Any history geeks out there?

[Dan German]

This is my last week of relaxation before returning to my summer job. I am a Historical Interpreter at Lower Fort Garry Nat'l. Historic Site here in Rupertsland. My avatar shows a puppet doing my old job of blacksmithing, which I loved. But this year I done been promoted to Associate Governor of the Northern Department for the Hudson's Bay Company. So it's too many clothes and a stiff upper lip for Higgy this summer. However, I already asked and they said it's OK for me to continue playing my mandolin at work. That would have been the deal-breaker for me. (Gonna have to change that avatar, though....)

Anyway, anyone else out there do this kinda work, or historical recreation?

[swooda]

Well if I watch TV it's usually the History Channel if that counts... Sounds like you've got a cool job though....

[mojo2001]

I'm a historical archaeologist (PhD candidate) mostly working in Philly, my hometown. I work at Independence Nationa Historicall Park quite a bit.

I live in Williamsburg, VA and sometimes work interpreting archaeology in Colonial Williamsburg. This whole town is a recreation. Around here it is not at all unusual to see somebody dressed as a slave or Thos. Jefferson waiting in line at 7-11 with a bag of Cheetos.

My favorite thing is interpreting live digs to visitors. Quite often, the visitors come up with stuff the pro archaeologists never even thought about and it is very mind expanding. I try to do this every chance I get.

[bo]

There ain't NO WAY I'm gonna have a job where I have to wear heavy cotton or wool Colonial or Civil War era clothes outside in the Virginia summer. I guess I did learn something from my history degree. Anytime I hear someone say they'd like to live in a certain bygone era I always tell them to think about the dentistry.

[Big John]

I live in one end of 15th Cent. hall house and love it, every morning i walk down stairs and stare at marks made by carpenters 600 years ago and think to myself "Wow".






Looking up into the attic the remaining white/grey panels are 600 year old hazel twigs covered in horse and cow poop and straw !!

When Columbus rolled up and 'discovered' America our house had folk living in it, thats some thought isn't it ?

[Dan German]

Originally Posted by mojo2001

I live in Williamsburg, VA and sometimes work interpreting archaeology in Colonial Williamsburg. This whole town is a recreation. Around here it is not at all unusual to see somebody dressed as a slave or Thos. Jefferson waiting in line at 7-11 with a bag of Cheetos.

My favorite thing is interpreting live digs to visitors. Quite often, the visitors come up with stuff the pro archaeologists never even thought about and it is very mind expanding. I try to do this every chance I get.

Williamsburg=vintage tele with TG on the neck
Lower Fort Garry=Squier

In other words, we get the job done, but who wouldn't rather have the other? And yeah, the best part of the job is a visitor with a sharp mind who asks the tough questions.

Originally Posted by Big John

I live in one end of 15th Cent. hall house and love it, every morning i walk down stairs and stare at marks made by carpenters 600 years ago and think to myself "Wow".


When Columbus rolled up and 'discovered' America our house had folk living in it, thats some thought isn't it ?

Our idea of "historic" gives you Europeans a chuckle, don't it? Oh well, we do what we can! (And by the way, when Columbus rolled up there were folk livin' here too! But that's a whole 'nother can o' worms.)

Forgot this:

http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/mb/fortgarry/index_e.asp

[Big John]

Originally Posted by Dan German

....Our idea of "historic" gives you Europeans a chuckle, don't it? Oh well, we do what we can!

Only when you class a 1979 Tele Deluxe as 'vintage' -- tee hee hee hee hee



But seriously, US history is as old and interesting as anywhere else, there has always been a lot of interest here in the US civil war (we had one a few hundred years earlier of course ) as a lot of our cotton trade was tied up in uniform manufacture and a lot of our engineering 'went west' to the colonies.
It's all good stuff so keep at it young Dan !

[TG]

My wife is an historical reenactor, focusing mainly on 10th century Ireland. I would get into it too but I gig weekends and I'm always too tired to go to the events. Here's a picture of her standing by the Sea Stallion...the Viking ship they made in Denmark a year or 2 ago and sailed over here to Ireland.

We used to go on archaeological digs when we were younger, and wherever we go on vacation we check out every obscure historical thing around.

So history geek?....you bet.

[TG]

And here's a picture of a 5000 year old tomb (a kist grave) near here that I rescued just last week. I noticed the forestry people going in to cut a forestry plantation and I knew it was in there somewhere. I found it...about 5 yards from the machinery track they'd put in and where they were working...so I reported it to the authorities and made sure the workers didn't drive a tractor or something over it.

[Big John]

Is there anything not covered at the TDPRI ?

[geddins]

Originally Posted by Big John

Is there anything not covered at the TDPRI ?

Let's see....just this week I remember seeing threads about:

Cowboy boots
Flea killer for pets
Windows Vista
Saving money ideas
Microsoft Access
Keytars (bannable )
Country Clubs
Tattoos
American Idol
Coffee Pots
Playing with your food
Auto mechanics and their fees
Oh yeah...Drummers!

So I'd say "NO"...there's nothing you can't get an answer here for....

[Dan German]

Originally Posted by Big John

It's all good stuff so keep at it young Dan !

See what I mean? To a Brit, a 47 year old is young!!

[scooteraz]

Not in the sense you guys are. I merely read history most every chance I get. I do have to admit that some of it is "pop" history, Alex Kershaw, Stephen Ambrose, Richard Rhodes, etc.; guys that write history like it is a novel are appealing.
Sounds like an interesting job.

[Cheesehead]

Originally Posted by geddins

Let's see....just this week I remember seeing threads about:

Cowboy boots
Flea killer for pets
Windows Vista
Saving money ideas
Microsoft Access
Keytars (bannable )
Country Clubs
Tattoos
American Idol
Coffee Pots
Playing with your food
Auto mechanics and their fees
Oh yeah...Drummers!

So I'd say "NO"...there's nothing you can't get an answer here for....

You forgot eating dog biscuits.

I was a history major as an undergraduate. Now I'm too busy with four sons and my own business (and the rare moment with my Tele) to read much history, but I read some from time to time. Recently had the chance to visit Manassas, site of first and second Bull Run. And I watched the Ken Burn's Civil War documentary again recently.

I used to be a history geek big time though. I'd read thick thick books. Now I watch the History Channel...

[wanderingscot]

Does teaching 8th grade US History count?

[Dan German]

Originally Posted by wanderingscot

Does teaching 8th grade US History count?

I would think so. Do you enjoy it? One part of the job I didn't see coming when I signed up is that schoolkids from all over the province are brought in by the truckload in May and June, and we have to deliver curriculum-linked programs. Me, I don't much like kids. But grades 5-8 can be the best years to work with on the site. They are curious and excited, and don't know yet that they're supposed to be too cool too care. And if they're unruly, well, I always save the blacksmith shop for last so I can use it as a threat. "Any more of that, and no one sees the blacksmith shop!!" That straightens 'em out.

[casterway]

...

[casterway]

Super cool Dan! I don't participate, but 2 years ago I went to Barkerville, and tented and spent 3 days in the village, and enjoyed the work of the historical interpretors immensely. Made me wish I could quit my job and move to Wells and be one too. Were there machinists in the pioneer days?

Actually, one of my favorite parts there was the Blacksmith shop. I bought a really snazzy fireplace poker from him. My only souvenir from there.

[odiemann]

I TA'd American Civilization classes and taught it in High School.

[Dan German]

Originally Posted by casterway

Were there machinists in the pioneer days?

Actually, one of my favorite parts there was the Blacksmith shop. I bought a really snazzy fireplace poker from him. My only souvenir from there.

Answered yer own question there, casterway!

And if any of you CDN members is a post-secondary student or has kids who are, register for FSWEP!! It's how you get summer jobs with the feds (like this one.) And a lot of dept.'s use the program to find their full-time staff. That's what I'm hoping for....

[mojo2001]

Williamsburg=vintage tele with TG on the neck

Sadly, it would probably be a lute.

Colonial Williamsburg is a pretty cool museum. I will say that although the temptation is strong to sell out for tourist dollars, they do attempt to take the high road and keep it classy.

Then right down the street is Busch Gardens. Far more likely to spot a tele there.

[fltpkr]

I really dig history and historical novels, but not enough to be considered a 'history geek', I don't think. One of my fondest memories is visiting the Smithsonian in DC. Seeing the carriage that carried Lincoln, and Washington's battle sword and such was amazing, to me.

[Telehackster]

That's really neat, Higgy. I appreciate the fact that there are people who do such things so that others can get some sense of the past.

Whenever I think of "living history" now, for some reason I tend to think of this scene from Da Ali G Show (note: not for the easily offended)

[Dan German]

Originally Posted by Telehackster