Tag: wv

  • 2022 events

    All listed events are tentative pending Covid restrictions, government rulings, etc. Several events have not yet posted their schedules. February 2022 18th Century – February 25-27. Prickett’s Fort, Prickett’s Fort State Park, Fairmont, WV. 18th Century Firearms and Accoutrements Show.  http://www.prickettsfortstatepark.com/events.html March 2022 Timeline – March ? No info at this time. Reenactor Appreciation Weekend, …

  • Events: January to June 2020

    This is what we have so far: January 2020 WWI – January 10-12, 2020: “Fortifying the Line” (Unit Sponsored Event) (Hosted by Fusilier Regiment 90). Time period: Early 1915. Event held at the Caesar Krauss Great War Memorial Site, Newville, PA. http://www.greatwarassociation.com/Schedule.html

  • School of the Longhunter

    School of the Longhunter

       The 25th Annual School of the Longhunter was held at Pricketts Fort, 88 State Park Road,  Fairmont, WV 26554  As usual, the speakers were excellent and the event was worthy of it’s anniversary status.

  • Recap of (Most) of 2017

    Recap of (Most) of 2017

    This past year has been an interesting one to say the least. Here is a recap of what we have done since April. We attended the Lantern tour at the Grafton National Cemetery in Grafton which contains 2100 internments, including 1252 Civil War soldiers. I delivered General Black Jack Logan’s address of May 5, 1868 to…

  • Grafton Lantern Tour 2016

    The Grafton Lantern Tour is a memorial to the hundreds of Civil War soldiers buried in the Grafton National Cemetery located in Grafton, Taylor County, W.Va. This cemetery  is a particularly appropriate location for such a memorial. “In 1867, Maj. R. C. Bates was ordered by the War Department to locate a permanent burial site…

  • School of the Longhunter 2015

    The School of the Longhunter, held at Prickett’s Fort State Park, Fairmont, WV, is a two-day seminar which takes in a variety of subjects relevant to anyone who participates in 18th Century living history or even just has an interest in that time period. This year, the event was held on April 9th and 10th…

  • Grafton Lantern Tour

      Grafton, West Virginia – Grafton National Cemetery Lantern Tour On Friday evening, May 22, at 8:30 p.m. There will again be a living history tour of the Grafton National Cemetery.  Tour leader Mark Tennant will lead the tour of Civil War graves in the cemetery. Mark and reenactor assistants dressed in Civil War period…

  • Upcoming 2015 Events – January through April

    The following is what I have so far for our general region. Some events have not yet released their 2015 event information. Check back for updates and additions. January 2015 WWII – Battle of the Bulge Reenactment, January 27 – February 1. Ft. Indiantown Gap PA. Contact: http://www.wwiifederation.org February 2015 Civil War – February 20-22,…

  • Chief Logan Civil War Reenactment 2014

    News Flash! The following is a report from our correspondent, Bill Donegan from the field in the Southern Mountains:   Federal Battalion wiped out!   A Federal Battalion led by Captain Steve Allen was wiped out to a man at Chief Logan State Park on Saturday September 27, 2014. The Federal objective was to capture…

  • Philippi Blue-Gray Reunion May 31, 2014

    This event usually occurs at the end of May or the first week in June.   Often it happens on the same weekend as the Reading Airshow, so I have rarely attended.  The last two years, these events have  occurred on different weekends, so that hasn’t been a problem.  The reenactment commemorates the “Philippi Races”…

  • School of the Longhunter

    This year, for the first time, I attended the annual School of the Longhunter at Prickett’s Fort,  (April 3-4) accompanied by my wife, Linda. The School is pretty much a symposium on 18th Century frontier life and covers a variety of subjects and activities. For example, the program started with an in-depth discussion of tumplines…

  • Remagen Bridge Reenactment 2013

    Here is a report on the event at Tidioute, PA this past weekend, by our correspondent, Bill Donegan: Do you know what God did this year at the Tideoute event? First I have to set this up for you. Mr. Ken Hechler used to be Secretary of State for West Virginia. He was a member…

  • 16th Annual Scary Creek Battle

      Here is a report from our correspondent, Bill Donegan: From March 21 through 24th the Valley Park, Hurricane Civil War Week-end was held as the tribute to the sesquicentennial. The public was invited to visit the campsites, meet President Lincoln (Fritz Klein) as well as Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson, who gave talks…

  • A 1940’s Radio Show

    A 1940’s Radio Show

    I had big plans for the weekend of August 18th. I was going to head down to Nokesville, VA for the annual open house at the Virginia Museum of Military Vehicles, better known as the tank farm. However, as some of you know, I have been plagued with ill health this year and have had…

  • Capital Wing of APS Dinner

    Capital Wing of APS Dinner

    Submitted by Bill Donegan: When Linda and I were shopping at the FIG/Gap we ran into Bill and Sharon Krause, who are members of the Capital Wing of the Airmen’s Preservation Society (as the name suggests they are aviation oriented). We have been running into them for half a decade at USO dances and other…

  • Bulltown II

    Bulltown II

    Here is a further account of the fighting at Bulltown, WV:   (On the second day) I was asked to walk guard duty around the fort perimeter as the rest of the  garrison was asleep from the party the night before. See attached photo. As I looked out across the hollow through the trees I…

  • Bulltown Day I,  2011

    Bulltown Day I, 2011

    This just in. Correspondent Bill Donegan reports on the fighting between Union and Confederate troops in the area of Bulltown in the new state of West Virginia: Bulltown, West Virginia, Saturday October 9, 2011 The Federals win big at the tactical. Kevin Scaggs said after the tactical Sat., “The confederates were completely confused and didn’t…

  • Rowlesburg Volume II

    Rowlesburg Volume II

    Patricia Patterson is one of our most creative and original contributors. Here are her musings on the Rowlesburg event. I was thinking about the standard AAR template, and then ever the curious researcher, I read a variety of reenactor AAR’s just for grins.  I read some of the past AAR’s, some of my own, many…

  • 2011 WORLD WAR II LIVING HISTORY WEEKEND

    2011 WORLD WAR II LIVING HISTORY WEEKEND

      This report by our correspondent, Matt Gillespie, is the first in a series of impressions on last week’s Rowlesburg WWII living history weekend. Not many would know or even believe that tucked away in the mountains of Rowlesburg, WV would be such a high quality museum as well as a high quality living history. …

  • WV’s Real American Hero

    WV’s Real American Hero

      The following was submitted by our correspondent, Matt Gillespie: WV’s Real American Hero Recently I attended the WV American Legion Boys State Camp at Jackson Mill WV and met Hershel Woodrow “Woody” Williams, West Virginia’s only surviving Medal of Honor recipient.  Mr. Williams is a regular visitor to the Boys State yearly one week long patriotic camp sponsored…

  • HARRISON COUNTY CIVIL WAR SESQUICENTENNIAL 150TH ANNIVERSARY

    HARRISON COUNTY CIVIL WAR SESQUICENTENNIAL 150TH ANNIVERSARY

      Here is Nick Korolev’s report on the Civil War doin’s in Clarksburg last week: MAY 13-15TH Despite a weekend of scattered showers, the Harrison County Civil War Sesquicentennial 150th Anniversary went off with hardly a hitch May 13 -15th. Funded by the state and sponsored by local historical societies and business as the kick…

  • Henrietta Fitzhugh Barr House

    The following article was originally submitted by Linda Donegan to the Charleston, WV Civil War Roundtable: Henrietta Fitzhugh Barr In 1835, Henry Fitzhugh and his wife Henrietta settled in Ravenswood. They had acquired land and built a home on the corner of Walnut and Race Streets. They had come to Ravenswood from Fauquier County Virginia…

  • Jollytown Civil War Memorial – A Job Well Done

    Jollytown Civil War Memorial – A Job Well Done

    On September 4, 2010, the Reenactorpost and the Sons of Union Veterans drove to Jollytown, PA and cleaned up the Jesse Taylor Civil War memorial and repainted the guns. The SUV commander, Matt Gillespie, had gotten Lowe’s in Buckhannon to knock 50% off the cost of two gallons of Rustoleum. One can was olive drab…

  • HAMPSHIRE HERITAGE FEST, ROMNEY WV  SEPTEMBER 10 – 12, 2010

    HAMPSHIRE HERITAGE FEST, ROMNEY WV SEPTEMBER 10 – 12, 2010

    In my haste to get this out, I neglected to note that this was submitted by Nick Korolev (Very sorry Nick!) ed. The Hampshire County Heritage Fest takes place every 2nd weekend in September. The Civil War living history and reenactment part of this fun festival has only been going on for a few years,…

  • Philippi Races 2010

    The following is a report on the annual Blue-Gray Reunion in Philippi, WV by our correspondent, Bill Donegan: On June 3rd through June 6th Linda and I attended, and participated in, the 149th Annual Blue & Gray Reunion in Philippi, West Virginia. Linda and I started this year’s preparation back in March when we began…

  • Adding a Civilian Impression

    Adding a Civilian Impression

    In getting ready for Arthurdale  Heritage’s New Deal Festival this coming weekend, I have been forced to do something that I have been wanting to do, but have been putting off for some time: developing a  period civilian impression. Admittedly, this is a new area for me and I welcome any advice from the readership.…

  • Julia Pierpont Day in Fairmont

    Julia Pierpont Day in Fairmont

    The Marion County Historical Society held it’s annual Julia Pierpont Day in downtown Fairmont at the Society’s headquarters on May 29, 2010. (See 2009’s coverage for more details.) Governor Pierpont and, of course, Julia (Art and Pam Dodds) were in attendence, as well as Senator John Carlisle and Mrs. Carlisle (Gary and Millie Goetze). The…

  • WVRA School of the Soldier

    WVRA School of the Soldier

    The town of Rowlesburg, WV played host to the annual WVRA School of the soldier again this year, on the weekend of May 1st. This was a small event with probably no more than fifteen to a side. There was a small spectated reenactment of the Battle of Rowlesburg on Saturday, which was probably more…

  • Local Events You Don’t Want to Miss!

    I wanted to give everyone a quick preview of some great events coming up in North Central West Virginia over the next few months. First of all, is the 5th Annual WWII Living History Weekend in Rowlesburg, WV on the weekend of June 19, 2010. This is West Virginia’s premier WWII event. Located in the…

  • SPRING MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL CIVIL WAR TRAIN

    SPRING MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL CIVIL WAR TRAIN

    The following is a review of an event in Petersburg, WV by our correspondent, Nick Korolev: The last full weekend of April in Petersburg, WV sees the three day Spring Mountain Festival. This year it ran April 23-25. One of the big events for the weekend is the Civil War Train which runs on Saturday…

  • Return to Jollytown

    Return to Jollytown

    Last year, on May 4th, to be exact, Mark Tennant wrote in this space, about our trip to the villages of Brave and Jollytown, PA to visit the graves of Civil War soldiers. On Sunday, April 18th, Mark and I once again journeyed to these villages  to again visit the graves of Union Civil War…

  • Civil War Ball- WVRA 2010

    Civil War Ball- WVRA 2010

    The West Virginia Reenactors Association held its annual Spring Ball on Saturday, April 10 at Christ Episcopal Church in Clarksburg, WV. The dance is held in an annex which built around 1870 and probably served as a venue for Christmas and Easter plays and other church and Sunday School productions. The main part of the …

  • Battle of Rich Mountain Reenactment 2009

    Battle of Rich Mountain Reenactment 2009

    This past weekend, the West Virginia Reenactors Association and Rich Mountain Battlefield Foundation held their reenactment of the 1861 Battle of Rich Mountain. For those who have not been to this battlefield, the area is scenic and rugged.  The actual fighting occurred at the top of the mountain where the Hart family had a small…

  • Rowlesburg WWII Living History

    Just a reminder that the 4th annual Rowlesburg, WV WWII Living History event will take place on this coming weekend, June 26 and 27. This is a fun event and extremely Reenactor-friendly.  If you are not signed up as a participant, then make plans to come as a spectator.  It’s a small, laid-back, but quality…

  • Battle of Rowlesburg Reenactment

    Battle of Rowlesburg Reenactment

    It was wet. That sums up much of the weekend of May 2nd and 3rd.  In fact, the weather put quite a damper on what could be a nice little spring event. Friday night’s torrential downpours left the field wet and any areas not covered with grass were all  mud. Fortunately, on Saturday, the rain…

  • Battle of Lewisburg

    Next weekend, May 15-17, 2009, the Reenactment of the Battle of Lewisburg will be held in that picturesque southern West Virginia town.  The reenactment will portray the engagement between Union forces commanded by Colonel George Crook and a larger Confederate force under Brigadier General Henry Heth on May 23, 1862.

  • 1940’s Radio Hour

    The 1940s Radio Hour (Find out more on Facebook) Presented by WV Wesleyan College Event InfoType: Music/Arts – Performance When: Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 8:00pm through Sunday, November 16, 2008 at 2:00pm Location: Atkinson Auditorium, Buckhannon, WV Description: The 1940’s Radio Hour takes the audience on a nostalgic trip down memory lane into a…

  • Civil War Bus Trip by Mark Tennant

    CIVIL WAR BUS TRIP On Saturday Oct. 25, 2008 I went on a bus trip sponsored by the Mason-Dixon Civil War Roundtable to visit some Civil War sites in the eastern panhandle of W. Va.. Jim Barnes had signed up to go on this trip with me but had to cancel at the last minute…

  • Civil War Heritage [The State Journal]

    Missed this article the other day.  Oops!  In case you haven’t read it already, here it is. – Sarah Civil War Heritage West Virginia prepares for influx of tourists as 150th anniversary of the war between the states nears. Story by Paul Darst Fighting a battle in the rugged mountains of West Virginia is no…

  • Organizations Fight to Save State’s Civil War Battlefields [The State Journal]

    Some of West Virginia’s Civil War battlefields are scenes of new fighting. For the past four years, a group of Jefferson County residents has been fighting to save an historic battlefield there, said Edward Dunleavy, president of the Shepherdstown Battlefield Preservation Association Inc. “It’s been difficult for the past four years,” he said. “(A developer)…

  • Battle of Point Pleasant Boosts Mason County Tourism [The State Journal]

    One community in the state is busy promoting a battle that took place there during the Revolutionary War era. POINT PLEASANT — Not all heritage tourism in West Virginia revolves around the Civil War. One community in the state is busy promoting a battle that took place there during the Revolutionary War era. Point Pleasant…

  • West Virginia Battles Play Key Role in Civil War [The State Journal]

    They might not be the first battles that leap to mind when thinking about the American Civil War, but the battles fought in West Virginia were important, one expert said. C. Stuart McGehee is a history professor and dean of his department at West Virginia State University. He has spent much of his professional life…

  • McGrew House, Kingwood, WV September 6, 2008

    McGrew House, Kingwood, WV September 6, 2008

    This past Saturday, I spent the day participating in a living history event at the James C. McGrew house in Kingwood, WV. Mr. McGrew was a community leader in antebellum Preston County, Virginia (later West Virginia) and was a delegate to the Virginia Secession Convention in 1861. He voted against secession and returned home to…

  • Rowlesburg, WV 2008

    Rowlesburg, WV 2008

    On June 29, we exhibited at Rowlesburg, WV. We set up our Soviet exhibit. World War II Reenacting/Living History is a relatively new segment of the hobby in West Virginia, but it is growing in interest in the Reenactor community and also is attracting the interest of the general public. Rowlesburg, WV puts on a…