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Celebrate freedom at Cowpens National Battlefield

There's no more special place to celebrate Independence Day than on a battlefield where our independence was won, said Kathy McKay, chief ranger at Cowpens National Battlefield.

People can learn about the history of the Revolutionary War in engaging ways with reenactments throughout the day.

There will be a weapons firing demonstration every half hour from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m.

A group will fire a replica of a 3 pounder cannon. McKay said two of the cannons were used at the Battle of Cowpens.

Dr. Christopher Rucker serves on the crew of historical re-enactors who fire blank rounds from the cannon. Rucker said they use black powder that is a reproduction of the 18th-century “recipe” made from sulfur, charcoal and potassium nitrate.

McKay said it takes at least six people to fire the piece of artillery.

“We're big boys with big toys,” Rucker joked.

He said “it's very gratifying” to educate children and adults. He has personal ties to the Revolutionary War — an ancestor, John Rucker, served as a messenger with the Virginia Militia, and although he does not have documentation to establish it, Rucker thinks his ancestor fought at the Battle of Cowpens.

Despite seasonal heat, the re-enactors will be dressed in full regalia. Rucker said most of the crew will wear continental uniforms. The uniforms are made of wool. They'll wear a shirt, a waist coat and a continental coat, along with stockings, short britches and buckled shoes.

A guided battlefield walk starts at 10:30 a.m. Afternoon walks begin at the Visitor Center each hour from noon to 4 p.m.

McKay said there will be family activities, including educational games such as playing with toys that would have amused children in colonial times and re-enactors will run children through a musket drill with wooden guns. Children can also make whirligigs and items to take home, McKay said. Games and stories are from 5 to 6 p.m. and other activities from 7 to 9 p.m.

A talk with be held at the monument in front of the visitor center at 6:30 p.m.

Water and soft drinks will be available for purchase in the visitor center, which is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Food won't be available, but people can bring a picnic. Alcohol and personal fireworks are prohibited.

The day will end with a concert and professional firework display.

The Spartanburg Community Band will perform patriotic music from 7 to 9 p.m. The fireworks display begins after the concert and will last about 20 minutes.

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The cuckoo clock is far older than the popular clocks made in the Black Forest region of southwest Germany. This is known because in 1650 the cuckoo clock was part of reference book knowledge recorded in books. It actually took almost a hundred more years before the cuckoo clock arrived in the Black Forest.

For many decades after its arrival the cuckoo clock was only an unimportant niche product. However, although the basic design of putting a cuckoo into a clock didn’t begin in the Black Forest, it’s certainly true now that the modern Black Forest Cuckoo Clock reproductions are faithful copies of the clocks made there.

It was the people of this region who built up the cuckoo clock industry and developed it into a very successful business. The most valuable Clocks are made to their new designs and technical improvements, which have made this charming clock into a valued piece of art worldwide.

I’ve described three different, highly decorated types of clock that were once made in the Black Forest hundreds of years ago. All three of them show the great skill of modern craftsmen continuing in a very long tradition.

One type of Black Forest Clock that I’ve never seen before is the Romback & Hauss Shield Cuckoo clock no. 3402. It has a hand-painted surround of brightly colored flowers on a black background which look really pretty and fresh. The ivory colored dial has black Roman numerals and gold colored hands and two pendulums, which make it look very elegant. It’s a reproduction from the workshop of Ingolf Hass and is as interesting as it’s beautiful. It looks as if it was just taken off the wall of an 18th century cottage!

This Black Forest Cuckoo Clock has an extra-large carved wooden bird whose wings flap when he cuckoos and a glass bell that tinkles musically just before the cuckoo calls. The cuckoo call is made with wooden whistles and bellows, which along with the bell you can see just behind the front of the clock. This clock is described as the star of the collection and that doesn’t surprise me at all, because it’s so beautiful. It measures 13″H x 7″W x 4″D and costs 1,271.00 dollars — so I guess I won’t be getting one for Christmas this year!

My next choice is the Rombauch & Hauss 1870 Reproduction Black Forest Clock with Fretwork. It’s a great reproduction in the traditional chalet style and the delicately cut filigree case is cut to display the black underneath which makes a really striking pattern. The numbers, hands and cuckoo are made of solid wood and the weights and pendulum are antiqued brass.This particular clock Black Forest Cuckoo would go with a traditional and an exotic because the delicate ornamental design would fit well with Asian, Indian and African-style houses decorated. He ivory Roman numerals and three clocks and measuring 18 "H x 9" x 6 "D. The price is 1086.00 dollars.

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