Steering Committee Meets January 31 to Plan American Civil War 150th Anniversary Quabbin Remembrance

Elizabeth Peirce, Curator SRVHS

Steering Committee Meets January 31 to Plan American Civil War 150th Anniversary Remembrance  

Elizabeth Peirce, the curator of the Swift River Valley Historical Society (SRVHS) in New Salem will host the steering committee tasked with developing the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War Commemorative activities planned for the 4th of July in Orange.  Genevieve Fraser, the artistic director of the Drama Circle is the overall coordinator of events. 

The steering committee meeting will take place at 7 PM on Tuesday, January 31 at the Prescott Church Museum, SWVHS, 40 Elm Street in North New Salem, MA, across for the Orange Oil Company.  The public is invited to attend, and light refreshments will be served. 

Prescott Church Museum, SRVHS

Plans call for a July 4^th Remembrance at the Orange Town Hall which will include readings from Civil War era diaries, letters from the lost Quabbin towns and towns throughout the region.  Other presentations will include writings by Mark Twain along with other 19^th century era writers and historical figures. Along with actors, musicians, singers and Civil War re-enactors, volunteers are needed to serve on the steering committee. 

Other activities planned for and around the 4th of July include a "Living Heritage Farmers and Artisan Market," a Civil War Quilt Contest, and a possible Black Powder Shoot and Civil War Parade.  Ken Reynolds of Orange is organizing the parade. All planning sessions will be held at the Swift River Valley Historical Society in North New Salem, Massachusetts.

Though the American Civil War began on April 12, 1861 with the Battle of Fort Sumter, it wasn't until the 4th of July 1862 that President Abraham Lincoln sent a proclamation to the Governor of Massachusetts which called for cities and towns to raise money for the war effort and send volunteers for three years' service.  Following Lincoln's call for volunteers, on July 4th – 150 years ago, the towns immediately held meetings, appropriated money, and fixed the amount of the bounty which they authorized to be paid, according to records of the time.

Along with Civil War Commemorative activities, “Lincoln: The Musical” will be performed on the weekends following the 4th of July 2012. The production will be staged at the Orange Town Hall, 6 Prospect Street in Orange. The production is funded, in part, by a grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council.  Organizations, businesses or individuals wishing to help sponsor the play or other 150th Anniversary Civil War commemorative activities should make tax deductible donations out to "CF Pals - Drama Circle," 1 South Main Street, Orange, MA 01364.  In-kind donations are also gratefully accepted.  

For further information, contact Genevieve Fraser at 978-544-1872, or email FraserGenevieve@gmail.com, or visit http://quabbincivilwar.blogspot.com/