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June 16,
2000
Oak Glen, California
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Dear Friends and Family,
Greystone
Productions will be back on the farm tomorrow to film
another episode from "Tales of the Gun," one of
the History Channel's most successful serialized
programs. Featured in this episode will be
reenactors interpreting Texas Rangers, Comanche warriors,
Charles "Commando" Kelly from World War II, and a
medieval knight on horseback. Check back with us
tomorrow for some pictures.
Remember,
The Second Annual Great Western Drum and Fife Muster comes
to the farm on August 18-20. Admission is $5.00
for adults and $3.00 for children. Fifers
call this music "ancient" and when you hear it
echoing across the valley, you'll know why.
We're
also planning a rousing Colonial era re-enactment on Labor
Day. We're calling it the "End of the
Summer Muster," in honor of an old American custom--the
drilling of the town's militia on the town
square. These events were more than just for
military training; they were America's first "county
fairs," complete with good food, good music, and good
shopping! Come out and have a Revolutionary weekend
with us!
Your
Humble Servant,
James
Riley
Don't
Forget...
This
year, over 10,000 school children will take part in
our Living
History Field Trips. Click here
to make it 10,001! 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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*** UPDATE June 17, 2000 ***
A few images from today's film shoot:
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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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