Generational Reenacting

[jschw90]

Re: Generational Reenacting

I am the first in my family to do it. I was in the 3rd grade when my interest was sparked in the civil war. I may try to get into other era's sometime.

[ethan harrington]

Re: Generational Reenacting

2nd Generation, My Father Rode with the 7th ILL Cav "Karl Luthen" back in the 70's and was a member of the mudsills.

Ethan Harrington
Critter Co.

[Arch Campbell]

Re: Generational Reenacting

Ethan, when I began reenacting in 1982 the 7th Illinois Cavalry (often just known as "Luthen's") was known far and wide as the greatest historical cavalry unit, ever. It caused great excitement to hear that Luthen's had been contracted (yes, they were paid- reembursed for the many costs associated with hauling horses, more like) to come to an event you were planning to attend. Virtually any time you saw men on horses in 19th Century-set movies in the 1980's, you were looking at the 7th Illinois. With that great heritage behind you, it is no surprise you ended up with the Critters.

I, like my pard Rod Miller who posted a few pages back, would have voted in an additional category, had it been an option: "Co-Generational." My father and I started together, in the old 31st Iowa Infantry, Company B, the "Cedar Falls Reserves." My mother threw her hoop skirt in the ring two years later, in 1984.
In the late 1980s we started to drift apart, hobbywise, as I became more and more interested in improving the accuracy of my interpretation. In 1992 myself and E Stultz split off from the 31st to form the Hairy Nation. For many years, we still attended many of the same mainstream events, so my family was in the rather odd position of travelling to the same event, and then not really seeing each other during the course of it.
Nowadays, the Nation doesn't "evangelize" at mainstream events any more, so I rarely see my parents in a reenacting context. Thankfully, while there was some strain 20 years ago (I was a teenager, what can I say), I have a great relationship with my parents, even though we are at different ends of the hobby.

[Indianabugles]

Re: Generational Reenacting

1st gen, My brother is a medieval re-enactor and had been for about five years before I started. I have brought my youngest Brother, Son and hopefully wife and daughter this season if all goes well, into the hobby.

Christian Sprakes
19th Regimental Bugler and Musician

[ethan harrington]

Re: Generational Reenacting

Arch,
Thanks for the kind words it gave my dad a little smile and sparked a story or two when I let him read your post, we own a custom woodworking shop together so we talk about all sorts of things in the run of the day. And looking back I have only rode a modern saddle once in my life and it didn't fit me well funny how some memories stand out.

See ya in the field.
Ethan Harrington
Critter Co.