Michigan: Port Huron, Fall Back In Time – A Family Vacation Living History Experience. We are the sharing observations about family time and living history made by Rachel Hoffman at the Feast of Saint Claire held every Memorial Day weekend at Pine Grove Park.

The sun would shine, shedding its warm rays generously over the camp - too generously really, and a bit too warm for those donning wool petticoats, thick stockings and an assortment of strange looking layers.

Then there were the days when the rain fell upon the same people who were now huddled by the campfire, warm frocks and woolen shawls pulled closely about them. This has always been a part of my life as a French and Indian war era re-enactor.

Re-enacting is a time to gather with friends, spend time with family but most importantly, a time to learn and to teach. Children point their pudgy fingers, gazing at one unfamiliar thing or another as history comes alive in our modern world. From building fires to making homemade lye soap, this is a time to fall back into history and observe.
 
In the early morning, there is already a pan of scrambled eggs placed carefully over the warming fire. Sleepy-eyed people stumble out of tents to fill their stomachs, eying the sky to determine the weather. By the time breakfast is consumed, the table cleared and the dishes washed in the small tub of warm water, the women set to work preparing ingredients for a savory stew that will simmer over hot coals until suppertime. The noon meal is a simple fare, consisting of cold cuts on bread and a few cookies.

At the table sit women, young and old, who have set to work on spinning, knitting, weaving, sewing, and embroidering. Their heads, covered with white caps, are bent over their work as they chatter about daily events.  Young girls sit, carefully embroidering delicate patterns onto their pockets – worn outside of their skirts at this age to show off their handiwork to potential husbands.

In the corner sits an older woman, her foot bobbing up and down on the wooden peddle of her spinning wheel while wool slips easily through her skilled fingers and is transformed into yarn. The woman at the loom is weaving a delicately patterned shawl, her trained fingers moving rapidly. Many women sit, knitting yarn into socks, hats, scarves, mittens or baby blankets. A few of the women are swiftly moving needle and thread to patch worn clothing. The men stand and converse with one another, discussing the weather, the government or theology. The children run about, delighting in their summer away from school.

Sunday morning, the people gather to lift their voices in praise to God and to hear what the preacher has prepared. A bountiful dinner is awaiting them after the closing prayer.
 
All gathered together, enjoying the authentic dishes, it is common knowledge that this evening they will pack up their tents, their tables, their funny clothing and return to their world of modern conveniences. As if stepping once again from one world to another, they get caught up in their lives of busyness and look forward to the next opportunity to fall back into the 18th century and observe.

Planning Details
Port Huron’s Feast of Saint Claire. The Feast celebrates the life in Michigan from 1750-1840.  The festival brings together more than 650 historic re-enactors to depict daily life of the period in French, British and American Indian settlements. For more information, call (810) 982-0891. It is held every Memorial Day weekend at Pine Grove Park in Port Huron, MI 48060.

Port Huron Area. Part of Michigan’s Blue Water Area - 140 miles of shoreline with family –friendly communities and awesome cobalt blue water – Port Huron is on the edges of Lake Huron and the St. Clair River. Parks, boardwalks, and wide beaches frame the shorelines making it easy to enjoy  the water and the natural beauty. Summertime festivals, music performances, living history, farmers markets’ create the vacation experience.
 
Edison Depot Museum. Take a trip through Thomas Edison's life at the museum located in the Railroad Depot of the historic Fort Gratiot Station. Thomas Edison worked as a "news butcher" selling candy and newspapers between 1859 and 1863 and conducted his first scientific experiments on the train between Port Huron and Detroit. Interactive exhibits portray Edison's multi-faceted story of creativity, family support, adversity, perseverance, and ultimate triumph as an inventor.  (Port Huron Main Museum 1115 Sixth Street and Edison Depot Museum 510 Edison Parkway Port Huron, MI 48060. (810) 455-0035 or www.phmuseum.org/EdisonDepot.html)

Knowlton's Ice Museum. Before automatic ice dispensers the ice business was a little more personal. This cozy spot displays more than 3,000 items used in the cutting, harvesting, storing, selling, and use of natural ice providing a glimpse of how things worked before cubed ice was packed and made available for purchase at the gas station. Bonus points: Although unrelated the new location also has oodles of dolls from around the world and numerous baby buggies.  (Knowlton's Ice Museum 317 Grand River Ave Port Huron, MI 48060. (810) 987-5441)

Editor’s note.Throughout the year we invite kids ages 10 to 18 to “Tell Mom” in their own words about a recent family vacation experience. We share the best with our readers. Rachael Hoffman is one of the winners in our theFamilyTravelFiles.com contest for young travel writers prompt “I wanna go back…”. Future writing opportunities for young writers include writing about a secret family vacation spot and describing the best beach vacation place. Details may be found at Contest for Young Writers: Tell Mom - Fun or Not?