American Identity: A Common Pot

Celebrating America's 250 at the Trenton Old Barracks

By: Devon Williams

Outlets: NJ State House News Service

Published: June 29, 2026

Words: 679

Last Updated: 1 month ago

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TRENTON, N.J. — Smoke from the campfire drifted across the courtyard of Trenton’s Old Barracks as Daryian Kelton paused mid-conversation to stir a pot of potatoes, turnips, beef, peas and water.

To most visitors, it looked like stew. To Kelton, a Revolutionary War reenactor, it was a recipe to talk about complex issues of class, farming, economics and identity in 18th-century America. To him, even the smallest inquiry can be “a loaded …

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