Emerald Peacock Saloon
History of our Saloon........
Our Saloon started as a thought by Jim Mitchell "Cornelius". First, I am going to give you some background information to lay down a foundation. We belong to a civil war re-enacting group called "5th Texas Company E". The organization has both Military and Civilian area's and is the oldest re-enacting Unit in Michigan (1976). I was in the Military end & Jim had converted to the Civilian part (was military). We were both involved in the group for some time and Jim wanted me to join in the civilian part of it. So, under the Saloon banner the idea sounded interesting. In 2004 we got together in his garage bought some painters cloth and some 2x4's at Home Depot and built us our very own Saloon tent. It was 24' x 24'(because of the size of the painters cloth) including a hallowed out interior door on some saw horses (our Bar), with a black cloth covering the saw horses. We also had a few wooden tables to put a few chairs around. Jim made up some sign's like refreshments, poker, candles and lamps for lightng,etc. But we didn't have a name yet. Upon pondering for a solution we came up with "The Lone Star Saloon". Made a sign and put it on the front of our establishment. Our re-enactment group was sponsoring an event in Holly, Michigan that May. So we made our goal to have our "Grand Opening" at that event. Unfortunately I don't have a picture of that set-up. Jim had arranged with a friend, Paul Gilbert to have a band play on that opening night. Glen Morningstar was one name I remember besides Paul. We opened at; I believe 7pm, Friday night. It rained like a banshee. Fortunately the band had not showed up yet. Half the tent was down and the painter’s cloth was not waterproof so just about everything got wet. We had to shorten the tent size because the wind & rain ripped some of the cloth to shreds. It did clear up enough to have a most enjoyable old time. I still remember the band had one corner of the saloon (5 piece's including a delcimer) next to the front door. We gave them each $100 in confederate script to gamble with. It was very kind of them to make our opening grander than ever. The music was superb.
The Emerging of the Emerald Peacock
Our name came to us by a good friend Debra Makulinski or better known as Tolusa (gypsy lady). She created the image you see above for us. She was instrumental in researching our name. She found a Diamond Peacock of Richmond, a... A very high classed place. We improvised this name to create our name. We built our theme around the emerald color. We had the bar skirt, vests, ties, table colors and signs. We had also allot of different games played including poker, Blackjack, Chuck-a-Luck, wheel-o-fortune to name a few. Every year our aim is to do more for our brother re-enacting community. To keep a place where he can go and have a great time. We hope all that cross our swinging doors go out eventually a satisfied patron of living history .She created the Peacock Logo for us that is/was appreciated.
How we play our games.
Poker-At our tables if we are in charge of the game we usually have a tournament with proceeds going to the location we are at. 5 card stud(any style), the players get 30 chips and it is an elimination to the end. Last player in wins. This game has gone from 8pm to about midnight. Otherwise our tables are open to our patrons at their own choosing. We supply cards and chips also some creative financing if needed. Gold, mortgages, indentured servants and other forms of repayment as required taken under consideration.
Black Jack- We offer this game of chance using peroid script. A black jack and 10 equals "Black Jack" which pays double. Also on the double list is 5 cards under 21. Automatic pay. All other 21 counts are 21. If you match the dealer then it is a push or pass. We are starting this year a sit down table designed for this game. Come on down and try your luck!
Chuck-a_luck- This is a dice game that we play the simpler version. We have 2-3 dice that has 6 numbers on them. On the table we have 6 boxed in areas to place the bet of what you think will show on the toss. If your number shows up more that one time you get that times the amount thrown. A fun game for sure. We are also making this a sit down game this year.
Billiards- We have a 1864 portable billiard table. It was built in Portland, maine by Burrowes Co. we also are playing with the original set of clay balls. 15 ball was played and is the most popular game of it's day. When a ball is pocked the player recieves as many points as the number on the ball. the 1st player to reach 61 wins the game.A scratch of the Cue Ball equals the player loses their turn and 3 points. There are no called shots. There is no rosin used on the Cue Sticks.
Faro-An old time gambling-casino game, using a fifty-two-card pack that is dealt by drawing cards face up from a special open-framed box. Omly values count in faro, and these are represented on a painted layout, as listed 7 6 5 4 3 2 A K Q J 10 9 8 Players put on the layout, designing cards which they thik will win or lose; in the latter case, the chip is "coppered" bt replacing a penny or special disk on it. Dealer discards the card showing on the pack (called the soda), then draws the next card and it beside the box as a "loser", while the next card showing is a "winner". This is termed a "turn", and the dealer collects or pays off the bets accordingly. New bets are made, the two cards are discarded, and the dealer proceeds with another turn.
Man's history in gambling goes back centuries. Ever since man could conceive of the intrigue-ness of the thought, it gave him a continuing curiosity. There were countless events of gambling such as, horse, cockroach & dog racing. The guess the pea in the shell game. Dice games. A wide variety in each area of every culture. In the timeline we are portraying of the 1860's American's Civil War we are committing to that time only.
