MANSFIELD — Valerie Hamill didn’t just tell the Mansfield City Council about an upcoming Civil War “living history” event in South Park.
Wearing a hoop skirt from that period in American history, the Galena, Ohio, native livened up the upcoming two-day city council event.
She described some of the things people are expected to see and hear during the free-admission camp, which will be held at 100 Brinkerhoff Ave. on June 8 and 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“What herbs would you use to get rid of freckles? Or soothe an upset stomach? Or mend a severed arm?” Hamill asked.
“How to take a photo? The Civil War divas of our music, Steve and Lisa Ball, one of the Civil War’s premier musician couples.
“So you want to be an Army nurse?”
Valerie Hamill will speak at the Mansfield City Council Tuesday night.
“What about Lieutenant George Erasmus Dixon, the third and final commander of the Confederate submarine Hunley?”
“These are some of the presentations we will be giving,” Hamill said.
This event is presented in partnership with the Richland Early American History Center, also known as the Rich History Alliance.
“We will be setting up camp on (June 7) and the event will be open to the public on Saturday and Sunday,” she said.
“It’s really going to be a complete immersion in living history,” Hamill said. Galena resident Annette Pascal and her three grandchildren, Dane Hamill, Brayden Hamill and Carter Hamill, of Lexington also attended the meeting.
All five were dressed in clothing and uniforms appropriate for the Civil War era.
Visitors to the encampment can meet military and civilian reenactors dressed in authentic costumes and equipment who discuss the daily life of Civil War soldiers and the role civilians played in supporting them.
Cannon firing. Log-house cooking. Surgeon. Blacksmith. Ladies’ tea. Candle-lantern tour of the camp. Visit from President and Mrs. Lincoln.
“We’re excited to partner with REACH, the Richland Early American History Group, the Law Shed and the Stockade Shed. This is a wonderful treasure to have in your town,” Hamill said.
“We’ve done a lot of marketing and advertising. I think it’s a really good group of people coming for the first time,” she said.
“We’re going to have a really good time,” Hamill said.
