1861 Westville - Oct 17-19, 2008

[Jim of The SRR]

Date: 17-19 October 2008
Name: Westville 1861
Location: Near Columbus, GA
Sponsor/Host: SCAR
Impression: 1861 Civilian and early war militia or commutation only for military.
Capacity: TBA
POC: Jim Butler
Email: unionguy1@comcast.net
Website: http://www.geocities.com/scar_civilwar
Forum: TBA
Listserver: None
Preservation Component: None
Notes: Demonstrations include Fire Eater speeches, Confederate recruiting station, Drilling and mustering in new recruits/gathering of the troops encampment, Oddfellows Meeting, Ezra Barnhouse Storefront, Period play and possible minstrel show, etc. Daily civilian life vignettes: Postmaster, cooking, cleaning, chopping wood, life in a small town, etc. Individual registrations only.

SCAR will be sponsoring the following event in 2008: (an event website will be up soon)

Dates: Oct 17-19, 2008

Site: Westville, GA (this is an 1850's reproduced town near Columbus, GA)
site webpage: http://www.westville.org/index.htm

Mission: To portray an 1861 Georgia town.

Demonstrations: Fire Eater speeches
Confederate recruiting station
Drilling and mustering in new recruits/gathering of the troops encampment.
Oddfellows Meeting
Ezra Barnhouse Storefront
Period play and possible minstrel show, etc.
Daily civilian life vignettes: Postmaster, cooking, cleaning, bailing cotton, blacksmith, store, life in a small town, etc.

Impression: 1860s civilian dress
Early war militia or commutation only for military.
Confederate recruiter would still be wearing his US Regular army uniform at this time.

Groups: SCAR (SE Coalition of Authentic Reenactors) and invited groups only. Individual registrations only.
Uniform/dress guidelines are already written and will be up on the website. All reenactors would not only need to meet the minimum guidelines, but
also take part in the vignettes and demonstrations. This will not be a Scarlet Ohara fashion show.
This would not be a mainstream endeavor. Serious living historians only.

Please review these websites for more information on
our groups:
SCAR www.geocities.com/scar_civilwar

Regards,
Jim Butler

[Kiev Thomason]

Re: 1861 Westville - Oct 17-19, 2008

Sounds great Jim.I have been down there and tried to get something like this going and they said no.Cheers to you.Great site.Let me know if ya need anything.Call me.They have a really nice Lodge building there!:wink_smil

[suspenderless pard]

Re: 1861 Westville - Oct 17-19, 2008

I know that I am looking forward to attending this event next year. It will be a nice change of pace from the usual living history, etc.. scenario that we usually. I'm already putting some new threads together for this one. The Mossy Creek Mess will be there in force.

Sean

[Ken Knopp]

Re: 1861 Westville - Oct 17-19, 2008

This sounds really super! I too have been to this town several times and found it one of the most amazing 19th century places I have ever seen-anwywhere! A complete, functionable 1850's town with largely original buildings, literally NO modern instrusions. Check out the web site. One can totally immerse yourself and capture one of those special "I felt like I was there" moments at Westville. It is that special. Trully fascinating!
Many years ago in the early 90's, I too approached the presiding authorities there about doing a C.W. event and was completely blown off. They were totally entrenched as ONLY early 1850's. Adament to the point of getting very defensive. Would not matter how much money, exposure, etc. they would receive. They would "not ever" consider it. So, hats are off to whomever accomplished getting them ever so closer to the 1860's. Maybe this can break the ice for some nice trully C.W. event in the future at... (in my opinion) one of the most pristine mid-19th century places to be found in America.


Ken R Knopp

[Jim of The SRR]

Sparks of Seccession - Westville 1861 / Oct 17-19, 2008

The event website for Sparks of Secession is up at:

http://www.geocities.com/scar_civilwar/WestvilleIndex

More info will be added soon.

Regards,
Jim Butler
SCAR www.geocities.com/scar_civilwar

[Jerry Gouge]

Re: 1861 Westville - Oct 17-19, 2008

Jim,

This is going to be a great one. I can't wait. For the longest time the folks at Westville have said "NO" to Civil War events. I think it is a great place for a living history.

Jerry Gouge

[Possum]

Re: 1861 Westville - Oct 17-19, 2008

Sounds great. I plan to be there. What kind of weaponry is allowed?

[burt60]

Re: 1861 Westville - Oct 17-19, 2008

Guide lines are on the web page http://www.geocities.com/scar_civilwar/WestvilleIndex

[Possum]

Re: 1861 Westville - Oct 17-19, 2008

Will there be another one of these events the next year?

[Jim of The SRR]

Re: 1861 Westville - Oct 17-19, 2008

It is far to soon to see if SCAR will host an event there in 2009.

Thanks,
Jim Butler