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April 14,
2000
Oak Glen, California
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Dear
Friends and Family,
The History Channel's "Tales of the Gun" is
filming on the farm today. This week's
episode focuses on the history of the rifle and includes a
scene in which British General Simon Fraser is shot and
killed.
During
the battle of Saratoga, on October 7, 1777 Lieutenant
William Digby of the Shropshire Regiment wrote:
Brigadier
General [Fraser] was mortally wounded, which helped to turn
the fate of the day. When General Burgoyne saw
him fall, he seemed then to feel in the highest degree our
disagreeable situation. He was the only person we
could carry off with us. Our cannon were surrounded
and taken--the men and horses being all killed....
So
a part of this episode was lived out on the farm today,
along with scenes depicting the role of the rifle in the
Civil War.
I
haven't checked with the director, but it looks like they
gave General Fraser's horse a speaking part.
Special
thanks to the History Channel and Greystone Productions for
including Riley's Farm in the celebration of American
history.
Don't
Forget...
This
year, over 6,000 school children will take part in our
Living
History Field Trips. Click here
to make it 6,001! There are
almost no dates left in May, but there are a few in April,
so call us, now, to make your reservation
(909-797-7534). The price is $12.00 per
participant, with one free adult for every 15
students. This includes lunch
and four hours of participatory living history, covering
either the American Revolution, Civil War, or Early
California.
After
an early March visit this year, a fifth grade teacher
from San Diego wrote us to say, "Thank you for the
most wonderful field trip I have ever hosted for
children. Your knowledge of history, the
authenticity of your facilities, the beauty of the
surroundings, and the love of history that you shared with
the students are very much appreciated."
Thanks!
Mark
your calendars! We
look forward to visiting with you soon.
Your
Humble Servant,
James
Riley
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P.S.
For the sake of those "web portals" constantly browsing the
internet to update their search engines, we include the following
boiler-plate. (Feel free to read this, if you're new to our site.)
Riley's Farm is a working apple orchard and living history farm in the Oak
Glen area of Southern California. In addition to farming, we love
history and we have provided a venue for re-enactment units comprising
many different eras. The farm regularly hosts banquets, birthday parties,
weddings, and office parties. Every year, literally thousands of students
participate in one of our school tours, where they experience everything
from weaving, candle-dipping, and cider pressing to the drill and muster
of a Revolutionary War or Civil War battle. Our farm has appeared on the
History Channel and in the recently released feature film, Amistad,
as well as many other film and television productions. (We even try to get
the producers to include us as on screen talent, but that's another
story.) On selected weekends throughout the year, we offer
"farm-stay" weekends, where families can experience--clothing,
wood stoves, muskets, and all--the life of an 18th or 19th century
American farmer. We grow sweet corn, apples, raspberries, pears, and
sunflowers, just to mention a few of our crops. Our nephew, Devon, keeps
some beautiful Belgian draft horses for country hay-rides. We love
America--its traditions, its people, its history, and its cherished
heritage of liberty in Christ. Have we said enough? Well, one more thing:
In the fall, thousands of families make an annual pilgrimage to the farms
of Oak Glen to experience the closest thing to a New England fall
California has to offer. Why don't you stop by and say hello?
P.S.
Stay
Clear of this "Cider House"
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