Crafters, Farmers and Musicians Invited to Participate in Quabbin Civil War Remembrance Day on July 4

Ken Levine,  banjo player

Crafters, Farmers and Musicians Invited to Participate in

Quabbin Civil War Remembrance Day on July 4

Sutlers or victualers were civilian merchants who sold provisions – from leather, wooden, cloth, knitted and woven goods, to maple syrup, honey, strawberries, eggs, butter and cheese - during the Civil War to the army in field camp, in quarters or in far flung outposts. In keeping with that tradition, crafters, farmers and musicians are invited to participate in a “Living Heritage Farmer and Artisan Market” during the Quabbin Civil War Remembrance Day on Wednesday, July 4th from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm at the Orange Gun Club and from 2:00 – 8:00 pm at the Orange Town Hall’s Ruth B. Smith Auditorium.  The Orange Gun Club, located at 357 West River Street in Orange, was established in 1884 and is the oldest chartered gun club in Massachusetts.  The Orange Town Hall is located at 6, Prospect Street. All events are free and open to the public.

The day’s activities will start at 9:30 am at the Orange Gun Club’s 200 yard rifle range with a live firearms Civil War Black Powder Shoot demonstration with Environmental Police Officer Terry Whitney.  Following the live firearms demonstration, at 11:00 am Officer Whiney will display an array of antique fire arms and lead a discussion on military weapons and tactics of the cavalry, infantry and artillery used by both the Union and Confederacy during the Civil War.  A game stew and chicken Bar-B-Que will follow at 12:30 pm with live music provided by Ken Levine and friends.  Civil War field lifestyle demonstrations will be provided by the 15^th Massachusetts Civil War Infantry.

Tributes to those who participated in the Civil War, musical presentations and sutlers and victualers who are part of the Living Heritage Farmer and Artisan Market will be on hand during the Civil War tributes starting at 2:00 pm at the Orange Town Hall.  And two doors up from the Town Hall, at the Orange Historical Society & Museum, 41 North Main Street, a Tea will be held from 2:00 – 4:00 pm and at 5:00 pm a dinner and “Tin Type Show and Tell.” 

Individuals wishing to participate in the Civil War tributes, perform Civil War musical tributes, or sell wares as part of the Living Heritage Farmer and Artisan Market should contact Genevieve Fraser at Tel. (978) 544-1872 or email: FraserGenevieve@gmail.com. Tickets for the Civil War Bar-B-Que can be reserved by emailing: Bellas-Dad@hotmail.com, or calling Mark at Tel. 978-467-6076.

 PHOTO CAPTION:  Ken Levine, owner of Frames/Ink in Athol will be performing Civil War banjo tunes during the Quabbin Civil War Remembrance Day on July 4th at the Orange Gun Club in the morning and as part of the Civil War tributes, starting at 2 pm at the Orange Town Hall.

PHOTO CREDIT: Genevieve Fraser