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Special events highlight re-enactment's 20th anniversary
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| Union cannons will roar again this weekend as the 20th annual Battle of Pea Ridge Civil War Re-enactment takes place in Keokuk’s Rand Park. |
By Cindy Iutzi/Gate City Staff Writer
The Battle of Pea Ridge Civil War Re-enactment, a premier annual event in Keokuk, will be celebrated for the 20th year Friday through Sunday.
“Months of preparation have gone into this,” said Kirk Brandenberger, executive director of the Keokuk Area Convention and Tourism Bureau. “We welcome visitors from near and far. We're ready for you.”
Several special features have been incorporated into the re-enactment this year, beginning with the wine and cheese social hour before the 8 p.m. abridged one-act performance of “Our American Cousin” at the Grand Theatre, 26 N. Sixth St. The social hour will be held at Mr. Lucky's, across the street from the Grand.
President Abraham Lincoln and wife Mary Todd Lincoln - through re-enactors - will attend.
Lincoln's assassination and deathbed scene will be re-enacted during the evening by local actors and re-enactors.
Music and entertainment will be provided by Tom Roush, Bob Welch and Prof. Farquar and Polecat Annie in the street between Mr. Lucky's and the Grand Theatre during the pre-play festivities.
Tickets are selling briskly, said tourism board member Becky Figge Tuesday as she dashed into the office for additional tickets for one of the ticket outlets.
“They sold 30 tickets at Keasling's this morning alone,” Figge said. “There are still plenty available, but we are making accommodations for 300 to 500 at the social hour.”
Figge is ordering another hundred strawberries for the social hour, with melted dipping chocolate delivered by two chocolate fountains.
The Grand Theatre has a capacity of 700 people, plenty of room if there would be a sellout crowd, Brandenberger said.
Saturday, the Ladies Tea and Entertainment begins at 11:30 a.m. at Trinity Methodist Church, 2330 Plank St.
In addition to a fashion show, this year the tea will feature accompanied vocals, much like the entertainment at fashionable ladies' gatherings of the past.
The reenactment of the Battle of Pea Ridge begins at 3 p.m. Saturday and at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the new battlefield. The battlefield was moved from the 14th Street side of Rand Park to the 17th side last year.
“This gave a more authentic terrain to the battlefield, more like the original battle of Pea Ridge,” Brandenberger said. “It was fought on hilly ground in Arkansas. And the new location makes it easier to follow along while Jon Olsson does the narration of the battle.”
The Military Ball featuring the nationally known Americus Brass Band begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Wright Field House at Keokuk High School, 2285 Middle Road. The band will provide authentic period music throughout the evening. New this year is a ball gown competition. Also, the Military Men of the Year and the Marilyn Pohorsky award will be announced at the ball. A free shuttle will be provided from Rand Park.
Bright and early Sunday morning - 7 to 11 a.m. - Jackson County Volunteer firefighters will offer an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast at the Rand Park picnic shelter area. The breakfast is a fundraiser for Little League.
The National Cemetery Memorial and Church Service begins at 9:30 a.m. Sunday at the Keokuk National Cemetery, 18th and Ridge streets. The Americus Brass Band and a full military honor guard will participate in the non-denominational service that honors Confederate and Union soldiers buried there.
“As a special touch, the service is dedicated to children who lost their parents during the Civil War,” Brandenberger said.
Sutlers' Row, located along the center drive of Rand Park, is open throughout the weekend with varied merchandise and food for sale. Sutlers followed the troops during the Civil War and provided soldiers with supplies of all kinds. The new placement of Sutlers' Row makes it easier to go from tent to tent, Brandenberger said.
Some of the food will be based on period recipes from the Civil War era.
Along with the special re-enactment events, the Miller House Museum, 318 N. Fifth St., and George Verity Riverboat Museum on the riverfront will be open during the weekend.
The Miller House Museum was home to Samuel F. Miller, the supreme court justice appointed by Lincoln.
The George Verity Riverboat Museum was one of the first working steamboats on the Mississippi and represents the boats that transported wounded soldiers to Keokuk's Civil War Hospitals.
“Months of preparation have gone into this,” said Kirk Brandenberger, executive director of the Keokuk Area Convention and Tourism Bureau. “We welcome visitors from near and far. We're ready for you.”
Several special features have been incorporated into the re-enactment this year, beginning with the wine and cheese social hour before the 8 p.m. abridged one-act performance of “Our American Cousin” at the Grand Theatre, 26 N. Sixth St. The social hour will be held at Mr. Lucky's, across the street from the Grand.
President Abraham Lincoln and wife Mary Todd Lincoln - through re-enactors - will attend.
Lincoln's assassination and deathbed scene will be re-enacted during the evening by local actors and re-enactors.
Music and entertainment will be provided by Tom Roush, Bob Welch and Prof. Farquar and Polecat Annie in the street between Mr. Lucky's and the Grand Theatre during the pre-play festivities.
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“They sold 30 tickets at Keasling's this morning alone,” Figge said. “There are still plenty available, but we are making accommodations for 300 to 500 at the social hour.”
Figge is ordering another hundred strawberries for the social hour, with melted dipping chocolate delivered by two chocolate fountains.
The Grand Theatre has a capacity of 700 people, plenty of room if there would be a sellout crowd, Brandenberger said.
Saturday, the Ladies Tea and Entertainment begins at 11:30 a.m. at Trinity Methodist Church, 2330 Plank St.
In addition to a fashion show, this year the tea will feature accompanied vocals, much like the entertainment at fashionable ladies' gatherings of the past.
The reenactment of the Battle of Pea Ridge begins at 3 p.m. Saturday and at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the new battlefield. The battlefield was moved from the 14th Street side of Rand Park to the 17th side last year.
“This gave a more authentic terrain to the battlefield, more like the original battle of Pea Ridge,” Brandenberger said. “It was fought on hilly ground in Arkansas. And the new location makes it easier to follow along while Jon Olsson does the narration of the battle.”
The Military Ball featuring the nationally known Americus Brass Band begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Wright Field House at Keokuk High School, 2285 Middle Road. The band will provide authentic period music throughout the evening. New this year is a ball gown competition. Also, the Military Men of the Year and the Marilyn Pohorsky award will be announced at the ball. A free shuttle will be provided from Rand Park.
Bright and early Sunday morning - 7 to 11 a.m. - Jackson County Volunteer firefighters will offer an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast at the Rand Park picnic shelter area. The breakfast is a fundraiser for Little League.
The National Cemetery Memorial and Church Service begins at 9:30 a.m. Sunday at the Keokuk National Cemetery, 18th and Ridge streets. The Americus Brass Band and a full military honor guard will participate in the non-denominational service that honors Confederate and Union soldiers buried there.
“As a special touch, the service is dedicated to children who lost their parents during the Civil War,” Brandenberger said.
Sutlers' Row, located along the center drive of Rand Park, is open throughout the weekend with varied merchandise and food for sale. Sutlers followed the troops during the Civil War and provided soldiers with supplies of all kinds. The new placement of Sutlers' Row makes it easier to go from tent to tent, Brandenberger said.
Some of the food will be based on period recipes from the Civil War era.
Along with the special re-enactment events, the Miller House Museum, 318 N. Fifth St., and George Verity Riverboat Museum on the riverfront will be open during the weekend.
The Miller House Museum was home to Samuel F. Miller, the supreme court justice appointed by Lincoln.
The George Verity Riverboat Museum was one of the first working steamboats on the Mississippi and represents the boats that transported wounded soldiers to Keokuk's Civil War Hospitals.
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