New England Civil War Museum Hosts 4th ‘Living History Day’ in Vernon – Free Event is Open to All
The New England Civil War Museum & Research Center of Vernon is hosting its 4th Annual Living History Day this Saturday, Sept. 28, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Park Place in front of Vernon Town Hall. The event is FREE and all are welcome.
Living History Day will feature portrayals of Civil War infantry and artillery soldiers, navy sailors and New England civilians of the era. There will also be a full-size replica of a 12-pound Napoleon cannon, and a six-foot model of the ironclad U.S.S. Monitor.
“The New England Civil War Museum is truly one of Vernon’s gems,” Vernon Mayor Dan Champagne said. “The museum volunteers have created a wonderful exhibition of a pivotal moment in our nation’s history, and the role Connecticut men and women played in the fight for victory and our nation’s ideals. The collection of what Rockville men carried with them during the war, and then brought home is simply breathtaking. I encourage everyone to come out to be amazed by this event and this incredible museum.”
Living historians will demonstrate how soldiers drilled and fired their muskets, and how tradespeople went about their work. Children can learn to march like Civil War soldiers did. Everyone can try on Civil War clothing and check out the equipment of the era.
“All through the year we work to learn about and bring to life the stories of our ancestors and their service in the Civil War,” said Daniel Hayden, executive director of the New England Civil War Museum. “On Living History Day, we go a step further and invite a variety of living historians to join us and to share the fascinating history of the Civil War and the critical contributions Connecticut soldiers and citizens made to preserve the Union.”
In addition to the “Nutmeg Battalion” portraying soldiers, sailors and others, the museum is debuting two new exhibits. “Pioneers of Liberty” tells the story of the Black soldiers of the 29th and 30th Connecticut Volunteer Colored Infantry regiments. “Seth, Joseph, Lizzie and George” tells the story of four diverse people and their experiences throughout the war. The exhibits are made possible thanks to grants from CT Humanities/The National Endowment for the Humanities, Connecticut, and a grant from the Historic New England Herbert and Louise Whitney Fund Community Preservation Grants Program.
“These new exhibits are quite special,” Hayden said. “Rather than the traditional method of narrating the events of the war, "Seth, Joseph, Lizzie, and George" tells the story of the Civil War through the experiences of four individuals - Seth Plumb, a soldier of European stock, Joseph Porter, a Black soldier of African Ancestry from Rockville, Lizzie Chester, a young woman from Vernon, and George Abbe, a young man from East Windsor. This new exhibit is designed to give everyone a way to relate to the people of the Civil War era, and will include their own words from letters written during the war.”
Special guests this year are independent researcher and genealogist John Mills of Alex Breanne Corp., and historian, artist, and storyteller Tammy Denease of Hidden Women, LLC. Both helped guide the development of our two new exhibits for authenticity and to offer previously underrepresented perspectives of people in history. At 11 a.m. Mills will present stories he's uncovered from his research on people of the 29th and 30th Connecticut regiments, and at 12:30 p.m. Denease will portray Elizabeth Keckley, African-American seamstress, civil rights activist, and modiste and confidant to Mary Todd Lincoln.