“The spirit of learning and history has created an environment of enthusiasm and play,” said Shaun Williams, gesturing to the field outside the Barcelona Trading Company tent.
She and fellow actors from the Gilded Thistle hosted games for visitors and served refreshments to the historical re-enactors who transformed the grounds of the George Washington Inn into a glimpse of colonial life in the four-day Northwest Colonial Festival.
Re-enactors and attendees traveled from all over Washington state to participate, educate and entertain visitors with dancing, music, munitions demonstrations and formal talks, in addition to informal talks and demonstrations — elucidating visitors on historical topics ranging from the Revolutionary War to how flax is made into linen to the game of Graces.
“It’s a lot of fun; it’s cool to get to spend some time living in a different way,” said Charlie Hockett of Leavenworth.
“It really opens your mind,” Hockett said, referring to living in old-fashioned clothing.
Hockett, who holds a degree in historical fashion, said that the 18th century self-made dress she was wearing was “so much more comfortable” than a T-shirt and jeans.
“This clothing was made for people without air conditioners or heaters,” she said.
Clint Jones said his young children were “having a blast.” He said he was pleasantly surprised that they weren’t bothered by the guns and cannon.
Children were encouraged to participate in a scavenger hunt that led them through the grounds, visiting the Daughters and Sons of the American Revolution, the British Army and Navy’s camps and other historically-oriented tents where knowledgeable people demonstrated crafts and items previously essential to daily life.
The scavenger hunt ended at the children’s tent, where they were each given a copy of the Declaration of Independence, beads and a set of toy British soldiers.
British soldiers were a big presence at the festival, appearing to outnumber George Washington’s men.
“It’s my first year as Washington,” said Jeff Dacus, assuming the role of the revered general and future president.
“Normally I’m a historian for the festival. The previous George was unable to do it this year, and four weeks ago they said to me, ‘You’re George.’ The uniform fits.”
The members of the Gilded Thistle said they expect to return next year.
“We love how welcoming everyone is,” member Nicki Miller said.
For more about the Northwest Colonial Festival, visit colonialfestival.com.
Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen / Dressed as British soldiers at the time of the American Revolution, Peter Berneking of Sequim, Thomas House-Higgins of Olympia and Luke Berneking explain about how a three pound ball fits into this particular cannon while Caleb Berneking looks on.
Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen / Wayne Yocam, of San Juan Island, left, and Arild Barrett of Anderson Island, act as British Navy at the Northwest Colonial Festival for their second year. Sailors in their modern lives, too, they explain about splicing ropes. “A knot reduces the strength by half, but a splice maintains strength.” They said that traditionally the rope would have been made of hemp.
Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen / Caleb Berneking assists Jane Ritchie, playing Martha Washington, as she demonstrates how flax was turned into linen in the 1700s to a crowd at the Northwest Colonial Festival last Friday.
The Taylor family, from left to right, Courtney, Millie, Matt and Jameson traveled from Lakewood to attend the NW Colonial Festival. “We’re just joining him,” the adult Taylors said of Jameson, saluting, who loves “Hamilton the Musical” and wears this costume often. “Someone pulled us aside at our local dog park and told us about this.”
Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen / Fred Gilbert of Silverdale, with the John Paul Jones Chapter of the Sons of the Revolution, explains how to load a musket to visitors at the PNW Colonial Festival. He said, “I do this to honor my fourth great grandfather,” Sergeant John Gilbert of the 8th Connecticut Unit, a survivor of the Revolutionary War, wounded at Yorktown.
Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen / Juliet Griev, standing in front of the George Washington Inn, acquired her white cap at the Northwest Colonial Festival on Friday, completing a beautiful outfit.
Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen / Members of the Gilded Thistle, from left to right, Shaun Williams, Alex Williams, Ellen Huls and Nicki Miller pose at a table in their large Barcelon Trading Company tent where they give refreshments to re-enactors at the PNW Colonial Festival and host games for visitors. “We chose BTC specifically,” said Huls. “As far aw we can tell, it was the only trading company that refused to trade in slaves.” She explained that BTC had to be disbanded after lending their ships to the American Revolution, which was a sacrifice worth making.
Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen / Lynn Maynard of Centralia, with the Sacajawea Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution in Olympia, explains that the DAR is trying to enroll more descendants of African American, Native American, French and Spanish participants participants of the American Revolution to join their organization. Maynard also spoke to families about spices and why the pineapple became a symbol of hospitality in the Eastern United States. “It’s a blast,” she said, referring to volunteering at the PNW Colonial Festival. “I get to talk to people and share about history.” Her ancestor, Basille Perraut, was French Canadian.
Jeff Dacus as George Washington shares a pleasant conversation with Randa Wintermute of Sequim at the NW Colonial Festival on Friday. Dacus said this was his first time playing George Washington. He said that Washington was mostly schooled at home and was an autodidactic. He understood “upper math” to become a surveyor at 16 years of age. He said that Washington was heavily influenced by “The 101 Rules of Civility.”
Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen / Bill Huls of the Gilded Thistle, from Renton, plays a stacking game that looks very familiar with three-year-old Aliya Jones at the Pacific Northwest Colonial Festival on Friday.
