The 19th and 21st centuries existed side by side this past weekend as the LeDuc Historic Estate hosted their annual Civil War Weekend. From the Union soldiers, townsfolk, and even children who were portrayed by some dedicated reenactors, the grounds of the estate contained all the sights of a late 19th century encampment. Months of planning came to fruition on two weather-perfect days. There was a working blacksmith, a huge outdoor cook camp, and several displays of historically accurate life that ranged from music, to literature, to crafts such as spinning and photography. Ornately dressed townsfolk mingled amongst visitors posing for modern day selfies in their muslin skirts and crinolined dresses. Men wore scratchy wool waistcoats with starched collars or the faded blue uniforms of Grant’s Army. There were readings of the Gettysburg address and firing of traditional guns and cannons. The latter were blanks, of course, but sounded real enough for modern ears. At one point we found a familiar face, Father Martin Siebenaler, hard at work over a large Red Wing Crock full of sauerkraut. We asked for his recipe.
The Civil War Weekend takes place on the 2nd weekend in September. We will feature more from the Civil War weekend on future broadcasts.
