March 2024

March is an exciting time each year here at Samson Historical. For us, it means the catalog has gone to the printers and will soon be in the mail to all of you. It also means that we are chomping at the bit to get out and stretch some canvas. Though we are still a little while out for that, we do have the Kalamazoo Living History show to give us that first taste of a market fair.

The renovations for the storefront are underway and we would love to hear which of our items you hope to see featured in our space. While everything on our website and in our catalog is housed here, it is likely the displays will be rotating because of the amount of items we offer.

This is also the time of year we sent new goals for the business and as a family, though those are almost always one in the same. Each of us has our own interest, products, and projects we hope to bring you in the coming months. Who knows, you may just see them here first!

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STOREFRONT NEWS

Our team is hard at work revamping our downtown Lebanon, IN storefront into an immersive 18th Century experience. We are now anticipating the opening of Samson Historical's physical location to be the 5th of April!

119 N Merdian St Lebanon, IN 46052

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ST PATRICK'S CELEBRATIONS

When researching the celebrations of our early American ancestors, we often find holidays were observed in a much different fashion than what we know today. St. Patrick's Day is no exception to this rule. A holiday with roots planted in Irish heritage, St. Patrick's Day is now celebrated far and wide.  However, it is known that Irish immigrants faced a long struggle  for social equality and for the ability to honor or commemorate the Patron Saint Patrick.  The very first confirmed American celebration of St. Patrick's Day took place on March 17, 1737 in Boston with a  parade organized by The Charitable Irish Society.

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CELEBRATE NATIONAL LIVING HISTORY DAY

We invite you to join us in the excitement of celebrating Living History Day on Tuesday, March 5th. Not only is this a day to reflect on the reasons that we as a group take part in our trades, but it is an opportunity to invite others into our community of historians, reenactors, historic interpreters, and hobbyists. Whether you find yourself submersed in living history out of appreciation for the integrity of antique craftsmanship, a yearning for a life that is unplugged and hands-on, or you simply love to pay tribute to the ancestors who paved the way for where we are today, we invite you to share your experience on social media platforms and tag us! Why do you partake in living history?

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2024 PRODUCT CATALOG

Our highly anticipated catalog is finally on the way! We have spent countless hours curating a catalog of products that are well researched, meticulously crafted, expertly photographed, and ready to shed light on ways of old as soon as they are unpackaged. Our catalog has been sent to print and should be arriving in mailboxes within the next few weeks. Free with your 1st order, or $3.00 ($10 CAD) to purchase by itself. If you placed an order in the past year and signed up for marketing, you will receive your copy free of charge in the mail.

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255 YEARS AGO THIS MONTH
THE BOSTON MASSACARE

On the cold, icy morning of March 5, 1770, just after 9 o’clock, a passing remark turned into a contentious affair. Private Hugh White overheard a Bostonian apprentice mention that Captain John Goldfinch had not paid a bill - later it was discovered that he had paid - and came to the officer's defense.

Private White and Edward Garrick, the apprentice, exchanged words before White hit Garrick with the butt of his musket, causing him to fall to the ground. 

This commotion drew the attention of passersby, and a small crowd of roughly 50 men and boys came over to taunt White, who suddenly found himself surrounded by an assembly of Bostonians. The church bells were rung and the group of boys and men had turned into a substantial crowd of 300 to 400 people.

After 30 minutes in the Main Guard trying to decide, the officer for the day, Captain Thomas Preston, sent 7 additional soldiers from the 29th Regiment to aid White.

The crowd continued to taunt the British soldiers and hurled chunks of ice, oyster shells, snowballs, sticks, and stones. One of the soldiers, likely Hugh Montgomery, was pushed to the ground and received a club to the head. It appears that, in response to getting hit, Montgomery opened fire on the crowd and encouraged the other soldiers to follow suit. Three men were killed instantly, and two died of wounds later. In addition, six more were wounded.

The event, which lasted less than an hour, claimed five victims: Crispus Attucks, James Caldwell, Patrick Carr, Samuel Gray, and Samuel Maverick. Crispus Attucks was a free sailor of African and Native American descent and later was seen as the first martyr of the American Revolution.

There are more than 200 eyewitness accounts of this event that would become a symbol of the American war for independence, and they vary widely. Captain Preston and the soldiers were tried by a jury with future president John Adams as their defense. 

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KALAMAZOO LIVING HISTORY SHOW

The time has nearly arrived for the Kalamazoo Living History Show! This month, March 16th and 17th, we invite you to join us in an all encompassing living history show with an astounding variety of 18th Century Sutlers.  This will be the very first in-person event where you can find our 2024 new releases available for purchase. This includes linen gowns, new men's coats, our salt glazed stoneware collection, and more.

Admission At The Door:

Single Day - $9.00
Weekend Pass - $13.00
Children 12 and Under Admitted Free When Accompanied By An Adult

Kalamazoo County Expo Center
2900 Lake Street Kalamazoo, MI