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Mt. Dora, Renninger’s, Apopka, Townsend’s Plantation Re.enactment
Why does this event have so many names??? Well, this re.enactment for many years was held in Apopka at Townsend’s Plantation. It was a beautiful site. But, life changes. We kind of outgrew it, and I heard that the family had sold it. So, we moved one year to Zellwood (icky site). Then, we moved once again to the back field at Renninger’s Flea Market in Mt. Dora. We old folks sometimes have a tough time giving up the old name. And, since the Townsend family is still very much involved in this particular re.enactment, its official name is still “The Battle of Townsend’s Plantation.” We have been popping kettle korn at this event since we started the business...first at the “Plantation”; and continuing through the moves.
Although approximately 160ish fighting events happened here in Florida, the Battle of Townsend's Plantation did not happen at least not at the site of the plantation. It is, however, representative of a raid or skirmish that may have taken place. Most of the War Between the States events that took place in Florida were, indeed, raids over cattle, salt or sugar. Olustee or the Battle at Ocean Pond is the one exchange that would truly be considered a "battle." About 11,000 men exchanged gun fire...almost evenly divided with slightly over 5,000 on each side. It was fought in February 1864. The Confederates "won."
http://battleofolustee.org/
Although approximately 160ish fighting events happened here in Florida, the Battle of Townsend's Plantation did not happen at least not at the site of the plantation. It is, however, representative of a raid or skirmish that may have taken place. Most of the War Between the States events that took place in Florida were, indeed, raids over cattle, salt or sugar. Olustee or the Battle at Ocean Pond is the one exchange that would truly be considered a "battle." About 11,000 men exchanged gun fire...almost evenly divided with slightly over 5,000 on each side. It was fought in February 1864. The Confederates "won."
http://battleofolustee.org/
But, Townsend’s has an even more special meaning to us. It was the first re.enactment we witnessed. I think that was in 1989. I was hooked. Steve, not so much. I immediately signed up with the 17th Connecticut as it made a lot of sense since that was our nativity. However, their meetings were much too far away to travel conveniently. We soon went to another event at Hillsborough River Park where I met Tom and Sue. They were members of the First Minnesota. They have since moved out of state, but Sue and I bonded immediately. If she saw me today, she would still teasingly remind me how totally obnoxious I was. I had to check out ladies’ underpinnings while on the ladies, of course. I wanted to know so that I too could be proper.
I did several events with members of the First Minnesota before Steve finally caught the bug and decided that he wanted to “play” too. We outfitted him, more or less, in a couple of weeks. His jacket came from Mary Dodd’s sutlery (the sutlery is gone, but he is still using this verrrrrrrrry faded jacket); his pants from Fall Creek http://www.fcsutler.com/ (my boss at IDS (American Express Financial) let me use his credit card as I did not have one at the time and Andy at Fall Creek had the pants in the mail that day), Steve's sort of period shoes from J. C. Penney, a shirt here, socks there. Borrowing leathers from the 1st Minnesota and a rifle from Rick of the 97th String Band, we got him out on the field as a “fresh fish" at Boyd Hill (in St. Pete) which is where we held our meetings and drills. In those days, a fresh fish had to prove a sort of proficiency in the handling of the rifle and understanding commands. Steve had some excellent quick training by then Sgt. Dave H. And onto the field he went. Loved it. The next event he participated in was Brooksville, the big one, where I, too, took the field as a field nurse carrying a goodly water supply. And, we are still doing that event, albeit, in a different format. We now make money at it, instead of just playing.
Anyway, no matter what name we give this event, it is still very special. The Townsend family probably has no idea what they started for this family.
There will be no pictures to go along with this dissertation. Someone (Molly, me) forgot the camera card in the computer at home. To further prove that I have more Senior moments than I care to discuss, we went to Walmart for sugar and other supplies. Now, anyone with a normal mind might think to go to the area of the store at which one might locate another card. NOPE! Totally forgot!
One of best things about this “job” of ours is the really great people we meet. Over the years, I have formed some special bonds over some very silly things:
· The most recent is with a lady named Tara and her very sweet special daughters—Rachel, Rebecca, Leah, and Hannah. These folks really love this event. They came Friday for school days, then Saturday and again Sunday. At least one of the girls bought an outfit suitable for a young lady in this time period. They also had attended last year which is where this story really began. It is a spin off of another one of my crazy “bonds.” Another sutler and I were having a conversation about the merits of black or green olives and the possibility of using one or the other to determine a man’s worth (toldya, it was silly). Anyway, Tara and her family were overhearing this conversation. A little while later, they came to us to buy kettle korn. When she asked, “How much?” I answered “One green olive!” We laughed. I mostly forgot about it…until Miss Tara and her daughters came to our tent this year….with her one green olive! I did honor that more or less. But, now all involved will remember this, I hope.
· Bill and Deb are members of the 14th Brooklyn—the “red legs.” I had never seen Bill without his kepi in all the years that I have known him (and that is mannnnny). Deb is a Certified Lay Person in her church denomination. One Sunday, the pastor from the church which I attend was absent. Deb filled in as the preacher. Now, one has to realize that when one is dressed in different garb than one is used to seeing, the person looks much different. Did not recognize Deb AT ALL! But her husband was standing near her at the end of the service. He looked, oh so familiar. Who could he be be? Well, I held my hand up and tried to visualize him by just his facial features (without a hat) by looking through a small peephole between my rolled first finger. Yep, he caught me. I had to fess up as to what I was doing and asked if he was a re.enactor. Of course, it became an immediate “secret” sign between us. He sends people to my tent with this “sign.” I send members of his unit back to him, telling them to give the sign. Then, of course, I usually have to explain what it is all about, especially to the women. I guess no one wants to get caught up in something naughty or bad. But, it has been a fun “joke” over the last couple of years. Deb and Bill laugh; I laugh; and the others that are sent on the “secret” mission get a chuckle as well.
· I have a wagon which we purchased from Loafer’s Glory in 1996. It was not cheap, but it was hand created by Bob (the Loafer part of Loafer’s Glory; Deb, his wife apparently is the “Glory.!) This wagon has been worth mannnnnnnnnnnnnny times its weight in gold or anything else. We can haul up to three fifty-pound bags of corn to our tent from the truck or whatever. I can also use it to fill with popped corn to take out to the battlefield and sell to spectators. It holds twenty-two medium bags of popped corn. This is the only event in which I still do this as we are usually too busy. This is also one of the few events that the spectators don’t have to go through “Sutlers’ Row” to get to see the battle. They come through the gate, run to the battlefield and oft leave right after the “war is over.” This does not make for great profits. For many years, many young girls fought to take the wagon out. Now, most of them are either pregnant or have babies. They tell me that they are no longer “cute.” So, in the last couple of years, I had to get “cute” again in my sixties and peddle my own korn. When I get out there with my wagon, I always get a great promotional ad from my friends of the 97th String Band between songs. I give at least one bag to the band (sometimes up to three) and sell out almost immediately after they plug me. Sometimes, I can do lots of walking before the “plug” gets done. Sales can be slow until Rick makes his great announcement. Luv, ya, Rick! This works well for both the band, and of course, Miss Molly’s.
· There are others as well which I probably will share with y’all from time to time.
Every now and then, a new sutler joins us. The re.enacting community is relatively small; and the sutler portion of that is an even smaller community. So, the new folks are quite noticeable. This year a young super couple recently bought out a sutler who specialized in period fabric. Jimmy and Beth want to grow the business that had become somewhat stagnant. They want to reinvent the supplying of people in the War Between the States with appropriate notions and fabric—wools, cottons, linens. Their business is in South Carolina from which he hails. She is from “Upstate” New York (not to be confused with NYC---upstate people don’t like to be known in the same breath as city folk). We had a most pleasant time meeting, chatting and visiting with them. We will probably not see them again until next January at Alafia Rendezvous, but we look forward to that. Their business name is 96 District Fabrics. If you are a time traveler (meaning a re.enactor in the various times which we celebrate through re.enacting) and are in need of quality period fabric, give them a try. We look forward to seeing them again.
The weather was exceptionally hot for this time of the year. Winter, even in Florida, is supposed to be colder than it is this year.
Florida folks have lots of food rules that we don't find in other areas...such as New England. Can't eat popcorn or kettle korn 'cuz the weather is too hot (for instance). One cannot eat ice cream if the weather is too cold. The ice cream lady also told us that people will not buy too much ice cream if the weather is too hot as it will melt or the milk will spoil or whatever the excuse may be. New Englanders, on the other hand, really don't care if the weather is "too cold" (they are the number one consumers of ice cream, per capita, in the world). And, it can never be too hot for pop corn. Any way, the weather this year affected our sales greatly.
I fussed at Mr. Townsend about the weather. Told him he needs to order better weather. It is either too cold, too hot, or too rainy. The last several years we had a downpour at least once during the weekend. We sold more kettle korn in the years when the rains came than when it is hot.
One of the coldest events we did early in our career was at the Plantation. We had our first tent. It was fairly roomy. The sides were up. The front piece of canvas was partly hooked closed as well. With the kettle going, it was rather cozy. The wind was wicked cold. More people came inside to get warm. One really gets to know ones acquaintances really quickly and well when a zillion people are huddled around a big black thirty-five gallon cast iron kettle We told them that we rented the heat, the korn came free. Everyone, of course, knew that I was joshing them. But, we sold an awful lot of korn in that cozy little tent.
Lots of sutlers, lots of troops (mostly Confederate...many who had to "galvanize."). Infantry, artillery, cavalry. Zouve. Albert Cashiers (a woman who posed throughout the War as a man using this name).
Lots of Displays and Living History:
- The Surgeons of the Confederacy.
- Bob and Jackie in their 7th Connecticut Camp
- The Feeney family telegraph. http://w1tp.com/im1000a.htm
- Scottish Lye Soap Maker. http://www.nosweatsoap.com/
- The Sons of Confederate Veterans. http://www.scv.org/
- Hardy's Brigade Recruitment. http://hardysbrigade.com/
- Not to be outdone...the Sons of Union Veterans. http://www.suvcw.org/
The Sons of Union Veterans had available a neat magazine style booklet called Florida Civil War Heritage Trail. Published by the Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resources. www.flheritage.com Great color slick photos. The booklet is separated by region, then by county. This booklet can be obtained free by calling 800-847-7278 or checking the web-site. It includes items and pictures of Archives, Battlefields, Cemeteries, Forts, Government Buildings that are now museums (county courthouse, etc.), Historic Houses, Markers, Lighthouse, Military Buildings, Monuments (including five "out-of-state" monuments to Florida soldiers), Museums, Parks, Railroads, Mini Biographies, pictures of battle and other flags, reproductions of money, maps and other period accouterments .
See y’all at the next event…
For us, it will be Ft DeSoto in two weeks
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