VIENNA — In observance of the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War, the Vienna Historical Society will hold an open house and living history day featuring an encampment of Company K, 3rd Maine Regiment Volunteer Infantry.
Festivities will be from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 20 and 21, at the Historical Society on Town House Road. There will be something of interest for everyone.
The 3rd Maine Infantry will have their entire organization encamped just as they would have been in 1861. Visitors can walk all through the encampment and learn about the various aspects of camp life. No camp would be complete without “camp followers” and the 3rd Maine has their own contingent of proper ladies in tow. Children (and maybe even some men) will be allowed to march in drills with the soldiers. The camp ladies will tell all about their costumes and perhaps dress up some volunteer visitors.
Several local artisans will display their wares, as well as demonstrate some of their techniques. There will also be food, antiques, music, dancing and featured speakers on both days. Historian David Cook of Winthrop will speak at 2 p.m. on Saturday on “Maine and the Great Rebellion.” Cook is writing a book on the 3rd Maine’s participation in the Civil War.
On Sunday at 2 p.m., the speaker will be Helen Neff, who will offer a discourse on “Quilts of the Underground Railroad.” Neff is an accomplished quilter and has done extended research on the use of quilt symbols as guideposts on the Underground Railroad, and will be displaying her sampler quilt.
The Historical Society has published a new book, “Where Have All the Soldiers Gone: Civil War Veterans of Vienna and Mount Vernon,” which will be introduced at the event. The book chronicles the service records of local veterans, and follows their lives after returning from the war. Most stayed right here at home, but many migrated west and had exciting adventures.
The Vienna Historical Society extends an invitation to everyone to attend this event, and inspect the progress in refurbishing Waite House. The event is free and there will be plenty of parking.
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