The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, Sepienbierasaioe. 3 ‘By GRACE R. DOVE Post Staff - KINGSTON TOWNSHIP - Liv- ing in two centuries atonce seems a bit confusing, but Sandy and Al Thomas of Bunker Hill have been doing it for the past three years. “As Colonial-erareenactors, they attend many Revolutionary War encampments, primitive moun- tain man rendezvous and muzzle loader shoots during the warm weather. They have meticulously researched their clothing, food, campsite and business to keep everything as authentic as pos- sible. Sandy owns Thread the Needle, a traveling shop which offers men’s, women's and kids’ cloth- ing, which she designs and sews, using the Colonial tailor's main choices of cotton, wool or linen. “I specialize in the 1750's to about 1800- the time of the Ameri- can Revolution and the French and Indian War,” said Sandy, a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. “It's my fa- vorite historical period, possibly because I can trace my family back to that time. We had to learn the necessary skills to live as up- per middle-class shopkeepers, who would have lived and trav- elled this way.” They must know all the neces- sary camp skills, the proper terms for things and keep up on their history in case campsite visitors “For exam | Sister, Karen ps. Karen (Sandys Gillis) and I wanted to crochet in camp, but couldn't do it until we had researched it,” Sandy said. “While the word ‘cro- chet’ wasn't used until the 1820's, we learned that nuns made single- needle hooked lacework - crochet work - in 15th century Europe. Now we're documented and can do it.” While Sandy, her daughter Becky, and Karen, who makes beautiful quilts and rugs, tend the shop, Al, their son Joshua and Karen's son, Lyle “L.B." Schleve, fight in reenactments of major battles. Al, whose heritage includes Native American, often portrays a mountain man who has lived among the Indians, while Joshua is proud to have fought on the side of the Native Americans as an adopted son in the Battle of Wyoming reenactment this sum- mer. Al also makes comfortable col- lapsible camp benches and other items from wood and provides meat for the family during the hunting season. The ladies have their share of fun too, competing in the many muzzle loader shoots found at rendezvous and reenactments. Sandy brags she can outshoot Al and has won “a wonderful col- lection of blankets, a stool, a leather possibles bag and other prizes” to prove it. A good shooting match, how- ever, involves more than just plinking away at paper targets. “One especially challenging match was a novelty match,” she said. “We had to shoot at carrots, POST PHOTO/GRACE R. DOVE Kingston Township residents Lyle “L.B.” Schleve, relatives Al, Sandy and Becky Thomas are Revolutionary War reenactors and compete in muzzle loader shoots. The owner of Thread the Needle, Sandy also designs, makes and sells Colonial era clothing, which she sells at reenactments. balanced match sticks and ani- mal silhouettes. The only target I missed was a small hanging strip of metal.” Sandy has been sewing nearly her entire life — everything from CHARMING BEAST . Kaylie Lumley took a close look at a miniature donkey during a visit a pair of the animals made to Westmoreland School Monday. Maxwell and Brewster came by as part . of a first grade science ._._unit about growing and changing. They'll return to 2 Mrs. Philo's class so the students can observe how .« they grow over the course of the school year. ho POST PHOTO/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK Lake Twp. to collect newsprint Sept. 21 “Newspapers will be collected at the Lake Township drop-off cen- ter on Rte. 29 Sept. 21, 9a.m.-11 a.m. Paper should be packed in paper bags and all glossy inserts removed. Fellowship “1 Evangelical 1 Free Church ‘45 Hildebrandt Rd., Dallas 675-6426 Sunday Worship Service Ld 9 am & 10:30 am Nursery provided for all services "A Church that cares : about you" PHARMACY 159 N. Memorial Hwy, Shavertown, PA LL 675-1191 dresses to coats and wedding gowns. “When I was little, I had the best-dressed dolls in the neigh- borhood,” she said, laughing. “My Dad sewed a lot and made all the clothes for my youngest sister, Tammy, who wore large sizes.” Trained as a draftsperson (“I love to draw,”) Sandy designed molds for a leading New York glass manufacturer when she was younger and later worked in a fabric store, sewing on the side. “I never realized my training in drafting would eventually help me - start my own sewing business,” she said. “It happened acciden- tally - when I was looking for a pattern one day, Al suggested I draw it myself. And everything took off from there.” Now that Joshua and Becky are older, she plans to also re- _ sume her artwork - drawing, painting, calligraphy and scrimshaw, which she has already put to good use making a beauti- ful powder horn. Sandy and Al began reenacting three years ago at the Whispering Pines Rendezvous in Blossburg, near Mansfield. “It rained so hard that we were knee-deep in water,” Al said. De- spite the weather, which can play about the same time, when sev. a» evolutionaries' practice skills, crafts of colonial settlers havoc with canvas tents and Black ' powder, they were hooked. . They finished their first ren-'- dezvous weekend with a five-hour drive home in a van with a blown front end. “Our mechanic said we shouldn't have had any steering - and should never have made’ it.’ home,” Sandy said. “When I think - of how bad it was and that we're’: still here — God must have been watching over us.” 3 Thread the Needle was born : eral mountain man friends asked Sandy to make them authentic shirts and pants. Soon Chuck Dixon, owner of the state's pre- mier muzzle loader shop, began carrying a line of her clothing, making Thread the Needle the firstand only clothier represented in his shows, held the last wesh. end in July. ¥ Recently she was asked to re- search and design several outfits of men’s and women's clothing from the Civil War era for a his- torical society. “Reenacting is not play-acting. It's a way of life,” Sandy said. “We. live in our clothes for a good third of the year - they aren't just cos- tumes. We leave our camp in bet- ter condition than when we came, as did our forebears, and have incorporated the Colonial values of honesty, keeping promises and. a firm faith in our Creator into our daily life.” Quoting the Bible verse, “For He has given His angels charge. over thee,” she added, "He cer- tainly has watched over us.” , . . foe Bus driver (continued from page 1) to get the children to school on time, Balavage added. neither Myslinski nor her two children who were passengers in her car were injured, he said. Of the 56 children riding the bus, 14 later complained of pain to the school principal and nurse, police said. Transportation supervisor Su- san Farr said Bellas followed all procedures “to the letter” except for leaving the scene of the acci- dent before police arrived. Lehman UM Women to meet Sept. 24 The Lehman United Methodist Women will host The Rev. Anita Ambrose at the first fall meeting at 7 p.m. on Sept. 24. “Because he believed none of the children were injured, he felt his first priority was to get the children to school on time,” Farr said. “This was a wrong judge- ment call on his part. Only one little girl fell to the floor. The oth- ers reported bumps or bruises to the school nurse.” None of the children were wear- ing seat belts because they aren't required in Pennsylvania, she added. “The buses all have high, fairly well-padded seats and backs to protect the children in accidents,” Farr said. “If a child sits properly — facing forward with his or her feet on the floor — there's little chance of injury. These buses are well-designed to protect the kids, with reinforced frames and bod- » ies. pba oo» All bus drivers receive copies of - the procedures to follow in case of, accidents and know them well, she said. 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Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers