This summer, my husband, three daughters and I have decided it will be a Summer of History. We will try to do something historical every weekend, with a minimum of twice a month. We kicked off our Summer of History this Memorial Day weekend with visit to Chestertown, MD and their annual Tea Party Festival. In May of 1774, the citizens of Chestertown MD, did in fact protest the British Parliaments closing of the port of Boston, and marched on the town and decided they too would forbid the import of tea. The townspeople marched down High Street, airing their grievances, fighting through brigades, toward the British ship, the Geddes, which happened to be anchored in their port, they rowed out to the ship, overcame the crew and tossed the tea overboard.
The reenactment was done very well and we had a blast! Below you'll find the pics I took of the reenactment along with a few descriptions.
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A carriage with some colonials started off the parade.
(The blonde head is my oldest daughter.) |
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| Here come some soldiers! |
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| Here come the Pipers! |
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| The militia! They were firing (blanks) right in the street--loading one at a time. |
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| The Rough Riders |
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This is part of the 18th Century Chestertown street we were on for the parade.
I just love the tops of the buildings and the individual character given to each. |
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| Punch and Judy! A very funny but very macabre puppet show. |
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My girls with a couple of the militia men. We had to tell them we
were time travelers and our camera would not hurt them, lol |
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| My husband and my daughter fighting a duel with wooden rubber-band guns. |
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| The men in the row boat--after marching down High Street and fending off British forces so they could attack the ship--asked my oldest if she would hold their rope until they were all boarded! I was praying she wouldn't somehow get yanked into the water! All was well and she was psyched they asked her. |
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| There were two row boats filled with militia and Colonials, and I thought I'd captured both in my pic but obviously I am missing one... |
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| Now you see the two row boats... They've reached the British ship and will attempt to board! |
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| Boarding... |
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| Tea tossing, along with a British soldier!!! Yes, that man is being tossed into the water! |
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| A few tossed soldiers with boxes of tea... |
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This was not at the festival, but it was on the way to my parent's house where we stopped on our way home--isn't it a beautiful tribute to the men and women who serve? There are rows and rows of crosses on this family's property--each with a flag on top. Those "men" standing are manequins dressed as different service men throughout history, and by the flagpole, there is a woman dressed in black, holding the hand of a child, in mourning. People were pulled over up and down the street to take pics (and I have no idea who that guy is hup front... he stepped into my shot.)
Happy Memorial Day! And thank you to all those who serve on U.S. soil and abroad. America would not be what it is without you.
Cheers!
Eliza
Eliza Knight is a multi-published author of historical romance and erotic romance. Visit her at http://www.elizaknight.com/ and look for A PIRATE'S BOUNTY, releasing June 22, 2011 with Ellora's Cave. |
12 comments:
Very cool photos, Eliza. The tribute to fallen soldiers is wonderful.
:)Joya
Eliza - I went to Chestertown for the first time last year. It was great. I also toured the archeology lab. It was a very nice weekend. Thanks for posting the photos.
It looks like you and your family had a great time. Thanks for sharing your pictures.
Thanks for sharing, Eliza. Very cool way to spend a day.
Thanks ladies! It was a lot of fun, and I'm so happy my kids and husband enjoy doing things like that with me!
Ann, I've never been to the archelogoy lab, I'll have to check that out!
Eliza, this is a totally cool post. I've been to Chestertown many times but didn't even know they had a tea party. Next year, a must!
And - Ann, how do we find the archeology lab??
Thanks, Eliza. Thoroughly enjoyable. Also - Wonderful tribute to our military.
You have a lovely family, too.
Best,
Laura (Davies Tilley)
What nice pictures Eliza, thanks so much for sharing. I love the idea of having a historical summer and doing something historical at least twice a month. That's an awesome way for kids to learn history, and for writers to do some hands on research.
Sincerely, Debby Lee
Thanks Laura! This was my first time going to the festival and I've been visiting C-town for about 17 years... lol My husband and I both have family that live there--he's been to the festival for years.
Thanks Debby! Exactly two birds with one stone as the saying goes :)
What fun. I've been to a Civil War battle reinactments and to the Battle of San Jancinto, the battle that won Texas its independence. My daughter and mom went to a reinactment of the Little Big Horn (aka Custard's Last Stand).
What wonderful pictures! And how appropriate during this age of Tea Party Patriotism!!
Thanks Anna! We live within driving distance of Gettysburg, and I'd love to see one of their battle reenactments too. I bet the reenactment at Little Big Horn was amazing.
Thanks julie! I totally agree :)
You have shared great information on this tea party. I am planning to arrange my sister’s tea party and looking for one of finest venues in Chicago. Searched on internet and got to know about few venues. Looking forward to book the right one soon.
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