Civil War re-enactment set for this weekend largest in Ohio
Hale Farm, outside of Akron, has full schedule of events.
It has been 155 BATH TWP. — years in the making.
So when the North and the South tangle at Hale Farm & Village in Bath Township this weekend, guests will have a chance to witness firsthand the first day of one of the most important battles of the Civil War.
The South drove back the North that day in Gettysburg in July 1863, setting the stage for a deadly series of battles in the Pennsylvania town.
It has been five years since re-enactors last re-created the initial battle here.
But this time, things will unfold a bit differently.
Jason Klein, who is the site director of the historic village, said that past battles have taken place in the rolling pastures. But this time, the soldiers will also use the area just outside the steps of the historic Hale House.
“It immerses visitors in the history of our nation,” he said.
The battle unfolded as the North was driven back the first day by a then much larger number of Confederate soldiers who inexplicably stopped their pursuit of the retreating Union soldiers.
The tide would change in the ensuing two days as reinforcements from the North prevailed in the bloody conflict.
With some 800 re-enactors — making it the largest such annual gathering in Ohio — there are a wide variety of other activities and displays before and after the battle, which is at 2:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.
Other activities include performances by the fife and drum corps, artillery demonstrations and President Abraham Lincoln’s famed Gettysburg Address. There will be merchants and food.
The remainder of Hale Farm’s dozens of historic buildings and demonstration areas are also open during the event although some may close during the battle itself.
The farm dates back to 1810 when Jonathan Hale and his family settled in the Cuyahoga Valley. It was donated to the Western Reserve Historical Society in 1956 by Hale’s great-granddaughter and opened its doors to the public in 1958.
Soldiers and cavalry
“It is a sea of canvas tents from one end of the property to the other,” Klein said.
Aside from the sheer number of soldiers, Bob Minton, who is the brigadier general of the Union Army, said what also makes the gathering at Hale Farm special is the number of mounted cavalry — 30 or so — that also take part.
He said many of the participants also traveled to Gettysburg last month to participate in the anniversary re-enactments held there.
Unlike some other gatherings where organizers limit the space available, Minton, who lives in McCutchenville, near Sandusky, said Hale really works to ensure the battles are able to be presented as accurately as possible, and that sometimes means moving a fence or two.
“They work hard to make it the best event possible,” he said.
Planning for the annual gathering at Hale, now in its 34th year, really begins after the smoke settles from the last battle and continues throughout the year.
It is the careful planning and attention to detail, Minton said, that makes this one of the best and most popular re-enactments around and one that attracts 5,000 to 6,000 spectators each year.
The goal is to share history with visitors and help them learn more about the conflict.
Hale Farm offers “Civil War Education Day” today with the 6th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry.
The one-day event lets kids ages 7 to 12 get a peek behind the scenes of the battle. They visit re-enactor camps, see the mounted cavalry and meet soldiers and civilians in period dress.
Reservations are required for the youth Education Day and can be made by calling 330-666-3711, ext. 1720, or by visiting halefarm.org.
Minton said teaching a new generation about our nation’s history is what this is all about — and the re-enactors having a bit of fun, too.
“It is like a big reunion for the re-enactors.”