BRACE THE DRUM AND BEAT UP THE ALARM!

The beat of the drum conveyed the encampment and battle signals from before colonial times until the West was wild. More than folk art collectibles revered for the beauty of their decoration, early drums remain playable—avidly so by musicians who preserve the styles and beat of our colonial forebears at re-enactments and community events.

Winfield Ross

NO COMPROMISES

Ryan Fox and J.R. Cordrey found the 1760 Jabez Bacon House in Woodbury, Connecticut, the perfect place to settle down with their collection of 18th-Century furnishings—many of them locally made—accents of contemporary art, and their pack of rescue dogs. (Okay, there are three of them, and they’re all cute.)

Sawn C. Adiletta

ALL ABOUT THE CHILDREN

Lynn Thompson and her historically minded friends set out to share the early past of North Augusta, South Carolina, by building a village where children could learn, hands-on, about their Carolinian and American heritage. Built with volunteer hands, it re-creates the daily life of our colonial ancestors.

THE WATROUS PECK HOUSE

For your consideration, we offer the story of one of central New York State’s earliest homes, now owned by Michael Borgeest, who decorated and photographed it to share with all the readers of Early American Life.

Michael Borgeest

TOP TRADITIONAL ARTISANS

We continue to celebrate the handcraftsmanship of our ancestors by highlighting the work of today’s heritage artisans, who design and create furnishings and decorative objects in the spirit of the past.

ZOAR, A TRUE COMMUNITY

A group of independent thinkers who fled Europe to practice their religious beliefs freely in America nevertheless voted to pool their possessions for the mutual benefit of all. In 1817 they created the communal village of Zoar in northeast Ohio, which endured for nearly a century.

ARTISANS IN THE VILLAGE

We photographed the best of the best from this year’s Directory in its rightful place next to antiques exhibited in the 19th-Century buildings of Ohio’s Historic Zoar Village. Among them you’ll see boxes and furniture; carved wood; decorative painting on canvas, paper, floors, and walls; shaped clay, glass, horn, and metal; stitched fabric and leather; and woven baskets and textiles that duplicate those made by our forebears.

2020 DIRECTORY LISTING

We list all the artisans whose work was selected for the Directory, with descriptions, images, and contact information so you can choose examples of this fine work to accent your period home.