Century Village Museum hosts annual two-day Civil War Encampment in Burton

Bill DeBus, The News-Herald, Willoughby, Ohio
·3 min read
1

May 28—Century Village Museum in Burton is allowing visitors to immerse themselves in Civil War history on May 28 and 29.

The museum is hosting its annual Civil War Encampment, which features a daily battle between Union and Confederate forces comprised of re-enactors. Spectators also will have the opportunity to meet and chat with individual combatants from the opposing forces.

James Dunnivan of Hartville is portraying a Union cavalry soldier. He took part in the battle while riding his horse, who is named Cruz.

Dunnivan, who's owned Cruz for three years, said the equine performs very well during Civil War re-enactments.

"He's a natural," Dunnivan said of the 17-year-old American quarterhorse. "I'm not sure if he did this before with his previous owner."

Dunnivan said participating in Civil War re-enactments is like going back in a time machine.

"It's like you're there (in the actual Civil War)," he said. "You have the correct equipment, you have the correct uniform. The only difference is you're not getting hurt, which would not be the fun part. That's why re-enacting is so fun. We keep it safe and we try and keep it authentic."

To stage the Civil War battles at the encampment each year, one Confederate and one Union commander are chosen from re-enacting groups to run the event, said Terri McPeek, site manager at Century Village Museum.

"And they then use their men down the line the same they did in the Civil War, to help arrange all these things," McPeek said. "There's like 50 different re-enacting groups, and they all come together here, but they all have to follow what the one commander of each side in Century Village says."

However, there was at least one re-enactor on hand during the encampment portraying a Civil War leader who fought from Lake Erie, rather than on a battlefield.

Ed Keyse of Mentor is performing at the event as U.S. Navy Commodore John C. Carter.

Keyse said that Carter commanded the USS Michigan, the U.S. Navy's first iron-hulled ship, which patrolled Lake Erie during the Civil War.

"I've always been interested in re-enacting," said Keyse, who took on the role of Carter about 10 years ago. "I was a sailor on Lake Erie, so I did not get involved with camping out and field stuff. But later on, I thought, well, if I found the right character, I would portray."

Other highlights of The 2022 Civil War Encampment at Century Village Museum, located at 14653 E. Park St., included music on May 28 by the Crooked River Fife and Drum Corps; appearances both days by re-enactors playing Abraham Lincoln and his wife; and Confederate States President Jefferson Davis; an appearance by woman re-creating the role of a Civil War spy; and an actual, Confederate-style wedding that took place at 3:30 p.m. May 28.

Day two of the encampment is scheduled on May 29 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

One area resident who regularly attends Century Village's Civil War Encampment is Michael Baldridge of Chardon Township.

"I like the re-enactment of the battle scenes, and I'm excited to listen to what the two commanders-in-chief, Jefferson Davis and President Lincoln, have to say," Baldridge said. "I've been a Civil War buff for years."