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Colonial Americans Watch July Fourth Boat Parade
Posted on Jul 11th, 2016
Photo: Tom Folger, folgerstudios.com
A legendary group of Colonial American characters was seen gathered on Mike and Barb Pudlo’s boat deck watching this year’s July Fourth Boat Parade. Three years ago, historical folks started showing up at their home to watch the parade. First it was George and Martha, then others appeared over the next couple of years and now there is this impressive group.
Starting from the left is Benjamin Franklin, portrayed by Andrew Pudlo, who said “a penny saved is a penny earned”, which is an interesting quote for a man whose face is now on the hundred dollar bill.
Standing next to him is wife, Deborah Read Franklin, portrayed by Elizabeth Pudio, who married Ben in 1730 after her first husband left her and Ben had returned from England where he had fled a few years earlier when Deborah started pressing him to get married. Some things never change.
The first US president, 1789 -1797, George Washington, portrayed by Mike Pudlo, stands next to his wife, Martha Dandridge Custis Washington, portrayed by Barb Pudlo. Martha actually stood five feet tall and was round as a tub while George stood an imposing six feet two inches tall and straight as a rod. Love is blind!
A young Betsy Ross, portrayed by Olivia Pudlo, was believed to have been asked by George Washington to help design and sew the first American flag that’s displayed on the right. Although any number of flag makers in Philadelphia at that time may have sewn it, the early flag design with 13 stars in a circle is commonly dubbed “the Betsy Ross flag.”
Paul Revere, portrayed by Caleb Pudlo, rode through the streets from Boston to Lexington, Massachusetts on April 18th, 1775, yelling “The British are coming, the British are coming!”, but upon seeing the red, white and blue decorated boats approaching, yelled “The boats are coming, the boats are coming!”
Peeking over the top of the railing is Avery Pudlo, portrayed by Avery Pudlo. In Colonial times it was considered a sin to be lazy. For girls, education came second to their training in household duties like weeding the garden, washing dishes, feeding the chickens, sweeping the floor, cooking, knitting, and spinning (wheel) –– that doesn’t mean a stationary bike.
Last, but not least, is Major Benjamin Tallmadge, head of Washington's secret service (spy network). A Yale graduate, his initiative after the capture of British spy John Andre, led to the revelation of Benedict Arnold's treachery to surrender West Point to the British. Tallmadge was a Dragoon who saw action from Long Island to Monmouth before taking over Washington's secret service from 1778 to 1783. (Note: Tallmadge is now on TV as a major character in the AMC Network series “TURN: Washington’s Spies.)
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