Historical Maple Sugar making demonstrations

[Mike Ameling]

With the interest some people have in tapping Maple trees to make syrup/sugar from the sap, I thought I would post some links to several discussions (with pictures) of Historical maple sugar production demonstrations. Several friends did these demonstrations for the public at various Parks and historical sites down in Missouri, Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan/Canada. The emphasis was on demonstrating how people made maple sugar in the mid/late 1700's. Plus Riley posted a few pics of his home production of syrup. It might be interesting to some people, and give a little better understanding of the process.

The links are to the discussion threads on ... another message board (gasp). But it is mostly for 18th century discussions.

http://frontierfolk.net/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=22343

Canadian/Michigan/Detroit area sugar camp - most recent - this past weekend

http://frontierfolk.net/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=22070

Sugar camp down in Indiana/Ohio - pictures on second page of discussion

http://frontierfolk.net/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=20867

Sugar camp documentation/discussion/pictures - in Indiana and Missouri

Riley lives up in Minnesota, and did his home production up there for himself (not a demonstration for the public).

Hope this is of interest to some people.

Mikey - that grumpy ol' German blacksmith out in the Hinterlands

p.s. Yes, I do have a copy of Boulanger's historical reference/documentation file.

 

[Hoodoo]

I attended one this past weekend.

Here are some pics along with with some birch and spoon work.

Over 40 kids helped build this birch bark canoe:

Those cone shaped containers were used for forming maple sugar.

Maple sugar (not syrup) was a native staple for many tribes.

Here's some kids demonstrating how syrup was boiled in clay and birch pots. More pics later.

 

[bushwacker bob]

Never seen Maple sugar over here, just syrup and thats expensive. I bet thats pretty lush on pancakes!
Great pictures and a very impressive canoe.

 

[Hoodoo]

Bob, that canoe is pretty awesome.

Here's some more inforomation on the building of that canoe.

This is how Native Americans tapped trees for sap:

Making syrup the "old fashioned way."

This is a modern evaporator.

 

[MartinK9]

Great pictures there Hoodoo, thanks for sharing