Dispatches from New England
A column about historical reenacting and outdoor adventures by native New Englander Vincent C. Spiotti

     Growing up in New England, I have always been intrigued with history. It seems like just yesterday the first time our parents took us to see the historical sites at Lexington and Concord, Mass. Following our visit, my brother and I would dress in random colonial attire and reenact our own versions of history. When not playing, I would read and watch movies that were always historical in nature. I especially liked anything about New England. My biggest dream as a child was to both go back to the colonial times and live as those had before us.

     An Eagles Scout and graduate of the Pennsylvania State University with a degree in Outdoor Recreation, I have spent my entire adult life working and living in the rugged outdoors of New England. Skiing, hiking, rock and ice climbing, and mountain biking are all adventurous activities that I enjoyed as both hobbies and as part of my profession over the years. While not a hunter, I have always found great interest in shooting guns, especially back powder rifles.

     In 1995, I discovered reenacting. After a short time participating in American Civil War reenacting, I quickly found and decided that I would prefer to be involved with 18th century reenacting. What I enjoy most about reenacting is that it brings together my true passions of history, my spirit of adventure and love of being outdoors. Reenacting became the drum beat towards the past that only I could see and hear all those years. I found a new freedom as I could now bring all of my passions together to create a new and exciting feeling of adventure. I could now live my dream as a child.

     My 17th and 18th century reenacting experiences with Church’s Company, Harmon’s Snowshoemen and Eames Rangers have been wonderful. I truly found a group of people with common interests and have established many good friendships over the years. Times spent on smaller scaled year round patrols alone and with my closest friends in the New England wilderness have been even more enlightening. Ventures to remote rugged locations have proven invaluable in gaining first hand experience of what hardships may have been like for those who experienced similar adventures centuries ago.

     Today, besides historical scouts and adventures, I also own and operate Bethlehem Trading Post, a small family run sutler business. A family run operation with my wife Maria and daughters Giovanna and Julianna, we strive to provide select quality items to reenactors who enjoy the hobby as we do. Making the items that we sell, this is another fun way for the entire family to enjoy this diverse hobby of historical reenacting.

     My full time profession is still in outdoor recreation. I have worked for the past 16 years with the Appalachian Mountain Club, the oldest conservation organization in the USA. I have also been a faculty member of Lyndon State College, located in Lyndonville, Vermont. It is here where I have spent time training the outdoor leaders of tomorrow in various skills of outdoor recreation.

     As a writer with On The Trail Magazine, I hope to capture my excitement and enjoyment of living history within each and every story. I would like for you to turn to “Dispatches from New England” and join me in my experiences, travels and adventures throughout New England as well as other places in the Northeast. With imagination as our guide, I will take us on adventures throughout the forests and trails and down the historic streets of New France, New York and New England. We will see places, meet people and try new things that give us all first hand insight into our historical past. Sometimes my adventures will take us even farther to more distant places. Regardless of where we go and what we see, I will always be sure to share with you my first hand impressions and experiences through the eyes of an imaginative outdoor historical adventurer and native New Englander.

     I invite you to read “Dispatches from New England” and learn more about the world that I live in and the adventures that I enjoy as a historical reenactor.
Vincent C. Spiotti