Civil War Remembrance Concert Tonight

Civil War Remembrance Concert—TONIGHT
Friday, October 5th 2012, 7–8:30 p.m.

Join us at the beautiful, new Lincoln Middle School Theater, 164 Centennial Ave., Meriden CT. Tickets are $5 at the door. Park free in the school lot.

The Civil War, between the Northern and Southern states, is an important part of our culture, our history and the American soul. This concert and the events tomorrow take a moment to reflect and educate on the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, 1861-1865, one of America’s most turbulent times.

Most of tonight’s music is from the Civil War era and created by Americans to show the struggles and sacrifices in the daily lives of men, women and children. Some music is patriotic, some bold and some sad—all feelings found in our lives today, but keenly felt during wartime, right here, in Meriden, Connecticut.

The Remembrance Concert is brought to you by the Meriden ArtsTrust, Inc.
and these Civil War Encampment collaborative non-profit groups:
Second Connecticut Volunteers Heavy Artillery
Meriden Historical Society
Quinnipiac River Watershed Association
Financial support from the Meriden Foundation

Civil War Encampment—Tomorrow, Saturday, October 6

8 to 8:45  a.m.
Commemoration Ceremony at Civil War Gravesites
Walnut Grove Cemetery, Meriden CT
817 Old Colony Road, Meriden, CT 06450

9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Civil War Encampment
Dossin Beach at Hanover Pond
Parking at Lincoln and Platt schools with shuttle to site.

Located near the original site of Civil War training Camp Tyler on the Quinnipiac River, members of the 2d Connecticut Volunteer Heavy Artillery will set up camp as they portray life in the Union Army. A full program of events is scheduled (details on this site). Admission is free. Food and beverages available for purchase.

Feeding an Army—The Foods Civil War Soldiers Ate

Dinner time at camp for officers and soldiers.

Dinner time at camp for officers and soldiers. (photos: Library of Congress)

The Challenge of Feeding an Army
One of the biggest obstacles to tasty food was inexperience. Men of this time period had little knowledge of food preparation, a chore typically left to women of the house or female slaves. Male army soldiers were forced to adjust to battlefield eating.

• Hardtack (army bread)
• Rations of pork or bacon, or beef on rare occasion, were boiled, broiled or fried over open campfires
• Chickens, turkeys and small birds
• Rice
• Baked beans were a northern favorite when the time allowed
• Molasses, vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper
• Tea, but coffee was most desirable, though soldiers had to roast beans in campfires before grinding and grinding sometimes meant smashing beans between a rock and a rifle butt

Additional Food in the Civil War Rations 
The armies also supplied fresh vegetables (sometimes fresh carrots, onions, turnips and potatoes), dried fruit, and dried vegetables as part of the ration when they were available. Men also foraged and scavenged the countryside for fresh food. Many also received supplements mailed from their family, offered by townspeople, or they could buy foods from sutlers who followed the troops selling pickles, cheese, sardines, cakes and candies.

Lunch time at our Civil War Encampment
Instead of hardtack and salt pork, the Meriden Lions Club will serve burgers and hot dogs fresh off the grill. The Meriden Historical Society will offer fresh home baked spice cookies made with flour, sugar, eggs, molasses, vegetable shortening, baking soda, spices (cinnamon, ginger, cloves), salt—ingredients available during the Civil War era.

A variety of food, beverages and snacks are available for purchase, including hot coffee—and you won’t have roast and grind your own beans!

Abraham Lincoln in Meriden—again.

President Abe Lincoln, portrayed by Lewis Dube, will visit the Civil War Encampment in Meriden on Saturday, October 6, 2012, where he’ll be wandering around camp, hanging out with the troops and talking to visitors.

Abraham Lincoln YouTube Release

A video featuring highlights of Lewis Dube’s An Evening with Abraham Lincoln was published on YouTube, September 26, 2012. This dramatization of Lincoln’s presidency was performed and filmed at the Howard Whittemore Memorial Library in Naugatuck, Connecticut.

Highlights from “An Evening with Abraham Lincoln,” a portrayal by Lewis Dube, runs for 6:50 on YouTube.

“You entertained and enthralled the audience.” … George H. W. Bush

Lewis Dube who has studied at Yale’s Drama School, is a nationally renowned Lincoln Actor, bringing the 16th President to life to thousands of Lincoln fans. Lewis Dube has appeared at venues across the country including several presidential libraries and has appeared on ABC, CBS, History Channel, Fox and CPTV.

Abraham Lincoln

Presidential Candidate Abraham Lincoln Visits Meriden, March 6, 1860

Lincoln left New Haven about 6:30 p.m. on the 6th of March, 1860, aboard a special train bound for Meriden. On his arrival, Lincoln was escorted from the station to the Town Hall on East Main Street in a torch-lit procession.

FOR MERIDEN HO!
GRAND CAMPAIGN EXCURSION

For the benefit of hundreds, if not thousands, who may wish to hear the Hon. Abraham Lincoln and may be unable to hear him in this city tonight, arrangements have been made to run an Extra Train to Meriden on Wednesday night.

— New Haven Palladium, 6 March 1860

Evening special train takes Lincoln and 300 supporters to Meriden. Torchlight procession escorts him to hall, where he speaks for more than two hours.

— Chicago Tribune, 14 March 1860

Join us next Saturday, October 6th, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Meriden Civil War Encampment for a full day of education, entertainment and fun for all ages. Bring your camera!

History comes alive in 14 days at Meriden Civil War Encampment.

Meriden Civil War Encampment—Coming Soon!

The banner is up, the concert programs are printed, the tee shirts are done too. The final details are falling into place as we are just two weeks away from the Meriden Civil War Encampment.

New banner marks the future site of Civil War Encampment, near the original location of Camp Tyler, a Civil War training camp in Meriden, Connecticut. Photo by: Civil War Encampment

This is going to be a great educational and entertaining event for the City of Meriden and beyond…

Meriden Civil War Encampment on The Mayor’s Mic

Meriden Civil War Encampment to get air time on The Mayor’s Mic.

Civil War Encampment planning committee members Marge Bucholz of the 2d Connecticut Volunteer Heavy Artillery (SCVHA), and JoAnne Grabinski of the Quinnipiac River Watershed Association (QRWA), talk with Meriden Mayor Michael Rohde. Marge arrived at the City Hall studio in her handmade 1860’s era day dress that one wears when going out to visit. The Mayor interviewed Marge and JoAnne about three events honoring the 150th anniversary of the Civil War and Meriden’s contribution to the war effort. The interview will soon appear on the Mayor’s bi-monthly television program, The Mayor’s Mic.

From left to right: Marge Bucholz of SCVHA and JoAnne Grabinski of QRWA meet Meriden Mayor Michael Rohde to tape Mayor’s Mic for Public Access cable television. Photo by Kathryn Orzech

Civil War Remembrance Concert, Friday, Oct. 5 — kicks off two days of events. The Civil War Remembrance Concert features music works and choral representing cultural aspects of the period, presented by Meriden ArtsTrust, Inc. Tickets are $5 per person at the door. 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Lincoln Middle School Theater, 164 Centennial Ave., Meriden CT.

Commemoration Ceremony at Civil War Gravesites, Saturday, Oct. 6 — Invocation by Rev. Chris Caton, Memorial Address of Gratitude, laying of flowers, and bagpipe and snare drum salute. 8 to 8:45 a.m. Walnut Grove Cemetery, 
817 Old Colony Road, Meriden CT.

Meriden Civil War Encampment, Saturday, Oct. 6 — An authentic living history Civil War Encampment will be set up by SCVHA members who will act in roles of militia and others associated with camp life. A full day guest speakers, theater and music performances is planned, with fun and entertainment for all ages. Food and beverages available for purchase.

Park at Lincoln Middle or Platt High schools for shuttle to encampment site. See other pages on this site for detailed information and complete program schedule. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Dossin Beach Park near the original location of Civil War training Camp Tyler.

The Mayor’s Mic can be seen on Cox Public Access Channel 14 and ATT U-Verse Public Access Channel 99 (scroll to Meriden Community Television). Mayor Rohde interviews key city personnel and representatives of local non-profit organizations to address topics of interest to all citizens. Shows are aired 7 days a week at 7am, 11am, 3pm, 7pm, 11pm and 3am. You’ll find a complete program line-up on The Mayor’s Mic web page at CityOfMeriden.org.

Financial support for these community events commemorating the American Civil War provided by the Meriden Foundation.
PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS:
2d Conn. Volunteer Heavy Artillery, Quinnipiac River Watershed Association, Meriden ArtsTrust, Inc., Meriden Historical Society.

Civil War Remembrance Concert – Friday October 5th

Civil War Remembrance Concert
Friday, October 5th 2012, 7–8:30 p.m.
Lincoln Middle School Theater, 164 Centennial Ave., Meriden CT

Civil War Remembrance Concert

Civil War era-appropriate music works and choral representing cultural aspects of the period will be presented by Meriden ArtsTrust, Inc. (MAT).

Tickets at $5 per person available at the door. Additional donations to support Meriden ArtsTrust, Inc. will be gratefully accepted. Park free at Lincoln Middle School lot.

Financial support for this community event provided by the Meriden Foundation.

VOLUNTEERS WANTED: Civil War Encampment needs volunteers

VOLUNTEERS WANTED:  Civil War Encampment in Meriden needs volunteers of high school age and up for two events:

Civil War Remembrance Concert, Friday Oct. 5. Volunteers are needed from 6:30 till 9:00 pm at Lincoln Middle School Theater, 164 Centennial Ave., Meriden CT.
Concert duties might include:  Hand out programs, usher guests, assist with refreshments, staff the information table, etc.

Civil War Encampment event, Saturday Oct. 6. Volunteers are needed from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm at Dossin Beach Park at Hanover Pond, Oregon Rd., Meriden CT.
Encampment duties might include:  Help with set up/break down, gopher for food tables, gopher for site maintenance, help with parking, staff information table, assist with speaker’s tent set up/straighten chairs, usher, hand out programs at bus stop, assist vendors with set up/break down, etc.

BE PART OF A LIVING HISTORY EVENT:  This historical event honors the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War and recognizes Meriden’s contribution to the war effort during our country’s most turbulent time.

The Civil War Encampment event
and your commitment will be over in a day—
but what a grand day it will be!

We need You!  Sign up today.  No special skills are required and you’ll work with a dedicated team of participating non-profit groups and community leaders. Learn more about the Civil War Encampment on this site’s About page.

TO VOLUNTEER:  Please email Lisa (remove brackets, spaces and use @ sign):  LionLisaP [at] yahoo.com

Financial support for this community event provided by the Meriden Foundation.
PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS:
Quinnipiac River Watershed Association, Meriden ArtsTrust, Inc., Meriden Historical Society and the 2d Connecticut Volunteer Heavy Artillery.