Civil War encampment, period soiree honor Lincoln

MILFORD, PA — The Pike County Historical Society (PCHS) will host a group of Civil War re-enactors on the grounds of the Columns Museum on Saturday, April 18 and Sunday, April 19, rain or shine. This year’s program will be based on the refugee camps of the Civil War.

Vaughen Hansen, re-enactor and PCHS board member said, “We will be portraying an encampment (not a camp) of local residents who are trying to get out of the way of the converging armies. When 100,000 men start shooting at one another, you have two choices: hide in the cellar or pick up your valuables, toss them in a cart and get out of the way. Once the armies have finished pummeling each other and moved on, you go back home. It is a temporary situation rather than a permanent one. Neither government looked out for civilians in those days; you were on your own…. One place where this kind of temporary dislocation happened quite frequently (and which has a lot written about it) is the Shenandoah Valley. I believe Winchester alone changed hands 144 times between 1861 and 1865.”

The encampment will be preceded by a double-feature movie presentation in the Foundation Room of the Museum on Friday, April 17 at 7:00 p.m. In keeping with the Lincoln bicentennial, the film will be “Abraham Lincoln,” filmed in 1930 and directed by D.W. Griffith. This early “talkie” stars Walter Huston. The other film featured is the 1939 film “Young Mr. Lincoln,” directed by John Ford, starring Henry Fonda. These movies will be shown free of charge.

Saturday at 7:00 p.m. there will be a grand soiree, featuring live music of the era, performed by Celeste Triebeneck and her accompanist Paul E. Mitchel, costumed guests including Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln, and light fare and wine. Guests of the soiree are encouraged, but not required, to wear period dress and join in the fun. The cost is $30 per person and reservations are required.

The weekend draws to a close on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. with a lecture on Pike County’s own 151st Civil War military unit at 1:00 p.m., followed by a reading of the Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln.

For more information call 570/296-8126.