By Beth David, Editor
The Fairhaven Village Militia (FVM) teamed up with seven other reenacting units for their annual spring encampment on Saturday and Sunday, 5/16/26 and 5/17. This year the FVM added some live action battle reenactment to commemorate the country’s 250th anniversary, at its “MA250: Harbor of Courage” events. The first naval engagement of the Revolutionary War was fought in Fairhaven.
In addition to the “Battle on the Beach,” featuring Patriots vs. British, the other side of the park was host to Harborfest at Grimshaw Park, with vendors and Revolutionary War period activities. Vendors sold a mix of contemporary and old time items.
On Saturday, the FVM shot the five big cannons at dusk. During both days, FVM members drilled and fired muskets. The militia cooked most of their meals on an open fire at the camp, which had lots of tents for sleeping, and lots of tents for demonstrations. The public could learn about tinsmithing, navigation methods used 250 years go, cooking, making clothes, and children’s games of the period.
The weather mostly cooperated, drawing large crowds to both venues, although Saturday got a little cold with the wind.
“We sold a lot of sweatshirts,” said Matthew McDonald, Lt. Commander of the FVM.
He said the wind was a little challenging during the beach reenactment. Everyone pitched in to help, including hurricane barrier personnel. Two whaleboats rowed through the gate and landed on the beach where the battle ensued. Hundreds of people lined the Hurricane Barrier (HB) to watch the 65 reenactors.
“Tons of kids,” said Mr. McDonald, adding he has never seen the HB filled with people, and noting how militia members love teaching both adults and children about how things were done 250 years ago.
He said lots of people asked lots of questions, and that’s how they like it.
Harley Quinn took a stab at writing with a quill pen. The real turkey feather did not have a tip on it, said Cathy Potter. She said the turkeys that visit her yard have been very generous with their feather.
Emerson, 10, who is related to some of the participants, was dressed in full period gear, complete with musket. He said he really likes learning about history from his brother, a reenactor.
“So I like coming in person to live it,” he said. “And have fun with other reenactors and learn from new people and just have fun doing stuff.”
Skip Faulkner had a display of fishing gear, long before plastic fishing lines and fancy reels. He said fishermen would carry a small container with hooks, or a toggle hook if they had to make their own. The toggle hook is a small piece of wood, about two inches long, pointed at both ends, with a depression in the middle for the line. The worm was stabbed with one end and then the other so it is parallel with the line. When the fish bite into it and the line gets pulled, the toggle hook turns sideways and the fish is hooked.
It is a simple device that anyone could make on his own with just his pocket knife (of course everyone had a pocket knife).
Malcolm Phinney, of the Wareham Minutemen and Militia, explained all about the differences between pirates (thieves on the water who killed people and kept the cargo for themselves) and privateers (thieves on the water who did not kill people and were licensed by a government to seize cargo and split the profit with the country).
He also had the instruments of navigation of the period, and explained a bit about lines and how to use them.
Other reenacting units that participated last weekend included: The Thirteenth Continental Regiment out of Rehoboth MA; The Rhode Island United Train Artillery (UTA) of Providence RI; The Ye Olde Lebanon Towne Militia 1775 out of Lebanon CT; The Wareham Minutemen and Militia Companies out of Wareham MA; The Dartmouth Militia out of Dartmouth MA; The Wedges of Time; Big Bear Trading Post.
To learn more about the Fairhaven Village Militia, find them on Facebook.
-
- Members of the Fairhaven Village Militia fire their muskets during the Revolutionary War encampment at Fort Phoenix in Fairhaven on 5/17/26. Photo by Beth David.
-
- Members of the The Rhode Island United Train Artillery (UTA) of Providence RI fire off the small cannon during the Revolutionary War encampment at Fort Phoenix in Fairhaven on 5/17/26. Photo by Beth David.
-
- Skip Faulkner, a member of the Fairhaven Village Militia, explains how a toggle hook works at the Revolutionary War encampment at Fort Phoenix in Fairhaven on 5/17/26. Photo by Beth David.
-
- Harley Quinn tries her hand at writing with a turkey feather, with a little instruction from Cathy Potter, a member of the Thirteenth Continental Regiment from Rehoboth, at the Revolutionary War encampment at Fort Phoenix in Fairhaven on 5/17/26. Photo by Beth David.
-
- Malcom Phinney, a member of the Wareham Minutemen and Militia, explains the way a belay rack is used, which holds the different lines in place on a ship, during the Revolutionary War encampment at Fort Phoenix in Fairhaven on 5/17/26. Photo by Beth David.
-
- Skip Faulkner, a member of the Fairhaven Village Militia, explains how people fished during the 1700s at the Revolutionary War encampment at Fort Phoenix in Fairhaven on 5/17/26. Photo by Beth David.
-
- Emerson is in character as he poses for the local free sheet during the Revolutionary War encampment at Fort Phoenix in Fairhaven on 5/17/26. Photo by Beth David.
•••
Click here to download the 5/21/26 issue: 05-21-26 Encampment
Support local journalism, donate to the Neighb News with PayPal
