January 2012

WWII – Battle of the Bulge Reenactment, January 25 – 29. Ft. Indiantown Gap PA. Contact: http://www.wwiifederation.org/index.html

February 2012

WWII - Elbe River Event, February 25, 2012, Old Bedford Village, Bedford, PA. regardless of the weather as usual. They still
have several buildings available and are currently accepting pre-registrations. As we speak, we have a few more in attendance this year

than last at this time. Just as a reminder, please bring PLENTY of ammo. Attached is the link for registrations and such..  www.freewebs.com/elbe1945 For any questions, call: Roger Bombard at: 703-431-6843.

March 2012

WWII - February 1943 Tactical event. March 9 and 10. Newville GWA site. Sponsored by 193rd Rifle Division and Fusilier Regiment Nr. 90 re-enacting units. Contact John Niemiec at : ostfrontjohn@verizon.net      Download waiver

Timeline – Military Through the Ages, March 17 and 18 at Jamestown Settlement, Jamestown, VA.  http://www.historyisfun.org/calendar.htm

“Decision in Fate of Justice William Smith House Approaching

MERCERSBURG, PA- One thing is for sure now, the Justice William Smith House has two options: it will be shipped to Ireland or bulldozed to the ground. Mercersberg, Montgomery, Peters and Warren Volunteer Fire Department purchased the home for its land. Their fire house is long overdue for expansion. It all comes down to the MMPW’s fire board. They will pick the bid that decides the fate of the Smith House. Only the Irish bid can save this historic landmark. “We’ve been very successful in saving the history,” says Karen Ramsburg, president of Save The Justice William Smith House committee. The fire board will publicly announce all the bids on Thursday, October 28 at 6:30 p.m. and should also make a final decision that night.”  Read more at: your4state.com

Also:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39804636/from/toolbar

I am quite aware that the general public is usually in the dark about the ins and outs of reenacting. I also realize that it is difficult for outsiders to recognize that a reenactor is not the historical person that they are portraying. With the more recent time periods, it becomes more of an emotional issue. But Roman reenactors really don’t worship the emperor, Pirate reenactors don’t really rape and plunder  and SS reenactors really don’t revere the fuhrer.

I don’t know anything about Rich Iott and I couldn’t care less about Ohio politics, but I do think it’s a cheap shot to drag someone’s reenacting impression in and claim that they are that person. I realize that cheap shots are par for the course in politics for both parties these days. That is why I despise politics and, as a rule,  keep it off this blog, but this has to do with an injustice being done to a reenactor and that is a different story.

While the Reenactorpost does not endorse candidates or political organizations, I want to go on record as saying that we are disturbed and angered by this type of an unfair attack on any reenactor of any political affiliation.

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/10/why-is-this-gop-house-candidate-dressed-as-a-nazi/64319

I wanted to give everyone a quick preview of some great events coming up in North Central West Virginia over the next few months. First of all, is the 5th Annual WWII Living History Weekend in Rowlesburg, WV on the weekend of June 19, 2010. This is West Virginia’s premier WWII event. Located in the picturesque Cheat River Valley, enough cannot be said about the hospitality shown to the reenactors at this event. The numbers of unit displays has been growing since the inaugural  in 2006. This year should continue that trend. Put this one on your calendar. The website is below:

http://www.rowlesburg.info/world_war_2_weekend.php

On the weekend of July 9-10 , Arthurdale Heritage Inc. will be sponsoring its annual New Deal Festival commemorating the founding of the community in the 1930′s. This will provide a unique opportunity for living historians to develop a peace-time impression if they do not already have one. You can contact Arthurdale Heritage at:

http://www.arthurdaleheritage.org

On September 25-26, 2010, Parsons, WV will host the first American Soldier at War Historic Timeline. This will be held on the Corrick’s Ford Battlefield. (Historical note-the first general officer killed in the Civil War fell here.) The organizers are looking for authentic living historians to portray units ranging from the French and Indian War up through Vietnam.  This will be one of the first timeline events held in the state and will hopefully become an annual event. See the website for registration details:

http://www.americansoldieratwar.webs.com

If you would not mind posting this, we'd appreciate it.

Living History, the podcast for the reenacting community is looking
for feedback.

We started producing a podcast (otherwise known as an internet radio
show) for reenactors back in December, and have produced a new episode
every Wednesday on topics like starting a new group, historical
clothing, recreating historical skills and more. We've also got some
interviews up there of Living Historians from many different
backgrounds and interests. We are trying to open up our listening
audience and at the same time include more of your experiences in
upcoming episodes.

To that end we've got some questions for those of you in the community:
- What would induce you to listen to a podcast on the topic of reenacting?
- What sorts of things would you like to hear about living history and
reenacting?
- If you could tell your fellow reenactors something about your
experience with Living History, what would you tell them?

We hope you will share your answers over at: http://livinghistorypodcast.com/

Thanks,

Alena and Stephen
Tackling topics of interest to those on the front lines of history

The Justice William Smith House, circa 1759 is gaining recognition after two distinguished Penn State Professors of History and Art/Architecture have taken an interest in the property. Dr. William Pencak respected author and historian and Dr. Richard Pencek Professor of American Studies are raising awareness of the house and its importance in Pre-Revolutionary War American History.

In 1765 the Smith House served as a meeting place where the first armed resistance against British Rule was organized over a nine month period of time that compelled the British Army to abandon their garrisons in western Pennsylvania. These events were known as the Black Boys Rebellion. In a January 5, 2010 Public Opinion article Dr. Pencak stated, “It [Smith House] is not only the most important historical site in Mercersburg, but probably the most important historical site related to the American Revolution in Pennsylvania west of the Susquehanna River.”

As a professor of History and Jewish Studies, Dr. William Pencak has penned several books including: Beyond Philadelphia: The American Revolution in the Pennsylvania Hinterland; The Law in America, 1607-1861; Riot and Revelry in Early America and War, Politics and Revolution in Provincial Massachusetts. He is now writing a history of the (John) Jay family, America’s first chief justice and a lengthy article on the Church of England in Pennsylvania during the American Revolution. Dr. Pencak’s book Jews and Gentiles in Early America (University of Michigan Press, 2005) was the runner-up for the National Book Award in American Jewish History 2005. He was appointed Distinguished Lecturer for the Organization of American Historians for the period 2006-2009. For a complete list of books written by Dr. William Pencak go to: http://www.bookfinder.com/author/william-pencak/

Dr. Richard Pencek teaches classes in Art and Architecture. His team of experts and students have restored buildings and Curtin Village, Spruce Creek Mill and Centre Furnace to name a few. They have won awards for restoration from Pennsylvania’s Centre County Historical Society and the Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission. Currently they are completing a log house in Mifflinburg Pa. where the class has built the windows and made their own floor boards from c. 1840 planking and chinked and mortared the entire building. Dr. Pencek classes are very unique in that his classes are hands on with over 60 former students in the field.

Dr. William Pencak will be in Mercersburg on March 4, 2010 to speak to grades 7 and 8 at the James Buchannan Middle School about the history of the Smith House. Later in the evening he will be lecturing at Mercersburg’s First United Methodist Church on N. Fayette Street from 7:30-8:30 pm with light refreshments to follow. The public is invited to attend.

By Karen Ramsburg

For more information on the Justice William Smith House go to http://savesmithhouse.com

We received this notice from Lt. William King, USN concerning an interesting event upcoming in
May. It sounds like a fascinating endeavor and should be of particular interest
to those of the maritime pursuasion. Good luck and Godspeed to all involved:


On May 15-16 2010 a crew of 10 will attempt to row and sail a 26-foot monomoy surf boat
across the entrance to Chesapeake Bay.  The transit, covering 14 miles of open water
skirting the Atlantic Ocean from Cape Henry to Cape Charles, will terminate at Kiptopeke
State Park on Virginia's Eastern Shore.  The park is noted for its sunset vistas and a
line of 9 sunken WWII era ships that form its breakwater.  The crew will land at the
park, camp overnight and then return to Virginia Beach the following day.

This test of traditional seamanship skills is being held in conjunction with local
environmental interests to raise awareness about pollution in the Chesapeake Bay
watershed.  It does not commemorate any particular event, but celebrates the historical
use of small boats throughout the Chesapeake and the age-old seamanship and navigation
skills required for long transits over open water.

No modern navigation equipment will be carried, with the exception of hand-held VHF
radios and an emergency locator beacon.  Rather, the boat's coxswain will navigate by
magnetic compass, leadline (a primitive depth finding tool, literally a weight on the end
of a small rope) and a chip log (another primitive device used to estimate speed).

Both the US Coast Guard and Virginia Pilot Association have been consulted and have
agreed to help prepare the crew and monitor its crossing.  Both have said they await the
event with great anticipation and interest.

The boat being used in the crossing was carried aboard US Navy and US Coast Guard vessels
from 1963 to 1974.  It has no mechanical propulsion system, relying on the power of eight
oarsmen or a single large sail to move it.  Boats of nearly identical design have been
used on the east coast of the US for more than 250 years.

For more information, contact LT William King, USN at william.r.king2@navy.mil.

Here are our ad rates (payable via PayPal)

10 Day Listing ($1.99)
15 Day Listing ($2.99)
30 Day Listing ($5.99)

This is new for us, so if you have any suggestions on how to make this a more valuable or better service, let us know.

P.S. – Many thanks to Lee for being the first to post an ad!

The first is: The Elbe Crossing

February 20, 2010, at Old Bedford Village. The scenario is the final days of the Reich. All Allied units are welcome. Axis units to include Fallschirmjagers, Kriegsmarine, Waffen SS, and Italians. Participants may arrive any time after 10:00am Friday, February 19. Directions can be found at oldbedfordvillage.com

Preregistration is $35. Walk-ons permitted for $45. Pre-registration ends on February 8, 2010. Register and pay on-line via Paypal at http://freewebs.com/elbe1945/ or make all checks payable to Roger Bombard, 10740 Brice Court, Fredericksburg, VA 22407. Contact: Roger Bombard at 703-431-6843 or via email at: elbetactical@yahoo.com

The second is:

Spring 1945 East Front tactical event.
Newville , PA GWA WW1 trench Site

East Front Tactical March 12-14 ,2010.
Hosted by the 193rd and GWA WW1 German group FR90. All GWA safety guidelines will be enforced they will be discussed at the safety inspection Friday. A dinner will be provided for Saturday after the battle so have your mess kits units will be responsible for feeding themselves other meals.
Be prepared for cold weather camping and fighting conditions. Registration must be post marked no later than Friday March 5th, 2010
NO WALK ONS.!!!! Event Fee 30.00 dollars. Make Checks payable to the 193rd Rifles.

All Soviet units are welcome as well as German,Romanian, Polish , Hungarian and Volkstrum units.

Axis forces with any questions may contact Joe Murray off list at ct1407@msn.com

Soviet units any Questions please email me Jason off list at jasonbrown193@yahoo.com
or 443-623-1731
.

Mail wavier and payment to:
193rd Rifles Inc. P.O. Box 7752 Essex, MD 21221

So, get out your long undies, (period of course) and padded jacket and come out to reenact the final battles of the war. Also, we have started a classifieds section for the blog. Check with the site administrator if you have anything you want to sell or want to find.

See you at the GAP!

Jim