George II in 1730. The frontier settlement, initially named Fredericksburg Township (later Pine Tree Hill), took hold by the 1750's as Quakers and Scots-Irish emigrants and settlers from Virginia put down roots.

Joseph Kershaw, a native of Yorkshire, England arrived in 1758 and established a store for a Charleston mercantile firm. He prospered, and by 1768, the town was the inland trade center in the colony. At his suggestion, the town became Camden, in honor of Lord Camden, a champion of colonial rights.

In May of 1780, the American Revolution returned to Charleston, and the town fell to the British. Lord Charles Cornwallis and 2500 British troops immediately marched to Camden and set up the main British supply post for the Southern Campaign. For eleven months, the citizens of Camden understood the atrocities of war.

Two battles were fought near by. The Battle of Camden, the worst American battle defeat of the Revolution, was fought on August 16, 1780 nine mile north of our museum. Nearby, General Nathaniel Greene and approximately 1,300 Americans engaged 950 British soldiers commanded by Lord Francis Rawdon on April 25, 1781. It was a costly British win and forced the Redcoats to evacuate Camden."

On November 4-5, 2012 Historic Camden celebrated its 42nd annual Revolutionary War Field Days. These are some pictures from the event.

The pictures above tell the story, as the British soldiers await the American forces behind the gunfire they are hearing. They try to deter the rebel forces with their six pound cannons, but the Patriots resolutely continue to get closer and closer.  It was exciting to watch the fleeing British soldiers being followed by the cavalry. Steadily, the Americans pushed their enemies until the skirmish was won.

There were many reenactors there for the weekend, some we have met at other events. Ike is a wood carver, and many visitors watched him work both days. Most of his work was the everyday utensils and tools that colonial families would have needed. There was precision in his work. 

It is so much fun to watch the children at these events. They are dressed like colonial children and play the games of that time. "Ring Around the Roses" is a popular song, and there is much energy in the "We all fall down." I remember this one, and probably you do, too.

 

There were two church services on Sunday morning, and we attended both. This was the Anglican service, and you will see a mix of dress. Both reenactors and visitors attended. A bit of a surprise to hear the pastor pray for the King of England and his family, but the congregational responses were the same as in our Presbyterian and Episcopal churches today. There was a celebration of communion at the end of the service, and again there was a mix of reenactors and visitors, as we stood across the front. It made me realize once again that we are a part of our American Revolutionary War history, and we need to remember the many sacrifices of our ancestors.

The British camp was quite separate from the colonial encampment. As you can see, the British can be easily identified by their flag.

This was an example of the many broadsides that flooded the colonies as both the Patriots and British sought men to fight on each side. Have you ever wondered what side you might have chosen to fight on in 1774? Would you have had the strength to shout as Patrick Henry did, "Give me liberty or give me death!"?

A trip to Camden is a trip back in time. Our state has a history of standing firm when we make decisions, and we have much to be proud of.








We stayed once again at the beautiful Bloomsbury Inn in Camden, S.C. Katherine and Bruce Brown are the gracious innkeepers. This picture is a bit dark, but Katherine and I were enjoying a look at the old kitchen. She decorates this for the holidays, and their family enjoys this space. You will enjoy looking at the web site and joining them on Facebook. But most of all you will want to visit their historic home. You might have read the diary, written in book form called Mary Chestnut's Civil War, and this was her home.

For you that enjoy coffee, you might want to try the Bloomsbury Inn coffee carried by our own Little River Coffee House in Spartanburg. It is delicious!

On the Bloomsbury Inn web site is a blog you will enjoy reading and a YouTube video that takes you on a tour of the house. For you that look for new recipes, Katherine kindly shares hers.

www.bloomsburyinn.com/

Gingerbread Cookies

Cooking in the 18th century was quite different than today. Enjoy this video of a precious cook that enjoys gingerbread cookies.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1Z2qwyHcPo&feature=edu&list=PL567A0227C741A096

Doesn't this make you want to go to the kitchen on this windy fall day to bake some cookies to enjoy with a cup of tea? My grandmother taught me to dip my gingerbread cookies into the hot tea; it softens the hard cookies, and they melt in your mouth. Yes, I believe I will have two!

Festifall at Walnut Grove, 2012

 On Saturday and Sunday, October 6-7, we spent our days at Walnut Grove Plantation for Festifall. One of the most popular vendors was the toy maker. I bought a new linen cap that his wife made, and John bought the game of graces, a windmill, and a game seamen used to play called Shut the Box.

 There was curiosity at the hay bale that intrigued these young ladies. Behind them you can see the musician playing a fife, what we would call a flute today.

 All around  the camp, the women had their hand work in their laps. Knitting, crocheting, sewing, and spinning was everywhere. We saw skeins of yarn, mainly yellow, brown, blue, and red, that had been hand dyed. These colors were popular during colonial times because the available plants and nuts to make them were in the yards and herb gardens.

 This Patriot reenactor posed for John. You can see his rifle aimed to either shoot a deer or a Tory.

 Her smile about reading my books made my day!

 This man was taking a break from his woodworking. He had a display full of both small and large pieces. Surrounded by spoons of various sizes and shapes, boxes, and small pieces of furniture, you can see the dough bowl he was working on.

Soap making was essential to colonial life. This lady showed both the process and the finished product. The iron pot was at a slow boil. Did you know that women made soap out of ashes?

 During these Colonial times, weaving was often men's work. It took a lot of strength to pull the warp of yarn tight. As you can see, this couple had several small looms threaded to make sashes or belts.

 This silversmith was casting a pewter spoon when we saw him. Pouring molten metal into a mold was the first step. Letting it cool down for a few seconds, he then broke the mold and snipped off the drips around the edges.

I was totally surprised to learn that candle wicking was popular during these times. About thirty years ago, my mother and I made a lot of decorative pillows for our beds. Twisting the special thread around a needle either two or three times made a knot that became part of a pattern. It is like whitework embroidery. The ladies would have used the thread similar to the braided, cotton thread for candle wicks.

 This lady had created her own pattern. For pockets and skirts, these were popular decorations that could be completed quicker than embroidery.

 On Sunday, we arrived at the end of one of the church services. Some of the adults were standing, and most of the children had found a bench to sit on. It was a small group of all ages. What was so strange was to hear the pastor lead in a prayer that asked for blessing for the king of England and his family.

 A friend from Musgrove Mill offered to take our picture. A former pastor I knew used to say, "A little powder and paint helps a woman to look like what she ain't." I could have used a little lipstick.

 These siblings had a fun pushing and riding in this wagon all over the grounds. Whenever they got stuck, a helping hand quickly sent them on their way. They seemed happy to just be wandering around with each other; the journey was just not on a path. It was random, as if they had not a care in the world. Though the work was hard, this kind of simplicity is what I love about these times.



These adults were playing the game of Nines. This is a game played with dice and rifle balls. Supposedly this is the game the Roman soldiers were playing at the foot of the cross of Jesus.

 These are canvas rugs that this lady had designed and hand painted. They could be used for area rugs in a home today.

 If you have ever been to Williamsburg, you might have a picture of yourself in one of these stocks. Of course, they were for punishment then. As you can see, this young man wasn't tall enough to reach the openings. Seems like a spanking would get the punishment over with a bit quicker, and this boy was ready to get down.

 Back to the weavers, you can see that she is making an extra long sash. To keep the thread straight, her husband sat in the chair before he went off to the muster. As we all know, necessity is the mother of invention.

Many were fascinated by the work of the cooper. He had buckets in various stages of completion. To learn more about a cooper, look at this site from Williamsburg.
http://www.history.org/kids/games/cooperation.cfm

The woodcarver taught this young lady how to carve a spoon, and she was obviously proud of what she did. From a piece of kindling we would use in the fireplace was crafted a spoon that could be used for cooking. Our colonial ancestors wasted nothing.

 Basket weaving today is more of an art form. During the colonial times, the baskets were a necessity. It was a domestic activity rather than a business. Families needed baskets of all sizes and shapes for personal use, and these baskets lasted many years. The creativity of the homemaker made sure that baskets were used for many and all purposes.  

 On Saturday, this reenactor was making corn husk dolls with the children. On Sunday, she demonstrated the art of healing. During these days, the mother of the family would have knowledge of herbs and their healing properties. Often she was the only doctor a family would ever have. Not only did she provide medical treatment, she made oils, poultices, and mixed medicines.

Doctors made house calls to see their patients during colonial times. http://www.history.org/almanack/life/trades/tradeapo.cfm gives us more information about the apothecary/doctor of this day.

We enjoyed all the music played Becky Cleland and Ben Seymour. Ben makes dulcimers and plays them beautifully. Becky plays the bones, pieces of wood that are clicked together in a rhythm that is easily caught. The Celtic tunes they sang as duets had children and adults mesmerized. You might want to visit their web site at www.kudzupatch.net.

On both days, the battle fought between Bloody Bill Cunningham and the Patriots at Walnut Grove was reenacted. Once again, he was driven off before he burned the plantation. The rifles were loud, and some of the children put their hands over their ears. But this weekend was all about remembrance. We had the opportunity to celebrate our colonial heritage and see a battle that we read about in books come alive.

Those Scotch-Irish families that lived all across the Upcountry were firm in their beliefs that the land they built their houses on was theirs and not the king of England's. They put their lives on the line and were considered troublemakers, just like the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

"Our unalterable resolution would be to be free. They have attempted to subdue us by force, but God be praised! in vain. Their arts may be more dangerous then their arms. Let us then renounce all treaty with them upon any score but that of total separation, and under God trust our cause to our swords."
Samuel Adams, letter to James Warren, April 16, 1776

Celebrating July 4, 2012 in Old Salem, North Carolina

 On July 3, John and I visited Bethabara for the first time. We were overwhelmed with information from the different docents and given an enlightening tour of this first Moravian settlement in North Carolina. Bethabara means House of Passage, and fifteen single men arrived there in 1753. "They all had a deep passion and belief that God would guide them" from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to their new                            

                                                                    wilderness home.

 By the next spring, more than 15 acres of fields were cleared and planted. Fences and houses were standing. For protection, a palisade was built around the buildings. It took two years to build the grist mill, but only eighteen days to build the palisade. More families followed the original settlers.

 The 1788 church has been reconstructed and restored to exhibit the simple, not easy, daily lives of these settlers. Their community life blended with their religion. Whether a person was washing clothes, making shoes, or teaching children about Jesus, it was all done from the heart. The community was like a family with everyone having a job that benefited all.

 The wrist latches on the doors are made 

to be opened with an elbow if hands were full; it still works.

 This basket was in the kitchen, and during the summer it might have held potatoes from the garden or apples picked in the fall. Dirty clothes could have filled at any season,

 One of the rooms is set up as a schoolroom with one long table for the students and this plain desk for the teacher.

 You can see the quill pen and ink well on one side and the bell to bring order from possible chaos in another handy position.

 This doll on the child's bed in the master bedroom waits patiently for its owner.

 Parts of an original cellar, where food would have been stored, gives us a different view of our pantries today. In these root cellars, they would have buried the vegetables in the dirt.

 The medicinal herb garden includes those plants that would have been used during the 18th. century; it is a living history exhibit for visitors. Dr. Hans Martin Kalberlahn was the first physician, and he originally planted the garden. Because of his expertise, this settlement became a regional medical center. These plants would be like our prescription drugs today.

 Fresh water was necessary, and some of the original wells are evident.

 There was a museum of period tools set up in a barn. This fish basket caught my eye. Putting the basket in the running water with some bait takes care of attaching a worm to the hook.

 On July 4, we spent the day in Old Salem. Salem, translated "peace," was founded in November, 1766, and completed in 1771by the Moravians. The festivities of the celebration began with the militia marching in to post the colors. Everyone stood for the Pledge of Allegiance

Speakers celebrated the Naturalization Ceremony; there were 60 candidates from 38 different countries. Strong voices were raised as they recited the Oath of Allegiance. The applause from the spectators was deafening as new citizens waved American flags in the air. Like a college graduation ceremony, the new citizens' names were called. They proudly walked to the podium to receive their papers. It was a moving ceremony.

Emblem of Hunt club

 The Gun Shop is the oldest, continually working gun shop in America. Today
 make about a dozen rifles a year that are used for hunting. Rifles used in the
Revolutionary War battles of Cowpens and Kings Mountain were crafted here.
The huntsman's task in the Old Salem community to bring in fresh meat. The
rifles were made for the hunters.

Pistol made by Old Salem Gunsmiths

Members of 4th of July Band

Fire Truck

Water Buckets for Fire Truck filled by the women

On the steps of the tavern at 2:00, we assembled to hear the reading of the Declaration of Independence read. As you can see, the reader was dressed in period costume. Standing in front were men, women, and children attired in modern clothing and in 18th. century clothing, and the significance of this touched my heart. We must pass on to the next generation the importance of our freedom and our gratitude to those that fought in the Revolutionary War.

Crier for Reading of News

Crier Reading the new Declaration of Independence 

Ancient Silhouette Making machine

 Four women had put needle and thread into designing this quilt. Some crafts need to be passed down.

 There was one more ceremony at the end of the day that again included reenactors and visitors to Old Salem. The first city to plan a celebration for the 4th of July was Old Salem; it was in 1783. Psalm 46 was read, and all walked around the square singing "Now Thank We All Our God" as those first families did.

 It choked me up with emotion to hear adult voices floating across that square, and it was with pleasure and joy that John and I joined them.

 The band played while we sang, and then the benediction was read from Psalm 29:11. "The Lord will give strength unto His people; the Lord will bless His people, His people with peace." Amen

History Lessons

Knitting Lesson

I met many new friends that day from all across America, and I enjoyed talking to them all. With a few colonial toys on display, I had the opportunity to answer questions about our ancestors.

Early Flag

 In the Miksch House, built in 1771, the docent was set up in the small kitchen cooking lunch. Dried herbs hung from the ceiling in cloth bags tied with string to keep the critters out.

Meal Preparation

 Some of the crocks had lids; others used imported cork. A housewife of the 18th. century used what was available at the time; one was sealed with a corncob as the stopper. As you can see, one of these is covered with leather and tied with string.

Food Keeping Vessels

Utensils

 The room was filled with baskets, pottery, bowls, bottles, graters, pewter spoons, and wooden spoons of all sizes and shapes.

More Food Storage Vessels

Potatoes from the garden

More storage vessels

Cooking on the hearth

 This is the Miksch House from the outside. It was the first single family home built in Salem. Matthew Miksch was trained as a gardner in Europe, and he supported his family in America by growing and selling vegetables and seeds. His wife Marie baked and sold gingerbread. (Maybe she swapped recipes with Winkler's Bakery across the street.)

I wonder what the family would think of their home today.

These three days in and around Winston Salem reminded us once again of the price of freedom. We believe the Moravian motto is worth remembering.
                    
                     "In essentials, unity

In non essentials, liberty
In all things, Love."