The 117th Regiment New York Volunteers Reenacting Unit is the military host of the Sixteenth Annual Peterboro Civil War Weekend June 14 and 15, 2008 on the green in Peterboro. The 117th reenactors represent a part of the original Civil War Regiment that mustered out of Rome NY on August 20, 1862.

The reenactors representing the 117th New York Volunteers in Peterboro portray a medical and civilian group. The unit formed seven years ago with a strong interest in the medical aspects of the Civil War. During events the women demonstrate various aspects of the women’s roles in the War. Knitting, quilting, tatting, sewing, and crocheting are among the activities shown. The men perform surgeries and amputations, and will talk about medical practices in the Civil War demonstrating with medical instruments that were used during the war.

The Peterboro Civil War Weekend is an educational and fundraising event sponsored by the Town of Smithfield and the Smithfield Community Association. During the event Peterboro relives the period of the mid 1800s when the hamlet held national recognition because of Gerrit Smith’s Underground Railroad station, the visitations of famous abolitionists, and the connection with John Brown that sparked the War Between the States. Peterboro sites are on the Heritage NY Underground Railroad Trail and on the National Park Service Network to Freedom National Underground Railroad Trail. Proceeds from the event support the preservation and promotion of the heritage of the Town of Smithfield.

Each day of Civil War Weekend includes domestic and military encampments by units from the United States and Canada, character portrayals of presidents, generals, and women’s rights advocates, children’s period games on the green, skirmishes each afternoon at 2 p.m., live performances of period music, song, dance, fashion show, and drills, shopping in a 19th C. Store and at sutler tents (books, reproduction clothes, souvenirs), food by Peterboro United Methodist Church,  Saturday Chicken Barbeque by Smithfield Volunteer Fire Department, Sunday Pancake Breakfast 8 – 11 a.m. at the Firehouse, and a U. S. Postal Service Cancellation on Jefferson Davis. The Peterboro Area Museum and the Gerrit Smith Land Office will be open. Walking tours of the Gerrit Smith Estate National Historic Landmark are scheduled.

Saturday hours for the event are 10 am – 5 pm, and Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm.  Admission is $7 for adults, $3 for ages 6 – 12, and free for children under 6. Parking is free. For more information PO Box 32, Peterboro NY 13134, 315-684-9022, bspokows@twcny.rr.com, www.sca-peterboro.org

 


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