From the Quill of Alexander Konieczny
A message from the Front… The Civil War reenacting season started off with a bang this year….lots of them actually; it usually does. This past weekend marks the 155th anniversary of the battle of Shiloh....
A message from the Front… The Civil War reenacting season started off with a bang this year….lots of them actually; it usually does. This past weekend marks the 155th anniversary of the battle of Shiloh....
It is one of those cold, damp depressing days, but in the Wagon Shop there is hot coffee and optimism as an exciting and cooperative project to install lights in the shop nears completion....
C’mon get sappy! Let’s face it. For most of us, March weather in Michigan is a real drag– a sloppy mix of snow and slush with lots of clouds and only occasional peaks...
Last Sunday while many people gathered at Super Bowl LI parties, I revisited my own family history. My octogenarian parents and I drove to rural Macomb County to see my great grandparent’s farm. The...
Food and Memory Food is the stuff of life. It isn’t always plentiful, but if you ask most people, they have a favorite recipe or two. Memories of beloved dishes last a whole...
Textile Traditions: Jacquard Coverlets This month’s textile of focus is the Jacquard coverlet, a trendy feature of American home décor ca. 1820s-1860s. Also trendy around this time: painted wood floors, patterned “Oriental” wallpaper,...
Celebrate Winter! Anticipate Sharing! The Troy Historic Village will host a program about winter survival (yes, one can spell “survival” in SCRABBLE). We anticipate cooking soup by the fire in the Log Cabin,...
A Sober Anniversary This year will mark the 100th anniversary of our country’s entry into WWI. The “Great War,” as it is often called, began on July 28, 1914 when Kaiser Wilhelm...
A Troy Christmas Memory During the 1970s members of Big Beaver United Methodist Church staged a living nativity scene on Christmas Eve. Church members bundled in robes and blankets portrayed Mary, Joseph, Jesus, the...
On December 7, Americans recall the attack on Pearl Harbor. In a rapid series of air strikes, Japanese fighter planes killed 2,400 people, wounded 1,000, and damaged or destroyed approximately 20 American ships...
Today I stood on the Lake Michigan shore with 24 bird watchers scanning the brilliant blue sky and choppy water for migrating ducks, loons, and perhaps a rare gull. I am a lifelong...
Each of us is a history maker… The past ten days were a clear reminder that history continues to unfold through every day occurrences including celebrations of birth and bittersweet commemorations of...
Historical Reenactors Many historic venues offer historically-costumed interpreters as part of the draw to visit their location. They tend to be informative and usually do well to enhance the visitor experience, despite the guy...
50 Who Put Troy on the Map When a community like Troy is formed from the wilderness (or native lands), people naturally want to associate places with names. Some of our current street...