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The second annual Calhoun Days festival began last
Friday evening with singing by Harry Beall, and, after dark, the firing
of two Civil War-era cannons.
It was hard to tell how many people were on hand to
witness the night firing, but people in the vicinity of the park surely
heard the cannonade.
The festival gather momentum on Saturday morning
with Jim and Evelyn McCormick making apple butter at Heritage Village
and with tournaments of skill underway at the Herb Smith Community
Building.
Vendors sold wooden items, novelties and clothes
modeled after the latest fashions of the 1860s, as well as food and ice
cream.
A shuttle bus and a horse-drawn hay wagon carried
passengers between venues, although some folks took advantage of the
hiking trails surrounding the park.
Some of those touring Heritage Village remembered
attending a one-room school, remarked how small the seats were, and told
their grandchildren about how it was in the old days.
While Saturday started out as a beautiful, sunny
day, clouds moved in during the afternoon, and kept attendance down for
a re-enactment of a Civil War battle.
The fight started with three blasts from a
confederate cannon, and then the battle was on. Union troops gathered
around a replica of the Sycamore Creek cabin of Adonijah McDonald when
they were attacked by Moccasin Rangers.
All but two of the Rebels were killed in the fight,
and they were taken prisoner. After a quick trial in the front yard of
the McDonald house, the two were summarily executed by a firing squad.
The re-enactors registering were Jim Allman,
Thurman P. Shaver, Buckhannon; Kevin Starcher, Millstone; Jay Allman,
French Creek; Dennis Carder, Junior Parker, Terry Whited, Elizabeth; Ken
Connell, Glenville; Fred Waybright, Arnoldsburg; Carole and Cheryl
Hackett, Sue Mileweski, Jim Miracle, Parkersburg; John Haddox, Bill
Stull, Kim Stull, David Owens, St. Marys; Denny Herndon, Marietta, Ohio;
Sim King, Walker; Chad Spohn, Waterford, Ohio; and Kevin Thomas, New
Martinsville.
On Sunday, the Battle of Sycamore was re-enacted,
with reports from those attending that it was impressive, and that they
would come again next year.
Although some of the entertainment had to be
canceled due to illness, all-in-all Calhoun Days is a family festival
for all, not just history enthusiasts.
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