Well Betsy, I did have a chuckle at that episode.I recently went to a
renectment here in New Jersey and what the reenactors did was explained the
layer of clothing they wore, so they would not be surprisd by curious hands
later.I'm just glad when the lady check his fly and she asked what's in
there He didnt say nothing. It did remind me of a great folktale which seem
to always intertwine with history here in Salem County. I went to take
pictures and measurements at a pattern brick end house here known as the
Daniel Smith house. As I was leaving I read the sign in front that read the
Weatherby house, site of the Revolutionary Battle of Quinton's
Bridge.Searching forever I could not find out why the  house change names
and when. Another person wrote me this lore. Benjamin Weatherby a
Revolutionary militia member based in Salem County durring this battle was
quite a marksman. Durring the Battle a British tory having to ease his
tension decided to relieve himself out a window on the 2nd floor. The great
markman Benjamin was he hit him midstream thus Smith was changed to
Weatherby. Doesnt really have to do with reeneacted uniforms but surely
should give all a chuckle. Do I need to have citings for this?
----- Original Message -----
From: "Santa Fe Trail Center" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, May 10, 2003 11:13 AM
Subject: Re: touching things in reenactment vs. museums


> When I worked at Fort Larned National Historic Site this was a real
problem.
> Reenactors in tipis have returned to find visitors rumaging through their
> underwear.  One visitor started to lift up my hoop skirt and asked what
was
> under there.  I moved away and replied, "Me," and then explained what
period
> undergarments looked like.  But my favorite happened to a fellow ranger
who
> was dressed as a soldier (fortunately, one of the most outgoing rangers).
> An older lady grabbed his fly and asked him how it was fastened.  Just as
> she grabbed him, she realized what she had done and just froze in
> embarrassment.  She was just locked into place until the ranger could
gently
> disengage.  Seriously, I also think this is a symptom of changes in
society.
> I was raised by the rule "Thou shalt not touch."  Most of our visitors
have
> apparently never heard that rule.  I guess the best is to stay out of
arm's
> reach.
>
> Betsy Crawford-Gore, Curator
> Santa Fe Trail Center
> Larned, Kansas
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Carol Kocian <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Saturday, May 10, 2003 8:53 AM
> Subject: touching things in reenactment vs. museums
>
>
> > Hello,
> >
> >       I'm on some reenactment lists, and occasionally discussion comes
> > up about visitors coming through a camp and handling our possessions
> > and sometimes us without permission.  People (adults as well as
> > children) will pick up an object or sometimes grab someone's clothing
> > or even attempt to lift their skirts!  Often reenactors will say that
> > people know better than to do this in museums, although I know this
> > is not completely true.
> >
> >       Why is this?  Is it because we're outdoors, because we don't
> > have ropes and plexiglass cases as barriers?  Maybe since I'm
> > touching or using the object the visitor thinks it's ok for them to
> > do the same?
> >
> >       When visiting Pompeii, my sister-in-law said everything was
> > there for touching, something I don't agree with.  It was sad to see
> > frescoes with the bottom half rubbed away from people touching it.
> >
> >       Does anyone have comments on this, and suggestions on how to
> > maintain more control over the visitors while still providing the
> > experience?
> >
> >       Thanks!
> >       -Carol
> >
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