Wordless Wednesday

Last Autumn while taking a drive along a country road in rural Southern Ontario I spotted this totally unexpected and unknown "castle" while looking through the window. We had to stop, but we could not get too close because it is on private property, but we did manage to snap a few photos. The structure seems to be in a bit of disrepair, and uninhabited other than by some birds flying in and out of the upper windows. Being a bit of a mystery, when we returned home I used Google to look up what if anything I could find on this unknown, random building. 

Apparently and according to what I found on the internet,  in 1968 the owner of this property converted an ageing silo into this castle, which was based on the fortifications of the Milckau Castle in Milckau, Saxony. Its near the Grand Valley Trail and is privately owned. 

Happy Photo Hunting! Thank you for stopping by!

Upcoming Themes For Gattina's Saturday Photo Hunting

June 08 : How is your sky today ?
June 15 : Look out of your window
June 22 : Sculptures
June 29 : With what do you like to travel

July 06 : observe children
July 13 : Your workplace (even your kitchen)
July 20 : What is your favorite household appliance ?
July 27 : at home

Aug 03 : your favorite mug or cup
Aug 10 : a play of light
Aug 17 : a nature macro
Aug 24 : your morning
Aug 31 : show some circles

Upcoming Themes For Saturday Photo Hunting

JUNE

8th ~ Grin
15th ~ Unknown
22nd ~ Daydream
29th ~ Citrus
JULY
6th * GO
13th * Flamboyant
20th * Really
27th * Planter
AUGUST
3rd ~ Guess
10th ~ Blue
17th ~ Swanky
24th ~ Humble
31st ~ Model

Wordless Wednesday

Written by Matthew Didier - June 9th, 2013

With this period being the 200th Anniversary of The War of 1812 (or "The American War of 1812" to our British readers,) which was fought mostly in Ontario between 1812 and 1814, we've been blessed by attending several battle reenactments... and for the record...

I love reenacting!

Okay, let me rephrase this for truth... I think I'd love to reenact.

To BRIEFLY (wish me luck!) give you some background...

#1: I'm a history nut. Have been since I was a pre-teen. (You can thank my mom for that.)

#2: More specifically, (but not exclusively,) I'm a military history nut.

#3: For various reasons, mostly location and familial ties, The War of 1812 has been of specific interest to me personally.

The above was true "as it stands" from about the age of nine to my thirties... when it grew into a bigger love.

First, my "hobby" of the study of ghosts with a focus on folklore really drew me in... and then, "it" happened...

My youngest sister and I, quite by a fluke, attended a reenactment at a place called Discovery Harbour and the deal was struck.  Walking about the encampment, checking in at the sutlers (the "shop-keeps" of these events,) and taking in one of the best "battles" I've still ever seen lit a HUGE fire within me to be a part of things and to try and bring that 'fun' and history to a larger group that I knew hadn't experienced it and might want to.

My sister was on board, her family was on board, I was on board... but where to start?

We'd talked to a couple of people at the encampment, but they seemed to continuously suggest talking to people I believe they thought "we" should know (just 'cuz,) and to not look stupid, we just nodded and smiled... and I said quietly that I could look things up online once we were home...

...but this was the mid-to-late 1990's...

...and there was precious few groups online and even less information.

I sent out a few e-mails, especially to The Glengarry Light Infantry (most of my more notable ancestors were from Prince Edward County... named "Morden"... and the contact for GLI was in Toronto, I had been told,) I heard back from the one fellow in the GLI and another from a red-coated militia (who eludes me right now,) but both wanted me to attend training and whatnot far outside Toronto, and being car-less, this was not possible... so I gave up on the online route.

Through the meagre contacts I'd made at various forts and museums, I found that the people who worked in these sites weren't too big on reenactors and had no contacts or suggestions, so they were of little help until...

KYLE UPTON!

Now, Kyle is truly one of the nicest folks I've ever met... AND... he runs the ghost tours at Fort George on Niagara-on-the-Lake (which I highly recommend!)... and I found out that... his dad... OUTFITTED REENACTORS! (Please note that Kyle's dad is no longer the proprietor, but the new owner is a good fellow and indeed, I have a small online order pending with him at the time of writing this!)

Oh man! Oh man! Oh man!

It got better...

My second big "ghost event" (to celebrate the founding of our group,) was being held at Fort York!  I had an EXCUSE!

About two and change thousand (personal) dollars later, I was kitted out as an officer in the Glengarry Light Infantry for Fort York!  Now, I knew that being an officer "out of the gate" would be a non-starter for actual reenacting, (I'd learned THAT much from reading,) but I figured I was running this "do" and it was at a goodly site, and at the time, I had the dosh... so an officer I was... well, in terms of dressing as one while introducing speakers and doing a wee speech on the war and it's "ghostly" lore.

I was pleased, but the full reenacting bug was elusive, and my sister, (who would be my "drive",) although still interested, was busy with family and work, and finding out about schedules and whatnot for reenacting then planning was seemingly impossible... until...

SUE!

Yes, the owner of this blog and my dearly beloved! (...and she looks WAY better in uniform than I ever will!)  By this point, we were "an item" and she knew of my interests... and had even "dabbled" herself, so to speak... and when I say "dabbled", she actually wanted to get out and soldier!

At that Fort York thingy, one of the people "on staff" had a dress made by a wonderful woman named Lynda Hanna and through her, we'd had some kit made with the intent of doing a history/folklore class/course/tour in more-or-less proper attire which included two wool greatcoats... the winter overcoats worn by soldiers in the period... and Sue was wearing hers on the subway when she met Lynda's daughter who recognised the coat and after a brief chat, Sue learned of an event at Pioneer Village in Toronto where some of the 1812 reenactors would be attending... including The Norfolk Militia... which ALSO worked for me as some of my family were indeed around the Norfolk County area (those Mordens again!) and by this point, I'd just been introduced to my (continued) guilty pleasure, the 'penny dreadful' Sharpe series and had purchased a Baker rifle... and the Norfolks had a rifle company!

I don't think things could go any better!

I had kit, a wonderful firearm (as an "officer" initially, I hadn't bothered with one... so woo-hoo on my timing of finding Sharpe!) and more enthusiasm then you could shake a stick at!

I acquire a period tent (wedge tent) and more clothing (needed more "civilian" threads as I was militia,) and could-not-wait!

I went to drill training (still didn't have my rifle at that point and used a decorative one that didn't load or fire properly... effectively, it was a prop,) and then to a full-on training weekend with rifle finally in hand!

It was GREAT!

I dodged the wedge tent and slept in a "historic cabin" in a wee pioneer village and was entranced by the whole affair...

...then I went to the dinner.

First, I was (rightly) sent back from the dinner for being improperly dressed... having on only a period vest, pants, and the like... not a jacket.  I warned my captain (commander) that I had no formal equipment, my "red coat" tunic still being made and had not asked for any civilian clothes yet save what I had tried to wear, so he gave me leave to go back to my hotel and put on my officer's green tunic which, luckily, I had.

I was "counselled" from some others that I now needed to find a historical figure on which to base my interpretation... difficult if not impossible... but I was told that it would be easy as lists were available at the local archives... which, being from about 2 hours drive away and without a car, is not so easy... and by this point, my sister had more or less given up.

Still, I had a friend... but he lost interest due to the same concerns about what and where and why we should be doing things... he put a lot of money into things, but gave it up in frustration... it was all... muddled.

The captain, one of the best fellow's I've met, had a clear vision... that seemed to not be as clear to the people we were told to ask and trust.  I even helped with the website and begged for information to tell others... and some people assisted, but many of my own questions went unanswered.

So, with my access to vehicles pulled away, my kit feeling less than 1/8th finished, Sue (sensing my own concerns and stress,) losing her interest in working "with" me to become more involved... what else could happen???

...save being laid off from work and losing my income.

To say that the five years after trying to get off the ground with reenacting proper were a disaster preceded by failures and the genuine feeling I was a personal disappointment to so many would be an understatement.

I tried to keep up... I even webmastered two reenacting websites... but it was a hellish time and I was even forced to sell my rifle and because of home and space constraints, get rid of my tent.  In essence, I was forced to abandon everything but the web-work.

It hurt, but it hurt worse that the experience was not a happy one when I had started to get off the ground... and the fault truly felt like it was mine.

Sue only recently summed it up...

I wanted to be a historical interpreter and share my love and thirst for history with others.

Some in reenacting are LARPers... "Live Action Role Playing"... living the moment as a fictional entity.

Some are cosplayers... the aren't "in the moment", but are acutely aware of how it SHOULD be displayed and how it SHOULD be portrayed.

For those "in the know", the stitch counters fall squarely into the above two, as a rule...

To be honest, I get both of the above... and my own desires... but no one (even to date,) has let me know which one, should I want to be a part of things, I should be aware as the standard for reenacting... or at least, how to navigate through them.

I have to step back now... and go to when I was unemployed... which actually lasted just over a year, but I found temp work... and eventually, solid work... not as highly paid, but it made things easier for my family to be certain... and as I was revving up my engines...

Sue got sick.

She hasn't hidden it, but the illness has kept her out of work for years... and only recently (the last two or three years,) has she been able to consider returning to work...

...but that's okay, as I found work in my field with a decent paycheque!  With some balancing and whatnot, we could at least TRY to dibble our toes in the water after almost ten years since trying and...

...I got sick.

...in my heart.

...literally.

I have (and always will have, apparently,) chronic atrial fibrillation.  It's not deadly "as such", but the smaller chambers of my heart will fibrillate if untreated... now, I could have a pacemaker installed and there is another procedure that my cardiologist suggested not doing... and I have ended up in the hospital twice for the ol' paddles (CLEAR! *Zap!*) and it's not TECHNICALLY a heart attack... but a problem with the nerve from my liver to my heart called the vagus nerve.  (Likely a fallout from years of binge drinking in my twenties... even though I stopped drinking in my late twenties to a LARGE degree.)  The threat for me is that the blood isn't pushed out of the atrial valves properly when they're fibrillating leading to clotting... and eventually, the clots are pushed out... and eventually... I have a stroke.

Don't distress too much though, as I'm on a handful of medications (that have ROTTEN side effects,) that have kept me from CLEAR! *Zap!* for going on two years now... touch wood.

I can do SOME exercise, but no "strenuous cardio"... meaning no hot wool in hot sun... and no running.

This all said and done, we FINALLY got around to attending this year's annual dinner of our most favoured reenacting group, The Incorporated Militia of Upper Canada... or IMUC... and were guests of honour!  (The privilege of being the webmaster!)

Before going, however, I was terrified...

What if my kit wasn't okay?  What if I didn't know "my place"?  What if I had no historical figure to base anything from?  What if...

I put on my redcoat private's tunic... close (but not completely close) in colours and form to "The 89th" historically... and my drop-front trousers. I left the shako (the big silly hat) behind and wore black boots (I never had a chance to get proper foot attire,) and crossed my fingers.  Sue put on a LOVELY empire dress... she looked amazing... I looked... uncomfortable and more than a little tubby.

My close friend and the man who sends the "web work", the amazing and wonderful Paul Kelly told me not to worry... that it was all fairly casual... and off we went.

We got in before anyone we knew had arrived... and felt rather awkward.  These folks knew each other for years and we, despite being the webpeople for many moons, were newbs... and the first handshake and friendly person we met as we came in immediately asked me about... my uniform.

I WAS PREPARED!

I told him, "Oh, why I'm wearing the black facings? Well, I am attempting to be a relative of mine who had come to the Canada's from being in the East India company..." and realised I was now getting a look of utter confusion... rightfully so, I now realise.

He simply wanted to know the uniform's origins... "Who's was it?" so to speak...

...and I was LARPing...

...and I am not a LARPer...

Granted, I figured this out what I was attempting to do long after the event... instead of any "success" as might be assumed by some that I'd spoken to, I think I really just "off put" this poor man... and once again, firmly placed my foot in poop.

Thankfully, Paul arrived and Sue and I felt more comfortable... and then my old captain (originally from the Norfolk) and his wife (Lynda) arrived... but were a bit too busy to chat long enough to catch properly up.

I sat next to a fellow who I'd "read" frequently about via the Yahoo! news group for reenactors... a charming and terribly benevolent man who had to put up with my awkward unease... and luckily, I knew (maybe?) one of his relatives in my high-school... and made the phenomenally egotistical statement of saying his potential relative was one of the only people in high school who I could talk with who was on my intellectual level.

Wow.

I can't believe I said this...

...but...

I went to a fairly "preppy" high school, and although my friends (there were more than a handful,) were thoughtful and genuinely smart folks, the majority of the people who attended came off like the road company of "Fast Times at Ridgemount High".  Most meaningful conversations for them revolved around clothing and gossip.  Master of the single-syllable "OHMIGAWD!" prior to the internet but at the right time for Moon Unit Zappa.

THIS is what I meant... but again, thinking back... hoo-boy.  What a way to say it!

We hung in... and thanks to a nice chat with the company surgeon and of course, Paul, we weren't "unhappy"... but man alive, we felt very... well, I'm overusing the term, but "awkward".

One thing, however, we really did enjoy the meal... and the overall "feel" of the event was good... and we both were GENUINELY unhappy that (due to a wardrobe malfunction,) we didn't have a chance to learn to dance and join in the latter bits of the festivities which may have eased the issues.

Either way, we were still both trying to figure things out.

LUCKILLY, things are about to improve...

First, we went to the Fort George reenactment in which we spoiled the middle kid and her beau (a former artillery man at Fort Henry in Kingston,) and my sister-in-law (of whom I'm very fond!) and a dear friend... and had an excellent time... and then we made it to Stoney Creek... which looked like it was about to be a horror show of bad weather (which stayed away despite ominous clouds,) then boring overly long political speeches (in which boos for simply timing were heard and justified, but did end eventually,) and brutal humidity (which eased by evening,) all were to play a part...

...but no.

It became an amazing event and everyone left happy!  We spoiled the heck out of my niece and loved every second!  (She too has a connection with the war... an effective great-great-great-great-great grand uncle named Joseph who died during the siege of Fort Erie fighting with a group of Royal Marines.)

Heck, as of now, my niece and sister-in-law are now planning on attending Fort York in a week (from writing this,) Fort Erie in August, and The Battle of the Thames in October... and they both haven't REALLY toured an encampment!

So, I get to play tourist right now...

...and I've talked to Lynda about a civilian "gentlemen's coat" (tailcoat)...

...and Sue has "okayed" the eventual replacement of my Baker rifle, bayonet, and sling.

I still can't REALLY take part... and I really haven't yet...

...but I know I'm welcome, and I will speak to Paul or my old captain... or both... and find out what might be expected and how.

Maybe there's a place for me SOMEHOW in the field yet!

I hope so.

I may not be able to go full-bore, but I still have a passion for history... and a desire to share the enthusiasm.

This is a partial list of my relatives that were involved with the war I was able to find out about...  I have much "older" Canadian roots (pre-1600's in some cases!) on the French side of my family, but haven't sourced them yet in terms of what they were up to in the war and I'm still finding folks (especially Mordens!) who are "in the tree", so to speak, and in areas ranging from Turkey Point to York (Toronto)!

Pt. Peter Vandervoort (Militia - "Hastings")
Pt. James Vandervoort (Militia - "Prince Edward")
Pt. David K Vandervoort (Militia - "Durham")
Pt. A George Vandervoort (Militia - "Hastings")
Lt. Francis Vandervoort (Sedentary Militia of the County of Hastings)
Lt. Francis Hogle (King's Loyal Americans/Loyal Rangers/Sedentary Militia)
Pt. James Amit Morden (Militia - "Prince Edward")
Capt. James Morden (2nd York Militia)*
Pt. Ralph Morden (2nd York Militia)*
Pt. James Morden Jr. (2nd York Militia)*
Pt. David Morden (2nd York Militia)*
Pt. Thomas Morden (2nd York Militia)*
Pt. Moses Morden (2nd York Militia)*
Pt. Joseph Theodore James Morden (John Allen's Company - Regiment of Prince Edward Militia)
Pt. George Morden (John Allen's Company - Regiment of Prince Edward Militia)

* - There was also a Daniel Morden listed, but I was unable to find a pay document for him from the war. ALSO, the connection betwix me and the other listed Mordens is absolute, these ones SEEMS to be tentative, although the histories of the families match shockingly!

=============================

Addendum: June 16th, 2013 - Two things...

One is about the Morden's above... I think it's safe to say they are "blood" through Ann of Pennsylvania now, but I'll work on a better link... 

The sesond is after the re-enactment at Fort York this past weekend, I found out the Thompson's 2nd York Militia is "forming" in Mississauga (near Toronto) and is recruiting... to be honest, I may end up, at year's end, ensuring that my friends and ties to The Incoporated Militia of Upper Canada and to Captain Hanna and The Canadian Volunteers/26th US Infantry are strong... but The 2nd are openly calling themselves interpreters... and are new... AND are in "the family". Hot dog, I think I have a weiner! I could do a few "day trips" (can't encamp QUITE yet...)

...if they'll take me.

I'm happy to be back to photo hunting after a 2 week break from blogging. I wasn't able to combine both themes this week, but the photos I've chosen and certainly the two different themes can and do work together.

The sky is blue

and Kipling is grinning!

Happy Photo Hunting! Thank you for stopping by!

Upcoming Themes For Gattina's Saturday Photo Hunting

June 08 : How is your sky today ?
June 15 : Look out of your window
June 22 : Sculptures
June 29 : With what do you like to travel

July 06 : observe children
July 13 : Your workplace (even your kitchen)
July 20 : What is your favorite household appliance ?
July 27 : at home

Aug 03 : your favorite mug or cup
Aug 10 : a play of light
Aug 17 : a nature macro
Aug 24 : your morning
Aug 31 : show some circles

Upcoming Themes For Saturday Photo Hunting

JUNE

8th ~ Grin
15th ~ Unknown
22nd ~ Daydream
29th ~ Citrus
JULY
6th * GO
13th * Flamboyant
20th * Really
27th * Planter
AUGUST
3rd ~ Guess
10th ~ Blue
17th ~ Swanky
24th ~ Humble
31st ~ Model

History of Tecumseh By Matthew Didier

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday