Camden-Rockport society plans living history event July 23

The Troops at Camden will be encamped Saturday, July 23, at the 1770s Thorndike Homestead on U.S. Route 1. Submitted photo

The Troops at Camden, a Maine living history group interpreting the period 1779-1814, will be encamped from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 23, on the grounds of the 1770s Thorndike Homestead on U.S. Route 1 in Camden. This free, family friendly event is an opportunity for the public to learn what life was like in midcoast Maine during the Revolutionary War period and in the years that followed, according to a news release from the society.

The historic Thorndike house will be open to the public. Visitors can learn about 18th-century daily living through demonstrations and participatory activities. On the surrounding grounds, there will be soldier campfire cooking with recipes from the period, as well as a weaving demonstration. Camden militia reenactors from the Revolutionary War period, as well as from the War of 1812, will show the arms and accoutrements of a local soldier. Families will be able to try out a variety of Colonial games and toys.

Special guest Don Rainville, a period home and furniture restoration professional, will also be on hand to discuss furniture of the 18th century. Rainville has been in the industry for 30 years helping restore antiques for museums and individuals. He has worked with several notable organizations, including the Peabody Essex Museum, and wrote a monthly column in The New England Antiques Journal for several years on the subject of period antique restoration. Rainville is also happy to offer consultations to visitors who have questions about their house or antique furniture.

The event is part of a series of encampments that will be happening one Saturday a month, through October, on the grounds of the Camden-Rockport Historical Society’s 1770’s Thorndike Homestead, formerly referred to as Conway Homestead.

For more information, contact the society at CRHSME@myfairpoint.net, and be sure to follow Camden-Rockport Historical Society and the Troops at Camden on Facebook.