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Colonial House on PBS

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T O P I C R E V I E W
Kaylynn44	Posted - May 17 2004 : 6:11:24 PM I was watching Oprah today, and she went back in time to the 1600's. There is a place in Maine where they have a little colony that they do everything like they would have done in the 1600's. It looked really rough, and I just don't believe that I have the stamina or the stomach to put up with alot of stuff that they put up with. Anyway, "Colonial House" will air on PBS tonight if anyone wants to watch it. It really does make you think about what our forefathers had to go through. It wasn't easy!!! Kay
25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First)
Wilderness Woman	Posted - May 26 2004 : 4:24:28 PM Finished up watching this last night. I really did enjoy it immensely. Oh sure, they did lots of things wrong and there were a couple of quite annoying people, but I found it refreshing that they all seemed to get along so well. There really appeared to be very little strife. There is a very interesting radio interview with Jack Lecza, who was the Bristol merchant who came in for the last month of the project to try to shape them up a bit. Go to NH Man Goes Colonial and have a listen. He talks about a lot of things from behind the scenes, and he is a most interesting and very likeable man. The interview is about 1/2 hour long and it will only be on the website for a total of two weeks, so don't delay!
alikws	Posted - May 21 2004 : 4:42:18 PM agreed they came in with a bit too much stuff, the sepretists at plimouth came in months later then expected, short 1 ship {the speedwell} and a lot of people, and a few hunderd miles north of their planned destination {the virginia colony, english politics wanted them closer to the french}... but then, half of them did not survive the first winter... that would make a 'reality' show a bit too real... the plimouth plantation http://www.plimoth.org actualy is one of the better living history site websites around...
Theresa	Posted - May 20 2004 : 6:20:53 PM quote: Originally posted by Fitz Williams The problem with this show is not that the people are inexperienced, or have trouble adapting. The problem is that the producers do not hold them to their agreement to live by 17th century rules. A point was made that the person who went into town did it with the full knowledge of the production crew, since there was a camera waiting to film him. He was probably told to do that. But let's fact it. We look at the TV and see a 1628 town. They look back in our direction and see a full production crew, lights, cameras, booms, communication equipment. Who knows, there may be a guy in a blue cap before it's over! True, Fitz...I suppose that's what I meant by 21st century baggage. I guess I want these "colonists" to be colonists.
Fitz Williams	Posted - May 20 2004 : 3:57:05 PM The problem with this show is not that the people are inexperienced, or have trouble adapting. The problem is that the producers do not hold them to their agreement to live by 17th century rules. A point was made that the person who went into town did it with the full knowledge of the production crew, since there was a camera waiting to film him. He was probably told to do that. But let's fact it. We look at the TV and see a 1628 town. They look back in our direction and see a full production crew, lights, cameras, booms, communication equipment. Who knows, there may be a guy in a blue cap before it's over!
Lady Ann	Posted - May 20 2004 : 2:55:58 PM The MacLeod and I applied to be on Colonial House, thinking that it would be wonderful to try to apply our Colonial skills, learned and practiced through years of reenacment, for months rather than weeks on end. PBS politely declined our application...they said they didn't want people who were experienced at living in the era. Only neophytes can create the drama that is necessary for a successful television show! My take on Colonial house? Those people were provided with way too many luxuries! Pre-built secure housing, healthy livestock, an abundance of staples and household goods...for a real experiment, they should have been dumped on the coast with the minimal items they would have brought over from England...such that survived the ocean voyage...and told to get on with it. That would have been a true test of their fortitude in the face of what our ancestors actually had to confront. Oh, and throw in some properly outraged Native Americans for human conflict while you are at it! Nonetheless, I am enjoying the show, and hope PBS continues its "living-back-in-other eras" programming.
alikws	Posted - May 20 2004 : 09:40:03 AM when they were doing a casting call for frontier house a couple years back a couple who posts regular on an acw board and work a small living history farm wrote in and offered advice &c, the response was 'thanks, but we want someone a little _less_ experianced'... as a test they created the most dysfunctional family this side of the simpsons, with comments about a rest from the stressful office job, and a way to get the kids to stop fighting and the gamestation... they were asked to send in tape!.....
Wilderness Woman	Posted - May 20 2004 : 08:13:09 AM quote: Originally posted by Theresa Did these people sign on to do this to really know what it was like in the 1600's? If so, they've brought way too much 21st century baggage with them. IMO.. Theresa, I think that only those who have done a lot of in-depth studying of the time period truly have a strong feel for what life was like. The rest of us? I think the general public simply has only a foggy notion. We've learned a bit about it in school, and perhaps seen some History channel documentaries... but we really have very little idea! Bear in mind, also, that the producers of the show do not want people who are terribly knowledgeable about living in that time. It would invalidate their "experiment", which is to see just how a person with very little clue would make out living in the 17th century. Think of how difficult it would be, for you or for me, to get rid of every vestige of 21st century "baggage" so you could go into an experiment like this totally open to what you are going to experience. I think that for the greatest majority of us, it would be impossible. The incident that was the most fun for me to watch: the newcomer English girl leaning out the door, waving her stick and screeching at the goats because they wouldn't behave the way she wanted them to. I got quite a chuckle over that, having raised and been around goats. They are extremely curious, lively and quite intelligent... and can be very exasperating! But they are very fun and really love being around people. The incident that gave me the greatest sense of deja vu: watching the sow give birth to her piglets, and watching the weak one be revived with warmth. Been there... done that! And yes... newborn piglets are adorable! I was always amazed to see them come popping out and immediately get up, shake themselves off, and run right around mama to find the nearest teat, squeeking the whole time! Hey! Maybe I would get along in that situation fairly well! Who knows?
Wilderness Woman	Posted - May 20 2004 : 07:56:45 AM quote: Originally posted by Kaylynn44 ...I missed the part about the girl, I can't remember her name, left the show. Why did she leave? Kay, I assume you are referring to the black girl? As I recall, they did not say why she left, but it sounded to me as though it was planned in advance... perhaps she had another committment and went into it knowing that she would not be able to stay the entire time.
Theresa	Posted - May 20 2004 : 07:04:52 AM Did these people sign on to do this to really know what it was like in the 1600's? If so, they've brought way too much 21st century baggage with them. IMO..
Kaylynn44	Posted - May 19 2004 : 9:25:13 PM Well. So, what say ye about last night's episodes? WW, I watched most of last night's program, but I missed the part about the girl, I can't remember her name, left the show. Why did she leave? I really liked what I saw last night too, but I figured that they were going to kick the guy who went into town off the show, but they didn't. It said the Colony gets a new Governor, namely the lay preacher with the fuzzy white beard and the $%^#$$ wife Fitz, I feel the same way about the lay preacher's wife. Just don't care for her too much. I really like the governor that they have now. He is very understanding and tries to be as fair as he can. Kay
Fitz Williams	Posted - May 19 2004 : 9:12:22 PM I looked up the next episodes to see when they aired. Next Monday and Tuesday. It said the Colony gets a new Governor, namely the lay preacher with the fuzzy white beard and the $%^#$$ wife. And management from the sponsoring company decides to check up on the Colonies production, so they scramble to produce more spars, fish and clams. The more Indians appear, this time the Wampanoag. Maybe they will use different actors. Or maybe they will just go to a different souvenir shop this time. And the harvest is a success. Well who'ed have thunk it! Oops, I hope I haven't spoiled the suspense for you. Personally, I can't wait for next Monday to arrive.
alikws	Posted - May 19 2004 : 4:33:02 PM the purpose of such shows is not to show how things were as much as to show how much has changed... the people who are selected have attributes that would not make them a first choice at a site like plimouth or colonial wiliamsburg, like athism , mixed race couples or vegitarians... plus the 'survivor' crowd likes conflicts and catfights... if reenactors were the persons selected, it probaly would be boring to all who are not reenactors... the passamaquodys are not reenactors... their clothing is pretty much straight out of a modern powwow, period clothing would have been mantles, tight side seam leggins, breachclouts and center seam moccasins... one may have had a white linen shirt, and hair would have been not unlike magua... for weapons {notice complete lack of them in series} they would have had bows, ball headed warclubs {like magua} and maybe a dutch musket... i suspect some locals were asked at the last minute if they'd help out, rather then go through plimouth plantation/habbomocs homestead, but then you'd have wampanoag reenactors which isnt completely right either... saw only the first two shows at my parents, can't get pbs at my place,even if i had electricity... proof i'd be a bad choice for the show... anybody hear of rebroadcast dates?
Wilderness Woman	Posted - May 19 2004 : 08:22:11 AM Well. So, what say ye about last night's episodes? Here are my thoughts: I found it very emotional... Bethany, who lost her fiance, came back to a tearful, surprise reunion with her father. Her mother and younger brother came, also. I found it entertaining in a very positive way... the mild-mannered governor who rules with a gentle iron fist; the contrite Englishman who went AWOL for a couple of days; the nervous indentured servant who made a very personal public announcement in church; the self-professed non-believers who gracefully accepted their punishment. But most of all, it seems to me (so far, at least) that these people are really trying very hard to get along with each other, to obey the rules (for the most part), and to get done the work that is needed. I felt that they got a lot accomplished in the episodes last night, both physically and emotionally. All in all, I am seeing far less complaining than I did in Frontier House. Criminees! That experiment even broke up a marriage!
Bookworm	Posted - May 19 2004 : 07:09:38 AM Here's an author who agrees with you, Scott: "The dugout, used in the earliest days of settlement in New England, New Netherland, and Pennsylvania, was a cavelike shelter dug into the side of the hill, or a pit dwelling consisting of a rectangular excavation roofed over with poles and slabs of bark." -- Douglas Edward Leach, The Northern Colonial Frontier 1607-1763.
Scott Bubar	Posted - May 19 2004 : 07:00:12 AM quote: Originally posted by Fitz Williams "The boards on the houses would have been split, I am sure. It would be much faster than sawing them in a pit saw." What I was thinking was that the logs would have been squared with a broad axe or adze, and not split or sawed. If you consider that they used overlapping borads, then the total amount of wood used would not have been that much different than if you squared the logs and chinked them. And you probably would have ended up with a much more air tight structure. I don't know anything about construction in New England during that period, so maybe the split boards were the norm. My understanding is that the houses were "pre-fabbed" by the Plimoth Plantation artisans, than erected on the site in Maine. They are accurate for the period, but I think you'd generally see dugout homes to start with, then wooded sided homes later when they had the time and resources to build them.
Kaylynn44	Posted - May 18 2004 : 4:56:09 PM I just watched the first part of Colonial House, and I liked it. I did see some things that should have been different. Like WW said about the hair and that they should have had it pulled back and covered. Some did, but some didn't. It is only reasonable to hear them complain. You are taking people away from the comforts of home, and putting them in a place where you have to use leaves for toilet paper for four months!!! I would be complaining too!!! I know that they volunteered for this, but I don't think that the mind can comprehend exactly how tough something like that is going to be. There is only one thing that I think should have been different. I think that it should have been "adults only." I just don't think that it is fair to the kids to subject them to that. That is just my opinion. I felt so bad for the little blonde headed boy. But, all in all, I thought that it was a good program. Kay
Fitz Williams	Posted - May 18 2004 : 1:06:59 PM "The boards on the houses would have been split, I am sure. It would be much faster than sawing them in a pit saw." What I was thinking was that the logs would have been squared with a broad axe or adze, and not split or sawed. If you consider that they used overlapping borads, then the total amount of wood used would not have been that much different than if you squared the logs and chinked them. And you probably would have ended up with a much more air tight structure. I don't know anything about construction in New England during that period, so maybe the split boards were the norm.
Wilderness Woman	Posted - May 18 2004 : 11:53:07 AM Seamus, the eldest daughter of the "Governor's" family, Bethany, received word that her fiance had been killed in a car accident. Also, the family's oldest son (who was not involved with the show) was seriously injured in the accident. That's why the whole family left suddenly. It really shook up the colony. But then, you may have seen at the end of last night's show that the Governor came back. Whether the rest of the family will or not, remains to be seen. Terrible, terrible tragedy.
Seamus	Posted - May 18 2004 : 11:36:22 AM Well, WW, not being a girl, I am not totally up to speed on girl stuff,particularly 17th c. girl stuff, but I do know that stays/corsets, etc., would not be worn exposed in public. AND!!!! In no way would a young female be out playing in her underwear, which is what a shift is! The Puritan mindset would certainly not have tolerated that! The Lay Minister is definitely a strange breed of cat......I think a real Puritan would have made the 'swimmers' pay dearly for leaving their work to go off and swim, not merely stand and watch. WW, I don't know which girl lost her fiance. I fell asleep and missed that part! Shows you how interesting it was for me! The one who made the remark is the younger one, I believe. She has gorgeous full dark eyebrows, and I think she is the one who milked the goat (or goatess!). Fitz, they did not plant a Three Sisters garden, only maize. I saw nothing to lead me to believe otherwise. The boards on the houses would have been split, I am sure. It would be much faster than sawing them in a pit saw. Sure were alot of gaps.....saw a couple almost big enough to throw a cat through! Ha! They think they are cold now! Wait until winter sets in.....but I suppose they won't last that long. (Hey! How about a Donner Pass reality show??) OH, WELL......Plimoth Plantation had only 2 weeks to get these folks ready for a tough job, and so far, it shows. Maybe it will get better as time passes. Unfortunately, I will miss the next 2 nights, so you all pay attention and fill me in!
Fitz Williams	Posted - May 18 2004 : 09:01:40 AM There was one house they showed which had no chimney, but the top of the eves was open to let out the smoke. That is the way the Indian house at Fort Loudoun is built. The trick is to get the proper opening on the door, so that the smoke will draw to the eves. Works pretty well once you get the hang of it. The houses seem to be built with split boards. I wonder if the original colonists would have taken the time to split the lumber. And the planting of the corn, are they doing the "three sisters" planting (corn, beans, squash)? So much moaning and complaining. It makes me wonder why the came in the first place.
Wilderness Woman	Posted - May 18 2004 : 08:17:57 AM Well I went into this one, having watched Frontier House and Manor House (I think it was), knowing full well that there would be a lot of moaning, groaning, b****ing and complaining. I wasn't disappointed! Setting that aside, the major gripe with me was the way the women went around half-dressed! As I understand it, women didn't appear in public with their stays (corset) showing. No matter what the weather, they would have had something covering them. Am I correct, Seamus? And one girl was even playing ball in her shift!! Egads! The other thing was their hair. Even those women with shoulder-length hair could have kept it up in a bun, with a cap or kerchief to cover it. Most moving part? For me it was the emotion shown by the "Governor" as he spoke of parents holding their children while they died. Most pompous participant? The assistant governor/lay preacher. I can barely stand to listen to him talk. Question: The girl who said she missed her boyfriend. Was she the one whose fiance was killed? Or was that her sister? Like you, Seamus, I kept looking at those little houses and wondering what it would be like to live in one.
Seamus	Posted - May 18 2004 : 07:52:28 AM Theresa, these modern folk have not yet begun to suffer! One thing that struck me, and really made me chuckle, was the gal in the grocery store with her pile of groceries at the checkout! My thought was, "Heheheh.......just you wait, Honey. You have NO IDEA what you are about to endure." We cannot imagine the hardships those who came here in the 17th century had to deal with. And remember, too, that there was no TV crew lurking around them ready to take them home if they couldn't hack it. They died.........and miserably!! "I really miss my boyfriend," just didn't cut it.
Kaylynn44	Posted - May 18 2004 : 07:19:30 AM I'm going to watch it today, but I would be like Thersa and not really know if there was any inaccuracies regarding hte Passamaquody. I still think that it is interesting that anybody would go that far to relive history. Kay
Theresa	Posted - May 18 2004 : 07:03:25 AM OH! One more thing...did you see the preview for Wes's upcoming next installment of the Tony Hillerman novels? July 11.
Theresa	Posted - May 18 2004 : 07:01:55 AM You know...I reckon it's a good thing we have educated folk here to point out the inaccuracies in this sort of project. Thanks. I didn't know about the Passamaquody...and my take was if the colonists were to be as authentic as possible, then why not the Natives? And I'm with you, Seamus, there's a couple of folk that touched a bit on the nerves. One thing that really came home to me was the suffering these people endured. Your take on the narration?..Anybody?

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