Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Civil War Living History Weekend, Confederate Reunion Grounds

This past weekend I attended the Civil War Living History weekend at the Confederate Reunion Grounds in Mexia Texas. This is the annual fund raiser for the site's friends group. The site is one of the Texas Historical Commission's historic sites so I attend as an employee of the THC.

Since I was participating in the school day on Friday, I arrived in Mexia on Thursday. Every year I have attended I have stayed at the Hamilton House bed and breakfast. I and another staff member were the last bed and breakfast guests for the house. It has been sold and the new owners plan to use the house as a part time residence and will only accept long term renters. Bummed about this as I really enjoyed this house and the innkeepers. This year there were a few long term residents at the house so I was given the third floor attic apartment. This is such a cool space with a front room, kitchenette and bedroom. I could have lived here!


Friday was school day for the area schools. My learning/activity station was on wallpaper envelopes. I made the glue using gelatin and vinegar. A co-worker ordered reproduction wallpaper from Bradbury and Bradbury and cut out the blanks for me.



The site had tables and a fly set up for me, which I shared with another THC employee from Caddo Mounds that demonstrated woodworking.
Another THC employee spoke on cotton and provided a carding activity.

Other learning stations included buffalo soldiers, archeology, camp life, military maneuvers, and animals.


We had a little rain but not enough to cause any big problems. The kids were all gone by 3:00 so I went back to the house and relaxed for the rest of the afternoon.

Saturday started early as the site opened up at 9:00 for the public. I again manned the envelope activity station. The day started with a parade to the flag poles to raise the CSA flags and the US flag.



 The rest of the day was spent talking with the public. We also had music throughout the day provided by the Sweet Song String Band, who also provided the music for the ball, and Heritage Brass Band. The Heritage Brass Band also provided accompaniment to the battle on Saturday and Sunday.


Stephanie Hilgert Ford gave a talk during the ladies' tea on Lilly Martin Spencer. The ball on Saturday night is also used by the local homeschoolers as their prom.


I was pretty well done with by evening so I didn't stay long at the ball.

Sunday was casual day for me; I didn't dress in period clothes and visited friends and took pictures. Watched Sunday's battle as I didn't see Saturday's.

So ended the event. More pictures can be found on Photobucket.




1 comment:

Patience said...

Sadly there was a sinister rebel biological attack in the clever placement of excessive pollen producing plants on the battlefield Saturday. It took out several union soldiers Saturday night.

In other words soldiers in the Union camp had several severe allergic and asthmatic reactions to the point that two soldiers had to be taken out of camp late Saturday night.