PLATTSBURGH — The North Country will once again mark the region’s involvement in the War between the States at the fourth-annual Civil War Commemorative Day.
The event, co-sponsored by the Northern New York/Canadian Geneological Society and the Clinton County Historical Association, is set for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18, at the Historical Association Museum and grounds.
“We have a whole slew of things happening this year,” Clinton County Historian Anastasia Pratt said of the daylong event. “Each year, we try to expand on the activities that will be available.”
STREET FAIR
The celebration usually moves to a new location every year, though this will be the second consecutive season for the County Museum to act as host.
“We have two distinct types of activities: an outside street fair and information from local historians on the community and family ties to the Civil War,” Pratt said.
The street fair will give visitors an image of the Civil War period, with displays representing basket weaving and other activities that took place in the middle 1800s. Hands-on activities for children will be offered, Pratt said.
Regional historians will provide records of people across the North Country who enlisted.
STAMP CANCELLATION
In the county’s continuing effort to create a network among the region’s museums, representatives from several other organizations will also be on hand for the event, which is free to the public.
One special presentation will be on the newly digitized version of the Marjorie Lansing Porter collection from Plattsburgh State’s Special Collections. Porter, 1891-1973, was a noted folklorist and historian of the Adirondacks and Lake Champlain region who brought historical eras to life by interviewing people who lived through them.
Presentations on the Cavalry Corps and how to do genealogy and Civil War quilts will also take place during the event. Dannemora’s Skip Maggy will offer a history of industry in that community.
“We will also have a stamp cancellation in commemoration of the 118th New York Volunteers, also known as the Adirondack Regiment,” said Clinton County Museum Curator Melissa Peck.
VET’S GRAVES
The Historical Association continues to promote Civil War heritage, including an ongoing project to identify Civil War veterans’ gravesites across the county, Peck noted.
“We had a significant call-up from this area in four years (during the Civil War), a high number of enlistments,” she said.
“Our goal is to try to bring the history of this period to as many people as we can,” Pratt said. “It’s a low-key event, but there are a lot of fun things for people to do as they wander around.”
Email Jeff Meyers:
jmeyers@pressrepublican.com
