No such thing as a dumb question

This part of our web site is just for fun and not meant as a slight to visitors or living history persons. To the living history person keep in mind that some visitors have never spent a night in the forest or cooked over an open fire. If raised in the city children may never have even seen an open flame. Some of what we do is as strange to many as though we came from a different planet. Be patient.

To the visitor viewing this page keep in mind that we are not Government employees. The tents are our living quarters and all the equipment you see is privately owned (please respect same) we often spend days doing this, may have been asked the same question a dozen times in the past hour and may be tired. History gets into our blood, we really do think differently than most people. Part of the reason we are here at events is to educate (we also like to show off). But most importantly to have fun and help you to also enjoy visiting us.

The questions we are sometimes asked surprise us. Here are some of the questions and answers. Many are funny and some sad. Names have been removed.

1)  The number one question "is that a real fire"?  
     Number one answer on bad days "No...... we have an underground gas line from the tent".

    1a) Teachers tell children that the camp fire is not real but uses a gas line.   
        People are not allowed to burn wood. No anwer given.  

2) While cooking a LARGE turkey by the fire place, "Is that a real chicken?" 
     "No Mam it is a 20lb turkey, would you care to join us for dinner?"

3) I do a native impression of the F&I thru AWI period. If you have seen us, you may know we
are prone to wear trade jewelry and have noses and ears pierced. 
     My favorite question came from a lady who asked "Is that your real nose?"

4) I have a really attractive chamber pot (a pot placed under the bed to save a trip to the 
outhouse at night) probably 19th Century but in a pattern of blue glaze that is very similar 
to some of the fancy import stuff that came from China - and was copied in Europe. I had it 
in my tent under the bed and a lady told me that she had a soup tureen that looked like that
and she'd always wondered why they only had a handle on one side. 
     You should have seen the look on HER face when I told her what it actually was for! 
     I was polite enough to keep a straight face - but it was hard!

5) I was at a Civil War event over the weekend and had heard some. 
The first one ... I was standing next to an arterlery guy when he pulled out his .45 revolver
to show someone and a woman asked suprisingly "Oh my, is that a real gun?" and she got the 
typical response, "they are real guns."   But then her dumb moment was asking if he was 
suppose to have it.  He said, "Ma'am, we are all armed, and pointed to me with a 1842 
Springfield and a couple of the other guys with weapons. 
     She seemed shocked that we would be carrying guns.

6) There was a question that I have not heard before. I was again standing with a group when a
woman with her husband decided to ask some questions. She asked if there were mosquitos during
the Civil War. 
     A few of us cold barely contain ourselves, but luckily the one guy was able to maintain 
composure and tell her that "mosquitos are an ancient insect", her husband just shook his head
...... I guess she never saw "Jurassic Park".

7) While in a shooting match a visitor with son stood by the safety line behind me. I heard the 
father tell the son to watch and he would be able to see the bullet go down range ecause these 
old guns could not shoot fast and people could just step out of the way and avoid being hit.         
     I said nothing.

8) Did you live back then?  
     The answers to this one could be endless.