Black Powder 411

Living History

If you are a horner and attend events and like to show a little horn work, you have thought about having a portable honer’s bench. The only problem is there really is not a true example of such a thing in history. We know our ancestors liked to sit to work when they could as one finds cobbler’s benches, broom maker’s benches and the... [Read more of this review]

The Yorktown Victory Center delivers on its promise to inform the visitor of the collective American and French defeat of the British under the command of George Washington on October 19, 1781. I had the pleasure of visiting during the Yorktown Victory Celebration on October 16th. The museum invited Revolutionary War re-enactors to display camp life,... [Read more of this review]

My girlfriend, Pam, and I went to Old Salem for a fun day In September. It was a beautiful day with low humidity for the Piedmont, which is always welcome. We hit the MESDA (Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts) and various artisan and craftsman venues offered there. Drew Neill is the shoemaker. Drew was kind enough to tell me about the brogan or... [Read more of this review]

Most of us who have a love of history get cynical at times. We like to think that we are alone in our passion and everyone else is playing computer games or gossiping on their mobile phones and have not a clue or interest in how we became America. After visiting the King’s Mountain National Military Park yesterday, I am so happy I am wrong. I... [Read more of this review]

David Gillespie is a stone cutter; he creates period correct tomb and gravestones from slate. David Gillespie is standing by his latest work. This stone is loosely based upon the Nathan Basset Stone, the first portrait stone in America. The original is at the Circular Church in Charleston, SC. Why slate? David says it is as permanent as granite, is... [Read more of this review]