- Delaware State Parks

First State
Heritage Park
18 Century Market Fair
th
on The Green in Dover, Delaware
Saturday, November 7
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
COLONIAL BEER BREWER
COLONIAL CANDLE REFLECTORS (*)Historic
Preservation Consultant Catherine Adams Masek will lead children
through an activity that uses natural objects to help reflect the light
from a candle just like they did in the 18th century. (Rain location: The
Old State House)
Beer brewing has deep roots in Delaware. Join environmental
educator and primitive skills specialist Jeff Moore to learn why
early colonists brewed beer for everyday consumption, and
get hands on experience crafting beer using early primitive
techniques.
Free Admission! • (302) 739-9194 • destateparks.com/MarketFair
Entertainments
on the Green
The Old
State House
TIMOTHY THE IRISH LINEN WORKER
Meet Timothy, the Irish linen worker, an indentured servant of the
Widow Tobin, as he weaves a tale of everyday life in the 1700s, when
folks of all classes wore clothing made of linen ... and Irish linen had the
best reputation for quality! Listen to Timothy’s patter as you watch him
turn ordinary looking flax straw into linen fabric using authentic tools
of the period. Timothy will be unavailable during the noon repast from 1212:30 p.m. (Rain location: The Old State House)
PROFESSOR HORN’S
PUNCH AND JUDY SHOW (
DOVER ENGLISH COUNTRY DANCERS
Enjoy one of Delaware’s premier groups of 18th-century
dancers and musicians as they perform at The Old State House.
Performances: 11:00 &1:00
)
This fun-filled show truly captures the wonder and pure imagination of
childhood. Professor Horn’s celebrated Punch & Judy show is known
to incite gales of laughter from audiences of all ages. Children adore
the amazing feats, slapstick comedy and variety entertainments. And
parents can’t resist the nostalgic excitement this quintessential puppet
show conjures from their own childhoods. Professor Horn also brings
a hand-cranked music box and giveaways for children. Performances:
11:30, 12:30 & 2:45 (Rain location: Dover Century Club)
SIGNORA BELLA
“Signora Bella, the Great Italian Equilibrist,” delights audiences of
all ages balancing and juggling on the rola bola, the slackrope,
and the large sphere. She juggles knives and flaming torches.
With much zest, Signora Bella brings to life the tradition of the
travelling performer of the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth
centuries. Her performances encourage audience interaction,
creating a unique performance every time. Performances: 10:00,
12:00, 1:45 & 3:15. (Rain location: Dover Century Club)
Artisans and Tradespeople
Around The Green
MRS. R. BLACK, ITINERANT PAINTER
Have your portrait painted! Artist Linda Chatfield portrays 18thcentury itinerant painter “Mrs. R. Black, known for her Portraits
of Boston Society, who will take correct likenesses in watercolor
and silhouette for a reasonable sum.” Watch Mrs. Black engrave
copper plates and perhaps work with her miniature printing press.
(Rain location: The Old State House)
BLACKSMITH MIKE RADEBACH
Blacksmith Mike Radebach of Frederica has demonstrated the
art of blacksmithing in Delaware, Maryland, and Pennsylvania
since 1988. Watch him work at his forge and talk with him about
this traditional trade. (Rain location: Dover Century Club)
THISTLEDOWN FIBER GUILD(*)
Golden Fleece
Tavern Site
ELIZABETH BATTELL,
TAVERN KEEPER
Return to the 18th century at the site of the Golden Fleece tavern
where you’ll meet Elizabeth, the 18th-century mistress of the tavern
where Delaware became the First State, portrayed by living history
professional Rosemary Staniszewski. Through lively conversation find
out what it was like traveling and eating at an 18th-century tavern.
John Bell House
JOHN SHELTON,
GLASSMAKING
A recognized expert in early American glassblowing and a purist,
John Shelton learned glassblowing as an apprentice. Visit him to
learn about the tricks and techniques for making reproduction
17th and 18th century glassware and perhaps purchase some for
yourself!
WOODWORKER RICK SCHUMAN
Rick Schuman demonstrates traditional woodworking methods
including the use of a spring-pole lathe, a shave horse, and vintage
hand tools. Rick will be selling his craftwork, including spoons,
spatulas, kitchen utensils, rolling pins, stools and an unusual
Scandinavian bowl with handle called a“kuksa.”
(Rain location: Dover Century Club)
BLACKBIRD HERITAGE FARM
A local farm in Townsend harkens back to the old days, growing only heirloom and open-pollinated
vegetables; breeding and selling heritage pork, lamb, geese, rabbit and turkey; and offering free-range
eggs from a heritage laying flock. The Roddicks will bring sheep and some heritage chickens to The
Green.
KATIE CANNON’S CRAFT THE FOUR HUMORS ( )
Do you know what your constitution is? You’re not feeling
phlegmatic are you? People in the 18th century defined health
according to a balance of the four humors. Find out what these
are, and if you should be eating foods that are hot and dry, or
cold and moist, to maintain yourself like a health conscious 18th
century person. (Rain location: The Old State House)
TAYLOR WOODWORKS AND
NOREEN’S THEOREM PAINTING
Fine handcrafted furniture in the 18th-century tradition is
displayed along with Theorem paintings by Delawareans Jeff
and Noreen Taylor. (Rain location: Dover Century Club)
1ST DELAWARE REGIMENT(
SILHOUETTE ARTIST BRIAN MILLER
Market Fair visitors can have their likenesses preserved as
hollow-cut silhouettes. Brian Miller portrays an itinerant artist
who uses a “camera obscura” to create profiles as they were
done during the 18th and early 19th centuries. (Rain location:
The Old State House)
PRINTMAKER (
LIFE AT SEA (
)
HANDS-ON QUILLING(
)
This American Revolution living history organization will
be encamped on The Green to portray the 1st Delaware
Regiment, Delaware Militia, and civilian supporters of the
Cause of Liberty. Children and adults alike can join in military
drills they will conduct throughout the day. Military musters:
10:30, 12:15 & 2:30. (Rain location: The Old State House)
)
Children can learn how to do paper quilling with historical
interpreters from John Dickinson Plantation. Take home the
finished work of art. (Rain location: The Old State House)
)
What would it have been like to sail on the ships that brought
goods up the river to Dover in the 18th century? Learn about
the living conditions, food consumption and sailors’ duties. Try
your hand at knot tying, rope hauling and scrubbing the deck.
Sing along with the sailors’ shanty music. Check out the block &
tackle and fish for bottles! (Rain location: The Old State House)
Printmaker explains how a printing plate is etched and demonstrates printing an intaglio plate on an
on-site press. Printing plates are on display and prints are available for sale. The printmaker’s assistant
guides children with a hands on demonstration of how to print using block letters and demonstration
of other eighteen century writing implements. (Rain location: Dover Century Club)
LADY AIMEE’S FINE SEWING & SUTLERY
Lady Aimee is a sutler, a travelling merchant who goes to fairs, selling reproduction clothing,
haversacks, snapsacks (back packs) & other domestic goods for 17th or 18th Century persons or
reenactors.
AUGUSTIJN HERMAN, LORD OF BOHEMIA MANOR
18TH CENTURY GAMES(
Augustijn Herman, a merchant & cartographer from New Amsterdam with a large estate on the upper
Eastern Shore displays his map for ship captains & merchants
and tells how Delaware became a separate political entity & not
part of Maryland or Pennsylvania.
)
Find out how children amused themselves in the 1700s.
(Rain location: The Old State House)
MEET LORENZO DOW
If you enjoyed Dr. Balthazar in the years past, you will love to meet
Lorenzo Dow. Dow was an eccentric travelling Methodist preacher
with a reputation for never disappointing his audiences. He flattered, he
insulted, he challenged, he told stories, he made jokes and held audiences
spellbound. Join us as Lorenzo Dow returns to The Green for the first
time in hundreds of years. Performances: 10:45, 1:15 & 2:15 (Rain
location: Dover Century Club)
Living History
Around The Green
Weaver Gladys Shaw demonstrates on her loom and offers wall
and table mats and runners, shawls and skirts for sale. Helen
Gieske displays quilting techniques. Alice Guerrant shows how
socks and caps were knit. (Rain location: Dover Century Club)
HORNER ED LONG
Ed Long, journeyman and past Guildmaster of the Honourable
Company of Horners, demonstrates how to make a powder horn,
including the intricate stage of carving. Beautifully finished horns
will be offered for sale and have won numerous blue ribbons. (Rain
location: The Old State House)
SLATE BUTTON MAKING (
)
Back by popular demand! Try your hand at making a slate
button of your very own using primitive skills. Start with a
simple shard of slate and by grinding and drilling you will
shape that piece into something that can be used to hold your
clothes shut. (Rain location: Dover Century Club)
PLEIN AIR PAINTER
Watch the Plein Air Painters, Joyce Lapp and Diane Bauer, at
work around The Green as they capture the scene.
(Rain location: The Old State House)
Good Things To Eat
MARKET FAIR INN
MARKET FAIR MINSTRELS
The Dover Century Club is transformed into the Market Fair Inn
from 10:00 – 3:30 to sell hungry visitors pulled pork and smoked
chicken sandwiches, hot soup, beef hot dogs, fall sweet treats, coffee, hot chocolate, cider and water. All sale proceeds benefit the
Dover Century Club Scholarship and Building Funds.
Enjoy the sounds of traditional tunes on fiddle as musicians Rick
Hudson and Nate Grower rove about the Market Fair, with the
potential for some friendly competition between the two. (Rain
location: The Old State House and the Dover Century Club)
FIFER ORCHARDS
MARKET FAIR MEMORIES (
)
Stop by the free photo booth and get your picture taken with fun props
from the 1700s to capture a memory that will last a lifetime. All photos
will be made available online. (Rain location: The Old State House)
KNIGHTINGALES & GILSON GLASS BLOWERS
Lisa Lambert and Phil Gilson specialize in creating authentic 18th century items. For sale they will be
offering handmade Colonial freeblown and molded glass, hand sewn clothing, leather goods, goatmilk
soaps, bone and horn buttons, sewing implements, balms and dipped candles (Rain location: Dover
Century Club)
Fifers Orchards returns to sell their famous cider donuts and
cider.
(Rain location: The Old State House).
OLD WORLD BREADS
Located in Lewes, DE, Old World Breads is a wholesale
artisan bread bakery baking handmade bread step in old world
tradition. They will have breads and sweets for sale. (Rain
location: Golden Fleece Tavern)
BIGGS MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART
Visit the parking lot of the Biggs Museum to check out the food truck food court around the circle!