LIVERMORE — The Washburn-Norlands Living History Center, 290 Norlands Road, will be hosting “The Washburns and Civil War Living History Day” on Thursday, July 19 and “Christmas in July” on Wednesday, July 25.
The Civil War program will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Re-enactors from 3rd Maine Infantry Company A will be camped on the grounds.
Visitors will have the chance to help soldiers set up and take down their tents, try a piece of hardtack, see drills, learn about the Washburn family’s role in the war and their relationship with Abraham Lincoln, and tour the Washburn library to see artifacts from the period.
A reading of the Emancipation Proclamation will take place on the front lawn at 3:30 p.m. The 1867 Washburn family mansion and farmer’s cottage and one-room schoolhouse will remain open for tours all day. The schoolhouse will close at 3 p.m. for a special presentation.
Visitors are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch. General admission will be $10; $6 ages 12 and younger; $25 for two adults with two or more children under the age of 18.
Christmas in July will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. It will feature ornament-making, cookie-decorating, outdoor holiday-themed games, letter-writing to Santa, a holiday trivia game and sharing how the Washburns and their neighbors celebrated Christmas in the 1800s.
Visitors can begin their holiday shopping in Norlands’ gift shop. Bob Bonin of Blue Goose Woods will be selling his handmade wooden snowmen and tree decorations – all locally sourced. A tag sale of slightly used holiday decorations will also benefit the Norlands.
General admission to Christmas in July is $5 per person. Norlands’ members receive a 20 percent discount on admission and a 10 percent discount on all gift shop purchases. ?
For more information visit www.norlands.org, email norlands@norlands.org or call 207-897-4366.
Re-enactors from the 3rd Maine Infantry Company A set up camp on the front lawn at Washburn-Norlands Living History Center in Livermore. (Michael Corthell photo)
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