FAQ

Our purpose is to educate and entertain the public about the 1774-75 period, and to encourage folks to be useful and responsible citizens. We do this through living history demonstrations, fife & drum performances, colonial encampments & re-enactments, and parades. It’s all about the “Edutainment”.

Residence in Stow is not a requirement for Membership in the Stow Minuteman Company. We welcome everyone and have Members of all ages, genders, and walks of life. Many of our Members live far from Stow, some don’t even live in Mass.

Some of our women portray men of the period and dress as men, while others portray women and dress as women. If you are going to carry a musket or play an instrument, dressing as a man is strongly recommended but not a requirement. Some encampment events require all musket and music personnel to dress as men. We want to encourage everyone to try it, there are roles for all to partake in and it’s a lot of FUN!

Get in touch with us and we’ll be happy to start you in on this most entertaining hobby. Please see our Recruitment page for details. Or simply ask any Member at an event and they will be more than happy to get you started.

The Company may be able to supply you with some items on loan when you first get started. If you wish to purchase your own clothing, please see our Resources page for Sutlers (vendors). If you prefer to make your own clothing, some of the Sutlers listed will also sell patterns and materials. We strongly advise you to get in touch with other Members, as they likely have plenty of good advice and may be able to help you on your way.

Check our online Calendar regularly! It lists all the upcoming events and pertinent information. There are also other communications that go out to the Company via Newsletter, emails and discussions at practices and Company meetings.

The protocols do vary somewhat from event to event. The Officers, with the assistance from all the Members present, try to plan ahead for most contingencies.

Get a good night’s sleep the night before, wear comfortable shoes and bring lots of water to drink! Pay attention to the weather forecasts as almost all the things we do are outside. The day may start off a little chilly and damp, but by mid-day it could be 30+ degrees warmer and sunny. At many of the Events we attend we’re fed by either the Event organizers or the company itself will set up the Dining Fly and “kitchen”. But you should always have a little something to nibble on in your snapsack. “It is better to have it, and not need it… than to need it and not have it!”

You can practice marching by coming to a music practice and listen to the music. Once you hear the cadence of the drums it’s fairly natural to fall in and march along. Several times a year we also try to get a large number of all our Members together to practice as a unit.

Those commands mean nothing, the Captain is just making it up as he goes along. More times than not we don’t listen to him anyways.

Dues are paid yearly to the Sgt. Paymaster, after the Annual Company Meeting, usually at the beginning of our Season. Currently the Dues are only $20 for an individual, or $30 for a family. Dues must be paid prior to the annual trail march, which happens on Patriots’ Day.

You can speak with any Member of the Company. They will direct you to the Music Master or Drum Sgt. / Fife Sgt. for more information. The Stow Minutemen Company offers FREE Colonial music lessons and no prior experience is necessary. We generally have music practice once a week in the evening. Check the online calendar for the times and locations.

Members should have a valid FID card and have had safety training from the Sgt. Armourer / Safety Officer before firing a musket at any event. Members between 16-18 years of age will also need parental permission.