Yo ho ho and a two-day country fair

Those who attended the 25th annual Country Fair at Rock Hall Museum in Lawrence last weekend had an entertaining, educational and appetizing two days.

The Ye Pyrate Brotherhood, a male and female pirate reenactment troupe, who dress and act the part of real 18th century buccaneers, provided entertainment. Cannon blasts announced the beginning of each show that featured audience members (usually children) joining up with the pirates and going on a treasure hunt.

An education about pirates and their times was also continually provided to passersby. “There were a lot of reasons this wouldn’t fire,” one pirate said in regards to his pistol as he talked about the weaponry used in a high seas battle.

That education was supplemented by a tour of Rock Hall, a house built in 1767 by Josiah Martin Smith and home to the Hewlett family from 1824 to 1948 before becoming a Town of Hempstead museum.

In addition there were active historical exhibits where early American woodcarving, yarn making and cooking were on display. Dressed in the clothes of a Dutchman representing 17th New York was Arthur Kirmss, a formally trained artist, who went to the Pratt Institute in Manhattan.

Kirmss, who makes wooden kitchenware used in the 17th century using that era’s tools, sanded down a piece of mulberry wood with sandstone shavings as he began shaping an olive tray.

“This is part of my life and I enjoy doing it,” said Kirmss, who has been doing this for 25 years. Typically, making one large bowl, he said, “would take several days at least.”

Along with the historical exhibits there were also crafts for sale, a petting zoo for children with pony rides, sand art, face painting and Five Towns Early Learning Center had a making a scarecrow area.

An array of food provided those tasty snacks, including French crêpes to fried clams, curly fries, cotton candy and Italian ices. A little different from the menu posted by the Pyrate Brotherhood that called for light rum for breakfast, spiced rum for lunch, and dark rum for dinner several rum filled desserts. Yo ho ho and a lot of fun.