Travel Log

 

June 4, 1819

There's nothing quite like the smells of food being grilled over an open fire. I was reminded of that a few days out of Berekely Springs when I visited a local butcher shop and picked up a few pork sausages. With the summer air weighing hotter and heavier than a newly minted horseshoe, there was no time to waste: these sausages needed to be in the belly before they spoiled. So with a pair of sticks, I enjoyed a mid-afternoon lunch of sausages, molasses beans and cornbread that Mrs. Thorgmorton gave me before continuing on my trip.

But the best part of my meal were the s'mores, a classic summertime treat. Crispy toasted marshmallows with melted chocolate and graham crackers...just the substance this tired traveling man needed to spend another day in the saddle!

You can easily make s'mores and more with my Ohio BBQ Skewers. They'll be suiting folks who want to cook hotdogs, toast marshmallows, or grill chicken, pork, vegetables and more on their grill or over an open flame. And if you're looking for some ingenious new twists on the classic s'mores recipe, check out this link from the Huffington Post. Time to get that fire stoked!

June 1, 1819

Dear readers, imagine the crackling of a campfire in the quiet open plains, the slow popping of succulent popcorn, and the telling of family stories...you know, there's few finer things in life that can compare to camping. It's one of my favorite outdoor activities, even though organized camping as Americans recognize it didn't really originate until 1861. For it was during that year that the Gunnery Camp was founded. The Gunnery Camp is considered the first organized American camp. Frederick W. Gunn and his wife, Abigail, operated a home school for boys in Washington, Connecticut. In 1862, they took the whole school on a two-week trip. The class hiked to their destination and then set up their campground. The students spent their time boating, fishing, and trapping. Everyone had such a humdinger of a time that the Gunns continued the tradition for twelve years.

Camping season is now officially here, and if you need to refresh your stock of camping equipment, then you've come to the right place! Jacob Bromwell makes a variety of camping necessities from heavy duty frying pans (one of our customers says that when you drop a Jacob Bromwell frying pan on your foot, you'll know it!) to rugged utensils to contraptions that help you toast bread and marshmallows. But don't take my word for it; visit the campfire section of our site to see what we've got in store. See you 'round the campground!

 

May 31, 1819

I've never seen sights in my entire life like the ones my eyes have graced in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia -- also known 'round these parts as Bath, after the village in the country we fought against for independence. Here, this traveling boy is encountering gamblers, rogues, acting troupes, single ladies looking for husbands, and bachelors all too pleased with the prospects. There's horse racing, music, boxing, and free flowing liquor. It's what I like to call a hog-killing time!

But the main reason to visit Berkeley Springs -- which was founded by the Father of our Nation, President George Washington -- is to take to the tepid natural spring waters. So after making sure Pioneer was secure and fed, I paid a visit to the bath house to give myself a wash. Never have I felt such warm water, such a relief for my saddle-weary bones! Legend has those suffering from arthritis and other ailments have found relief in these waters.

After my bath, I put on my best bib and tucker* and was served a scrumptious dinner by Mrs. Thorgmorton, who runs the town's inn. I was amazed by Mrs. Thorgmorton's skills at running a kitchen, for there had to be at least 40 other guests staying and we were all well filled on soup, bread, beef, and cobbler.

Now Jacob Bromwell Inc. is not in the business of selling warm bath water, but we do sell many items that can help you run an inn kitchen as efficiently as Mrs. Thorgmorton's, such as our Wonder Shredders. This set of three shredders make grating cheese, fruit, veggies, and chocolate a snap. And the American tin material helps them stay sharper longer. I made a note to have a set shipped to Mrs. Thorgmorton as a thank you once I set up shop in Cincinnati.

But don't take my word about Berekely Springs -- you can visit it for yourself. Check out this history and attractions on their site by clicking here.

*Early American slang for best clothes