Living history: Bayonet that doubles as a candleholder, canteen that's a frying pan, too
Cabin at Willow Hollow, like a true gem, lies hidden in the trees of picturesque Bucyrus surroundings.
Along with selling locally made gifts, the owner promotes American history through History Re-Enactment Days – this year Thursday-Saturday. The event was free for all.
Visitors could easily find the small cabin off Stetzer Road by the flower and plant produce stand at the turn of the road.
Melinda Hoffman, who lives just 12 miles away from the gift shop, came to support the event and make it more colorful with her strawberries, raspberries, tomatoes, peppers and assorted annuals and succulents.
The event that was adorned with Hoffman's plants started last year, said Cabin at Willow Hollow owner Richard Hancock. He said he and John Cauvel, one of the historians who shares his knowledge on the American Civil War during the Cabin at Willow Hollow History days, are friends, and that was how it all started.
The re-enactment days are geared toward schoolchildren, especially homeschoolers, and to anyone interested in learning American history not only from textbooks. The three periods the history days covered this year were Civil War, Revolutionary War and French and Indian War.
Presenters and history periods
Presenters are volunteers.
Chris Rothhair portrayed a French trapper/trader in New France before and during the French and Indian War. Mark Cory, Revolutionary War presenter and a longtime history teacher, shared his knowledge on American Revolution and local history.
Cauvel dressed as a Civil War Ohio soldier discussed Civil War events, including political, territorial and compromises that eventually lead to the Civil War between the states. He said he used to participate in history reenactments, including the Battle of Gettysburg, but with time he had been drawn more and more to living history events.
Cauvel said the message of his performance at Cabin at Willow Hollow was aimed at commemorating sacrifices that others made for the American freedoms that exist today, as well as celebrating the turning point in the history of the then struggling young democracy.
“Just keeping the history alive, just making it more palatable, and easy to understand,” Cauvel said.
Period correct objects
To make his performance memorable from a historic point of view Cauvel brought a replica of an1861 rifle musket. Such muskets were produced in Springfield, Massachusetts, during the Civil War. The replica is a working gun, Cauvel said.
He said he has a replica of an earlier musket as well. The later weapons had barrel bands that hold the stock to the barrel and were changed to be less sharp so as not to snag on things, such as skin or uniforms.
Cauvel also demonstrated a bayonet on a Springfield gun. It was used in battle as a last desperate resort against oncoming troops. Bayonets also were used to stack arms in front of tents to grab them quickly, cook food on fire and even as candle holders.
Cauvel showed an original early war canteen, butternut in color, which is period correct for the early days of the war. Later the canteens were changed to be light blue, he said. The canteen contained an outer element that could serve as a frying pan or a plate.
“I have done this to cook bacon in or whatever, and then the grease would stay in the middle, and then you could fry up potatoes or whatever they could find to eat or were issued to eat,” Cauvel said.
The audience
Two homeschool groups that came to the event Thursday said they thought it was a great opportunity for the children to learn living history.
Amanda Durham, who lives nearby, came for the second time with her kids. She said it’s an opportunity for “living education.”
“We like to do experiences and like living education versus just sitting and getting facts thrown at us,” Durham said.
Maurissa Gruneisen, who came with her kids from Belville, said she has always enjoyed history re-enactments, and she thought the event would positively influence younger audiences.
“I think seeing how they would have done things, you can make more connections than just reading about it,” Gruneisen said.
This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: Cabin at Willow Hollow History Days geared toward schoolchildren
