By Beth David, Editor
A little bit of rain did not stop area militias from demonstrating the skills of Revolutionary era America in Acushnet on Sunday, 8/23/26. Members of the Fairhaven Village Militia, Dartmouth Militia, Rehobeth Militia, and Wareham Militia set up camp on the front lawn of the Long Plain Museum on Main Street.
Militia members demonstrated skills such as fire starting, military drills, tinsmithing, herb identification, and the ins and outs of musket-fired weapons.
The museum was open to the public, and people could get ice cream and hot dogs from vendors.
The rain held off while the militias set up, then it rained just as one o’clock rolled around, the official start time of the event. It only lasted about an hour though, and then the hardy residents of Acushnet came around to check out the scene.
“I will never give up,” said organizer, Pauline Teixeira of the Historical Society, as the rain came down.
“I’m so happy,” she said when people started showing up after the rain stopped.
Ron Malouin of the Rehobeth Militia, pointed out the various plants around the grounds, explaining which ones are good for medicinal purposes and which ones are just good nutrition. He pointed out Lady’s Thumb (good nutrition); salsify, a dandelion look-alike that is very tasty and has good nutritional value; lamb’s quarter (nutrient); wood sorrel, a clover look-alike that has a lemony zest and should only be eaten in moderation to avoid a bad digestive response (ahem); and a few others.
Most of them, however, are weeds to the average homeowner with a lawn.
“We kill ‘em,” said Mr. Malouin. “Instead of using them.”
“It’s really interesting,” said Dianne Baker, who was learning about weeds with her friend Patti Vargas.
The two got there just as it started to pour. They took refuge in the museum until it stopped.
At the Fairhaven Village Militia tent, Brandon Estrella was explaining the workings of a black powder rifle, and how a soldier in the 1770’s might have traveled with it.
Tinsmith John Garcia demonstrated how a compact “chamber stick” was an all-in-one unit to light a candle with flint, hold a candle, and transport a candle.
Acushnet resident, Eldon Barrett marveled at the hot chocolate maker, with wooden stirrer.
“I love Revolutionary War history,” said Mr. Barret.
Michael Cravinho, with the Dartmouth Militia, described a display of black powder rifles, including one for hunting large game, one small caliber, and one that the soldiers would have carried.
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- Members of different militias practice drills with their muskets during the Revolutionary War Encampment sponsored by the Acushnet Historical Society on 8/23/26 at the Long Plain Museum. Photo by Beth David.
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- Members of different militias practice drills with their muskets during the Revolutionary War Encampment sponsored by the Acushnet Historical Society on 8/23/26 at the Long Plain Museum. Photo by Beth David.
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- Eldon Barrett of Acushnet checks out the intricacies of a tin candleholder while Tinsmith, John Garcia, of the Fairhaven Village Militia explains how it all works during the Revolutionary War Encampment sponsored by the Acushnet Historical Society on 8/23/26 at the Long Plain Museum. Photo by Beth David.
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- Ron Malouin of the Rehobeth Militia explains that Curly Dock is a “good edible” with lots of nutirents to (L-R) Patti Vargas and Dianne Baker during the Revolutionary War Encampment sponsored by the Acushnet Historical Society on 8/23/26 at the Long Plain Museum. Photo by Beth David.
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- Matthew McDonald, Lt. Commander of the Fairhaven Villiage Militia, inspects his black powder handgun during the Revolutionary War Encampment sponsored by the Acushnet Historical Society on 8/23/26 at the Long Plain Museum. Photo by Beth David.
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- Ron Malouin of the Rehobeth Militia points out an edible plant on the lawn, during the Revolutionary War Encampment sponsored by the Acushnet Historical Society on 8/23/26 at the Long Plain Museum. Photo by Beth David.
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- A display inside the Long Plain Museum includes a kitchen wood stove and other kitchen necessities from pre-electric Acushnet, while the museum was open during the Revolutionary War Encampment sponsored by the Acushnet Historical Society on 8/23/26 on the museum grounds. Photo by Beth David.
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Click here to download the 8/27/26 issue: 08-27-26 Encampment
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