For enthusiasts of early banjo

Sweeney Early Banjo Convergence 2017

Event Details

Time: September 8, 2017 to September 10, 2017
Location: Appomattox Courthouse National HIstoric Park
City/Town: Appomattox, va.
Event Type: banjo, gathering, festival
Organized By: David Wooldridge, Mark Weems
Latest Activity: Sep 15, 2017

5 members like this

Schedule to follow soon!

Comment by Sonny Bryan on August 27, 2017 at 7:54am: Jacalyn, I plan on period camping and doing a little cooking on the fire. But you would be more than welcomed to join in. I'm sure everyone else agrees. It's a great site on very historic grounds. I look forward to meeting you.

Comment by Jacalyn Thomas on August 27, 2017 at 9:13am: What cookware do you plan on bringing? Do I need to bring any pots or pans? I have ordered cornmeal, flour, red beans and rice from heritage varieties used during the period. Since I am not sure where my Dutch oven is I won't plan on baking. I will bring biscuits for Friday and Johnny cakes will have to do when they are gone. I believe I have enough Brunswick stew in the freezer ( cast iron wash pot stirred with oar) for a meal if folks are interested. No squirrel ... not that traditional.

My thought was to just have some country ham, hoop cheese, biscuits and a variety of relishes and preserves, maple syrup and molasses set out for lunch whenever folks want some. Then ham and beans with Johnny cakes one night and Brunswick Stew another if that is of interest to anyone.

Of course I am also up for fine dining in a local restaurant instead...

If you are interested in eating on site let me know so I have an idea of how much to bring.

ANYBODY HAVE ACCESS TO DRIED APPLES OR COOKING APPLES (AND WILLING TO PEEL AND CUT UP)?

Comment by Sonny Bryan on August 27, 2017 at 10:04am: Hey Jacalyn, I just have a reenactor small skillet, mucket, and tin cup and was just going to cook up a little sustance if I got hungry enough. I probably won't leave the park. Nonetheless, your fare sounds delicious. Perhaps others have suggestions.

Comment by Jacalyn Thomas on August 27, 2017 at 11:03am: I have pots and pans... But we either will have to eat on paper products or eat out of the same"trough". I vote paper. Or fine dining;-)

Comment by Scott Danneker on August 27, 2017 at 5:25pm: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQfDmW1Nodk

I'll be dining mostly at Subway, but something like this looks good for breakfast. Can those of us who are not camping get into the park before 9 am?

Comment by D. Wooldridge on August 27, 2017 at 6:47pm: Scott- Yes! Like last year, those who will be attending the Convergence can park at the Isbell house. Those folks camping in period camping will have first dibs yhere for their overrnight parking needs but I will be sure to in for! As to any other availability. We can start letting folks park in the min lot at approx. 8am.

Comment by Tom Taggart on August 27, 2017 at 10:08pm: With the promise of food like this, you are sure to draw a crowd. I've already booked a motel room, so will not be camping. But I would work for food by helping with food prep etc. Also would chip in some $ to help of set the cost of the food.

Comment by Strumelia on August 29, 2017 at 7:57am: We could all agree to bring our own plate/bowl/cup/utensils/napkins, and each take our own stuff away when done eating- large contra dance potlucks often do that to avoid having garbage and cleanup- everyone is in charge of bringing and cleaning up after their own place setting.

Is there a water supply or spigot next to the camping area for folks to get water to wash their plates or cups etc?

Of course all this eating means there'd also likely be a bag of garbage to hide and then take away- Dave is there a good place or way to make the garbage bag 'disappear to' ...say on Sat at least.. so we don't accumulate or have to hide a garbage bag containing meal refuse all the way til sunday?

Comment by D. Wooldridge on August 30, 2017 at 6:19pm: There an outdoor spigot in the Kelley field where camping will be. There will be a trash can in the vicinity too!

Comment by Jacalyn Thomas on August 31, 2017 at 5:47pm: What meals do we need? How many will need lunch on Friday or are we planning on eating before we meet? Do we need lunch on Sunday? I don't want folks to feel obligated to eat what I bring and I invite folks to add anything else you want... Kind of like the story Stone Soup. My intention is to have simple provisions so people don't have to miss anything because they have to go into town to get something to eat.

Red beans, rice, cornmeal and flour ... All antebellum varieties arrived yesterday. The Johnston County ham will be ready Wednesday. Is Red Rose tea okay with folks. It's an old standard. I think I have plenty of stew. I haven't found the sweet potatoes I like yet. I am going to see if I can find them at the farmers market along with the eggs Saturday. If anybody has a good source of potatoes or corn on the cob... I have received a request for roasted corn.. let me know. I haven't planned anything for dessert. So I invite contributions. I will also check out the farmers market Wednesday for chess pie.

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