Keeping It FUN!

by Judi McWilliams

Chris Robins - Part Six

"History Class"
The students were working on three dimensional projects making forts out of wood, clay, wire mess, twigs, paint, glue and fun stuff. While the students were making their bunkers/forts, Chris finally got to share with me an exciting part of my day with him, that being his “Christmas decoration trunk”. This is where he keeps his prize possessions, the uniforms for the re-enactment battles. He even has a dedicated space in his home, in the basement crawl space, which is cement. It's clean and dry! There you will find over 15 extra large "Christmas decoration trunks" full of treasures! Without the support of Chris’s spouse, he tells me it would be impossible to have obtained, created, sown! They dedicate so much of their lives to the life of re-enacting! His spouse supports him fully, but, the first condition, apparently, was that she was willing to sew the uniforms, but he, too, would have to learn how to sow! This is where I got excited! Chris opened the treasure box and the amazement began! First up were the Northumberland Militia Soldier uniforms. Chris and his wife meticulously and professionally sewed each uniform. The jackets mostly start out as everyday suit jackets, that they pick up at our local thrift shops. Chris has an amazing eye when it comes to altering clothing. He can take a double breasted suit, add buttons, cut, hem, add too, and take off, all in the part of spectacular replica uniforms! He has approximately 19 sets of the Northumberland uniforms. The helmets themselves are also hand-made. They take Bristol boards, sculpt them, add felt, and then spray for protection. They hand braid the rope around the hat and then use a vinyl peak. The plume that gets inserted into the helmet is also handmade from wool and a coat hanger manipulated to fit! Chris has 12 sets of the red US Infantry, with the engraved metal plaques on the helmet. The plaques engraved by a local engraver. He has uniforms of the incorporated militia of Upper Canada. The Imuk unit is based out of Port Perry. The plates are so intricate that they had to purchase them at an expensive in the amount of $60 for each gold plated plaque. Chris proudly shows me one of the 16 sets of the First Kentucky Mounted Jacket unit. He says it is a little ironic for them to be called that, as they just rode to the battle, and then jumped off to fight. These amazing uniforms were sown from scratch, about three years ago, by his students. Sixty, yes I said, sixty units were made of the cartridge boxes used by students. They were hand-made by a friend from one of the re-enactment groups.
(To be continued)