Submitted by mjohnson on

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Ten years ago this week, I bought my second domain name, MaineMilitia.com, and this site was born. It has certainly changed a lot over that time. But somethings have always been the same. MaineMilitia.com has always been a way for me to combine several of my passions together into one hobby. My love of Maine and it's grand history, all the great experiences I've had in the hobby of Civil War reenacting, and communication in all it's modern and technological forms.

Although it has never become what I dreamt it could be, that is not due to any fault of it's fantastic audience. The thousand or so regular visitors to this website have always been appreciative of what appears here and a few have even contributed their thoughts, comments and news items to the sites growth. It's the few dozen occasional contributors that provide me with the satisfaction to keep the site running. Thank you one and all!
I still have high hopes and dreams for the living history community in Maine. What role the MaineMilitia.com website will play in this community in the next ten years is difficult to speculate on. But I dream of a day when there is more sharing amongst all eras of living history folks operating in Maine. A large calendar of events that will lead people interested in history to an activity every weekend of the year. An openness in sharing resources and collaborating on objectives. And an increase in the awareness of the experiences of the past.
So from the bottom of my heart, I want to thank everyone who has supported me and this website and has slipped into a bygone era in an effort to educate others on a time long ago! ThankTen years ago this week, I bought my second domain name, MaineMilitia.com, and this site was born. It has certainly changed a lot over that time. But somethings have always been the same. MaineMilitia.com has always been a way for me to combine several of my passions together into one hobby. My love of Maine and it's grand history, all the great experiences I've had in the hobby of Civil War reenacting, and communication in all it's modern and technological forms.

Although it has never become what I dreamt it could be, that is not due to any fault of it's fantastic audience. The thousand or so regular visitors to this website have always been appreciative of what appears here and a few have even contributed their thoughts, comments and news items to the sites growth. It's the few dozen occasional contributors that provide me with the satisfaction to keep the site running. Thank you one and all!

I still have high hopes and dreams for the living history community in Maine. What role the MaineMilitia.com website will play in this community in the next ten years is difficult to speculate on. But I dream of a day when there is more sharing amongst all eras of living history folks operating in Maine. A large calendar of events that will lead people interested in history to an activity every weekend of the year. An openness in sharing resources and collaborating on objectives. And an increase in the awareness of the experiences of the past.

So from the bottom of my heart, I want to thank everyone who has supported me and this website and has slipped into a bygone era in an effort to educate others on a time long ago! Thank you,

Happy birthday MaineMilitia.com.

Comments

Has it been that long? My

Has it been that long?

My first memory of this site is a comment by Rod Brents about Riverdanceing during a parade with the heelplates clicking on the pavement, or the Thomas Colledge student that assumed this was a MILITIA site not a civil war reenactors forum, apparently reading is optional to some....but let us not forget the Ironclad.....may she someday take the seas!

Seamus

PRIMA NOCTA

Thanks fellas

I've still got all the old archives in a database, Mike. Someday, I'll have to dig into it and pull out the gems. Some are real treasures and need to be preserved!

 

-- Michael Johnson

Got files? really? files of

Got files?

really? files of EVERYTHING?

should I start building a giant portable EMP device?

or am I just being paranoid?

(and a special birthday greeting to both Rodney Brents and Army specialist 4 eric Johansenn at listing post six, NSA headquarters Bethesda Md.)

 

PRIMA NOCTA

I guess I should check in here more often

Riverdance??? Wow, I forgot all about that one.  The ironclad is still in the works however.  Just need duct tape...and bondo....and a river....

Mike, thanks for the Happy Birthday...turning 55 doesn't exactly make me "happy", but having friends like you does!

Sorry I've been quiet so much lately.  Between work, home renovations (the dumpster arrives this Thursday, the demolition begins Friday!) and working on my epic novel (wrote chapter 6 yesterday), I'm pretty used up.

Looking back on the past 10 years...damn...really?  Ten years???...some of those posts that Mr. Johnson is keeping archived are probably best KEPT archived...however, there were some good ones and it would be fun to see them again!

Congratulations Michael...a decade of dedicated service to keeping history alive. Here's to another decade of decadent and delectable debates, deliberations, and anything else that starts with "d" to keep the alliterations going.

...can you tell the morning coffee has kicked in?

 

 

I'll open the archives at 25

Good luck with the renovations Rod! I know what you mean by "used up". Chasing my daughter and the rest of life seems to be using me up too! But I'm looking forward to your first book signing. ;)

I'm hoping for another decade as well. Thank you very much for the kind words!

-- Michael Johnson