Four years ago, on a wet snowy day, I decided to do what I loved – write about American History.

As a child, I was always fascinated by the stories of our founding fathers and mothers.

Growing up in the suburbs of Washington, DC, I discovered that there was so much history to be discovered. Spent many field trips at Mount Vernon, Bull Run and Robert E Lee’s House (aka The Custis Mansion) and being that we lived near Arlington National Cemetery – it was literally my playground. I spent many hours as a child walking through the graves studying the soldiers names and wanting to know each and every life story of the soldiers. I felt a kinship in a strange sort of way.

As a mother, I would bring my children to all of the historic sites in our area and always encouraged my children the importance of American history – which thankfully instilled in them their love for American history to this very day.

I come from a long lineage of Americans on my fathers side in Vermont. My grandfather, when asked where he was from, would never say he was an American but always proudly say “I’m a Vermonter.”

My great-great grandfather, George Husband, proudly served in the 8th Vermont Regiment during the American Civil War. He was injured at Cold Harbor and lost a leg.

My grandfather, Mario Marini, an Italian immigrant who became a proud Nationalized citizen to his beloved America, fought in the Pacific during World War II.

From the beginning of my deciding to write this blog, I wanted to jut share my excitement and love of American history. And this is how The Historical Homemaker was born – in January 2016.

To honor our anniversary, we are doing a giveaway of one of my favorite books. It truly is one of the best books ever written of the Lincoln marriage (good and bad!) and I know that you will enjoy every detail of it.

All you have to do is go to our Facebook page and like and share. We will do the drawing at 5PM EST on Friday.

Thank you for your continued support of me throughout the years. It means the world to me!

Much love,

Coleen

Aka your Historical Homemaker

We will never forget these courageous heroes

Julia Grant was born on January 26, 1826. Wife of our 18th President, President Ulysses S Grant. She loved her role as First Lady and enjoyed entertaining at The White House. She once said, “My life in the White House was like a bright and beautiful dream.”

Julia Grant was the first First Lady to write an autobiography for publication (The portrait was done by Matthew Brady, famed Civil War photographer)

The battle of Fisher’s Hill was fought September 21-22, 1864 near the town of Strasburg, Virginia. It was part of the Valley Campaigns of 1864.

It was a gorgeous Sunday so we brought the boys to show them the landscape of the battlefield. It was incredibly peaceful and hard to realize the carnage that happened years ago.

Some interesting facts about the Battle of Fisher’s Hill:

• The battle took place between North Mountain and Massanutten Mountain in the Shenandoah Valley
• Union forces from New York and Confederate forces from Alabama were heavily represented
• This campaign was also known as “The Gibraltar of the Valley”
• The area was only 4 miles long and had nearly 4000 casualties
• The battle between both sides was very exhausting with the South losing confidence with General Jubal Early. At one point, General Early even threw rocks at his men’s heads to stop them from retreating.
• It ended as a victory for the North

Today in American history…President Benjamin Harrison was born in North Bend, Ohio, in 1833. Benjamin Harrison was the grandson of “Old Tippecanoe,” William Henry Harrison who was the ninth president of the United States. 

He would go on to become the 23rd President of the US when elected in 1888.

We had a wonderful visit to Meems Covered Bridge in Historic Mount Jackson, Virginia yesterday.

What have you done historic lately?

Betsy Ross was born on January 1, 1752 in Philadelphia and eventually become one of the most famous figures of the American Revolution. Did she make the very first US flag? There is still an ongoing debate as to whether she did (or didn’t) but we do know for a fact that she was a large part of Philadelphia society and had encountered many leaders of the American Revolution – especially General George Washington.

According to her grandson, Sometime in the Summer of 1776 or possibly 1777 Betsy Ross received a visit from General George Washington regarding the making of a flag for our new Nation.

Is Betsy Ross the one who finalized the design of our flag? Or was it another Philadelphia seamstress, perhaps Mary Pickersgill, who would sew the mammoth flag that was the inspiration for Francis Scott Key to write “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Some say it might have even have been a New Hampshire quilting bee that made the first flag.

Regardless, Betsy Ross was in the perfect time and setting in her life and it was a time in American History when we needed patriots and heroes. Who else better to be a patriot and hero but the quiet lady seamstress from Philadelphia who is credited with finalizing the design and sewing the first U.S. flag.

We have made some favorite historical recipes in honor of the upcoming Christmas holiday. We have on display this week at the bakery Martha Washington’s Great Cake and also Mary Todd Lincoln’s White Almond Cake. These cakes were made by the Washington and Lincoln families during the Christmas holidays 🎄☃️❄️