The Marité – The Last Cod Fishing Boat
This 90-year boat which used to fish for cod in Newfoundland waters is magnificent and it taught me how large and gorgeous those fishing boats were.
Five Centuries of Cod Fishing
I recently the book “Cinq siècles de pêche à la morue – Terre-Neuvas & Islandais” (Five centuries of cod fishing) written by Nelson Cazeils (in French, sorry!). The book discusses the history of cod fishing in all its aspects.
British Capture of Fort Ticonderoga – Reenactment
In early July 1777 (July 5th to be precise), Continental Army’s General Arthur St. Clair decides to evacuate Ticonderoga, and British General John Burgoyne captures the fort, before advancing to Saratoga. This July 21-22, 2012, it was fun to attend the two-day battle re-enactment highlighting this climatic summer of 1777 as the Fort’s American garrison…
Finding Soldier’s Names on Powder Horns
Written by Tom Grinslade, author of the book “Powder Horns – Documents of History” Note from Christine: I am very excited to publish the article Tom wrote after I reached out to him with the idea that it seems that most people who own a powder horn are looking for information about its original owner,…
One Ocean, Two Continents, 1,000 Connections
Brittany and French America: the two things I am passionate about. Born and raised in France, a proud “Brittany girl” and have lived in Quebec and North-East USA which used to be part of New France, I started to get very interested in the early colonial history of this region a few years ago. This…
William Farwell’s Powder Horn
The enlarged images can be viewed in a slideshow by clicking the first image and then clicking the “next” button. Eliot contacted me and was hoping to learn more about this 1775 powder horn, inscribed with the name William Farwell. I thought I would share it with all, as it is a very interesting powder…
Where does the Name Vermont Come from?
You cannot believe everything you read on the internet. If you’ve read that the word “verts monts” (green mountains) was first used by Samuel de Champlain in 1609, we believe it’s wrong. An excellent, well-referenced – but yet incomplete – article by Joseph-André Sénécal*, a University of Vermont professor, now retired, looked into the question….
Canoeing the King’s Waterways
I recently read a fascinating French book which I would recommend to anyone interested in early colonial history of the US, or should I say “French America”. The author: Jean Raspail, a renowned French writer, journalist and also explorer. The French title: “En Canot Sur les Chemins D’Eau Du Roi: Une Aventure En Amérique (Le…
Newfoundland – “Terre aux Bretons”
I have to come to France to learn more about 15th century expeditions to North-America than I have while living in Canada or the US. I knew that Bretons and Basques (respectively people from Brittany, France and from the region between France and Spain) had been fishing and exploring the seawaters of Newfoundland and the…
Saratoga-Stillwater Colonial Story
Come and join us this Thursday night at the Saratoga National Historical Park for an exciting presentation sponsored by the Old Saratoga Historical Association. The presentation will be at the Visitor Center at Saratoga National Historical Park, beginning at 7:00 p.m. The Visitor Center is located at 648 Route 32 in Stillwater, NY. For directions,…