DEERFIELD — Dozens of children marched to the beat of liberty’s drum on Saturday.
In the main event of the Patriots’ Day Revolutionary Muster and Parade at Historic Deerfield, Dave Loda stormed into town on horseback at roughly 12:45 p.m. to inform people British troops had fired upon colonial militiamen in Lexington and to rally support.
The crowd buzzed with urgency and patriotism. Youngsters willing to participate volunteered to “take up arms” in defense of their country in the highlight of a full day of activities meant to give people a taste of what life was like at the start of the fight for America’s independence.
Loda, portraying real-life patriot Isaac Bissell of Worcester, galloped down Old Main Street with news of war.
“Good people, it’s finally come. It’s finally happened. Gen. (Thomas) Gage has gone too far, landing troops at Phipps Farm in Cambridge. They march inland, an entire brigade, over 1,000 troops. They have marched inland toward Lexington and Concord,” he said, referring to the skirmish that started the Revolutionary War. “Our militia met them on the green. A shot was fired and the redcoats opened fire at our men.”
Those who volunteered were given muskets, represented by sticks, and marched to Historic Deerfield’s History Workshop field for training drills and a cannon-fire demonstration by Knowlton’s Rangers, a unit of a Connecticut-based re-enactment group called Nathan Hale Ancient Fifes and Drums. There was also a horse-mounted weaponry demonstration.
“I would like to commend each and every one of you for defending your country and your freedoms,” Loda told the children while sitting atop his horse, Huckleberry.
The activities, which lasted from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., kicked off Historic Deerfield’s season, which ends Dec. 23.
Laurie Nivison, Historic Deerfield’s director of marketing, said the event started in 2011 and that the one this year was proving to be another success.
“It’s going very well. We’re pleased with the people that we’re seeing. And we’ve been blessed with lovely weather, which is always a big factor in what we do,” she said, adding that the activities are especially popular with children. “They get to experience something that they never have before.”
Nivison said roughly 30 Historic Deerfield guides and several volunteers staffed the event. Re-enactors, cloaked in era-appropriate clothing, camped out, giving the day an air of authenticity.
Inside the History Workshop, people got to see the types of toys and games children amused themselves with in the 1700s. Guide Melinda Baker told The Recorder about games like nine pins, which resembled bowling, and graces, which entailed using wooden rods to catch a hoop. The game, Baker said, was played only by girls, to teach them to be graceful.
In the next room, guests were welcome to make an herbal tea by mixing peppermint, spearmint and lemon balm. During the revolution, some people boycotted the green and black teas imported from China and instead made their own tea blends. This was sometimes called “liberty tea.”
In the Visitor Center at Hall Tavern, Cynthia Croteau explained the culinary culture of the time period. She said chocolate was quite popular and imported from South America, but it was consumed as a drink only, rather than being eaten.
Croteau said it was made with boiling water and soldiers received it in their rations. However, children were never allowed to consume it due to its content of theobromine, a stimulant.
There was also a ceremony called Mourning Muskets, which paid tribute to the Deerfield residents who died in the American Revolution and in all wars after.
You can reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com
or 413-772-0261, ext. 257.
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