Cassopolis video maker to explore Cass County history

Published 8:39 am Tuesday, December 31, 2019

CASSOPOLIS — Several times a week, Cassopolis resident Andrew Ellsworth steps inside of a small a shed toward the edge his property, and each time he does, he steps into a different time and place in history.

With little more than a desktop space heater keeping it warm during the winter months, every inch of the shed is overflowing with colonial flags, antique rifles, Native American artifacts and leather-bound books scattered about.

“This is where it all happens,” he said as he relaxed behind his desk, a long, curved pipe resting in his hand. “This is where I do my work.”

Some of the only modern items within the space are an iPad and a camera set up in front of him, which he soon would turn to face and promise to deliver — as he always does — “No fluff. No filler. Just raw, uncut, true history the way it was.”

Inside of his shed, Ellsworth records videos for his Youtube channel, “Living History Comes Alive.” A historical reenactor of nearly 30 years, Ellsworth shares stories from 16th to 19th-century history through costume and storytelling. He prides himself on removing the “fluff” from history and sharing details one might not have picked up in a typical high school class.

“What I enjoy most is telling the truth,” he said. “So many people get a watered-down version of history. That’s not what I do. I always say, ‘No fluff. No filler.’”

In the nine months since he posted his first video, Ellsworth has amassed more than 900 subscribers to his channel and has shared tales ranging from the history of firefighting in America to famous outlaws of the wild west. Now, He is taking on a new subject. Starting this week, he will be crafting videos based on the history of Cass County.

“I am going to start making videos, maybe once a week, maybe once every couple of weeks, about specifically Cass County,” he said. “There is so much untold history of this area — towns that were founded before Michigan was even a state. … I’d like to make videos on all kinds of topics like the Old Tavern Inn in Sumnerville, which is the oldest licensed business in the state of Michigan.”

Ellsworth got the idea for the project after attending a recent meeting with the Cass County Historical Commission. Members of the commission offered Ellsworth several books on Cass County history, which he has been studying for weeks to prepare for his video series. With his use of costumes and the video format, Ellsworth said that he hopes he gets Cass County’s name out there and can make learning the history of the county fun.

“I want people, especially from Michigan, to know about Michigan,” he said, excitement creeping into his voice. “I’m most excited about the local history — being able to tell it, being able to educate people who haven’t had the chance to learn about where they were born or the town they grew up in. … I want people to know about this little village [Cassopolis]. The area is beautiful. The people are incredible. The history is incredible.”

Through “Living History Comes Alive,” Ellsworth said he wants others to catch the history “bug” that he caught when he was 16 years old and attending his first living history event.

“I want to share the whole truth, whether it is good of it’s bad. It is what makes us, us,” he said. “The people who become interested in history and the truth are the ones that make it come alive. I can make the videos, and I can tell the stories, but it is the people who seek it out and learn it that keep it alive.”