Revolutionary War

Overnight Living History Field Trip

Program Outline & Pre-Visit Information

 

Introduction

 

Thank you for choosing Riley’s Farm for an adventure in history.   Situated in the historic apple-growing foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains, Riley’s Farm occupies more than 700 acres of scenic canyons, hilltops, and black oak groves—in addition to the orchard themselves, which include over 6,000 fruit trees, comprising apples, cherries, peaches, plums, and pears.   The farm itself was homesteaded in the 1870s and is home to several 19^th century dwellings and farm structures.      In the fall and spring, Riley’s Farm and Oak Glen look very much like New England farm country-a fact that hasn’t escaped the film industry.  The orchards and valleys here have served as a backdrop for many feature films and documentaries, including dozens of History Channel episodes and the final Civil War battle scene in Steven Spielberg’s Amistad.

 

For over 10 years, the farm has hosted literally hundreds of thousands of school children in a variety of educational programs featuring various aspects of historic farm life and re-enacted living history events.   These programs are directed by various members of the extended Riley Family, who live and work on the farm full time.

 

In the Revolutionary War overnight field trip, our objective is to allow the students to see and experience a small  part of the life of an 18^th century farmer during the War for American Independence.  

 

Accommodations

 

During the overnight portion of the trip, the students and their chaperones are assigned bunks (literally rope-frame beds or cots) in either the exterior sleeping cabins or the interior of the 18^th century style public house.   The sleeping cabins are post and beam structures with open sides, covered by canvas.   The interior of the public house is heated.  Public restrooms with modern plumbing and a shower are available, detached from the cabins.   A mountain stream flows by the sleeping cabin area, and our guests enjoy being sung to sleep by the sound of the brook.   The accommodations, however, are “period,” and, while we believe they are reasonably comfortable, please don’t expect modern conveniences.

 

Itinerary

 

 

The program generally begins at 5:30 PM, shortly after your group’s arrival, and concludes the next day at 2:00 PM.   (There are special exceptions to this timetable by arrangement).  Because farm chores and daylight varies with the season, we reserve the right to alter the itinerary, but a likely example is found at the end of this pre-visit package.

 

 

Historic Clothing

 

We do not provide historic clothing for you or your students in the standard version of our program.    If you wish, however, to have you and your students wear period clothing for the duration of your stay, we encourage you to do so by either renting them from us at an additional fee or preparing your own.    We can recommend several historic costumers, pattern sources, and textile retailers.    

      

What You Need to Bring With You

 

A good, WARM sleeping bag & a pillow

At least one change of clothing

A towel

Depending on the weather, cold-weather clothing (hats, gloves, warm shoes, umbrellas) 
Personal Items (Toothbrush, special medications, etc.)

Good Walking/Hiking Shoes

Flashlight (the group will be provided with lanterns, but you will find this handy)

 

What Not to Bring With You

 

Radios and/or other amplified sound equipment

Portable Headphones

Candy/Snacks (food is included and we don’t want to attract bears)

Ice coolers and modern camping equipment

 

What You Might Want to Bring With You

 

A Camera & Film

 

 

Directions

 

From Points West: Take the I-10 or the I-60 towards Palm  Springs. Exit on Beaumont  Avenue. Turn Left and  proceed approximately nine  miles, until you see the sign  that reads "Welcome to Oak  Glen." (Beaumont Ave./Road  will become Oak Glen Road.)  Look for the large, red-lettered  "Riley's Farm" sign and turn  in to the right.  

 

From Points East: Take the  I-10 west towards Los  Angeles. Exit on Beaumont  Avenue. Turn Right and  proceed approximately nine  miles, until you see the sign  that reads "Welcome to Oak  Glen." (Beaumont Ave./Road  will become Oak Glen Road.)  Look for the large, red-lettered  "Riley's Farm" sign and turn  in to the right.

 

IMPORTANT:   Once you enter the farm DO NOT proceed up the dirt road toward the packing shed.   Remain in the parking lot nearest Oak Glen Road.     

 

Pricing

 

This program is priced at $95.00 per participant, (adults and students) with a minimum of 35 participants and a maximum of 45.   A fifteen percent (15%) non-refundable deposit is required to reserve a date, and the balance MUST be paid in full, one week prior to the visit date.   Colonial Chesterfield at Riley’s Farm reserves the exclusive right to cancel due to weather, in which case a full refund will be issued, or applied to another visit date.    Historic costumes may be rented at $45 per person, per day.    Costume rental supply is limited, and we may not be able to guarantee sizing for every guest.   For best results, if you are interested in costume rentals, all sizing information should be faxed or e-mailed to us, 45 days prior to your visit.

 

 

Vocabulary

How does one speak “Colonial?”    We’ve enclosed a  brief table of commonly used terms, as they appear in 18th century literature.    You might try asking the students whether they can go a day without using “okay,” or “yeah” and replacing them with their 18th century equivalents.

 

 

 

Contemporary Word or Phrase	“Colonial” Equivalent
Yes, yeah	aye  (pronounced “eye”)
no, nah	nay
okay	very well
Could I have some water?	Would you fetch me some water, please?
c’mon	come, come
take	draw  (“Draw an apple from the bowl.”)
except	save (“The pie is gone, save a crumb or two.”)
allow	suffer, (“If you’ll suffer me to help with the dishes.”)
really?	in faith?
lately	of late
That looks good on you.	That does you credit.
Upper class	Better sort
Middle class	middling sort
Lower class	meaner sort
Listen to me	mind me, mind my words
Be quiet	Hold your tongue
right away	directly
very	right, (“he is a right smart lad.”)
relax!	take your ease!
there, over there	yonder
Watch out!	Make way!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sample Revolutionary War Itinerary

(Events & Activities Subject to change without notice)

 

Afternoon Arrival:

 

The time is May, 1775.   The place is Boston, Mass.   Colonial minute companies have gathered from all over New England to lay siege to the British troops now garrisoned in Boston after Lexington & Concord.    The students portray the soldiers and camp-followers of the town of Chesterfield, New Hampshire, who have been assigned camp duties in and around St. George’s tavern, near the Boston neck.  This is a strategic location and very close to the British advance guard.

 

Welcome  & Greeting  The students are given their bunk assignments in either a sleeping cabin or a cot on the 18^th century tavern floor.   During the first hour, they are instructed in the use of ink & quill pen, so as to aid them in the keeping of a journal that they will keep for the length of their stay.   The historical background is established and a lesson in period vernacular is taught.   They are assigned the name of a historical character.

 

Manual of Arms & Drilling

 

Using sticks and toy muskets, the students are taught the rudiments of line order battle and the manual of arms.    From among themselves, they elect a captain, lieutenant, ensign, and sergeant.  Since the St. George Tavern houses dignitaries and officers in the New England militia, the newly elected captain will be expected to assign sentry duty to his men for the remainder of the stay.

 

18^th Century stone masonry & rock wall building

 

The students take part in the ancient art of rock wall building and dressing stone for use in fortifications.  

 

Dinner:

 

Etiquette & Dance instruction:  After an 18^th century style dinner of beef stew, wheat bred, and corn custard, students receive instruction in colonial era etiquette and take part in a country-dance.   

 

Hand sewing:  Prior to retiring for the evening, students are instructed in the use of needle & thread in the repair and construction of period shirts.

 

Lights out.   Students are expected to take their turn at chaperoned sentry duty throughout the night, especially since British soldiers are known to have been seen stealing supplies from the St. George spring house & root cellar.

 

Morning:

 

 

Morning Alarm:   A report arrives indicating that enemy British troops are on the march out of Boston.   Their objective appears to be the St. George Tavern.  The Chesterfield company is assigned patrol duty with orders to scout the area for signs of enemy movement.

 

Bread baking in the summer kitchen. 

 

Students explore baking and hearth cooking techniques of the 18^th century, making rye, wheat, and barley bread in a summer kitchen.

 

Breakfast

 

Garden chores:  Students tend to an 18^th century kitchen garden.   Cow milking may or may not be included, depending on season.

 

Mid-Morning:

 

 

A Season of Trouble:   Students experience six dramatic interactive workshops, dramatizing the indignities visited upon the colonies by King George’s ministers.    At the summer kitchen, they endure the presence of billeted troops.   At the water-wheel forge, they watch the production of an 18^th century style plating mill and learn why finished iron goods could not be traded between the colonies.   In the public house, they undergo an admiralty court trial.   On the tavern grounds, they participate in a transaction that transpired between Samuel Adams and Colonel Fenton.   In front of the public house, they review the manual of arms in preparation for the afternoon battle.

 

Lunch:

 

 

Students receive a soldier’s ration of dried beef, wheat bread, cheese, and fruit.

 

 

Afternoon Battles:

 

 

Students participate in a re-creation of the battle for St. George’s Tavern, which took place in June of 1775 and a recreation of the march back from Concord.