Civil War Days - Duncan Mills, CA
I know summer is here when those annual street-side signs, made from vinyl banners, sandwich signs, or perhaps little hand-painted ones, inhabit the side of the road like little children waiting for the school bus. They are each so excited and can’t wait for their activities to begin. And what a variety of activities - here in Sebastopol we have everything ranging from food festivals to apple festivals, to arts & crafts for kids, to choir and play performances in the park, and even our own Civil War Days in Duncan Mills.
If you have never heard of C.W. Days, it is quite the experience. They have full reenactments of the Civil War, complete with replica costume clothing, not to mention attitude, and canon & gun firing (all blanks for those wondering!). When Spencer and I arrived they were already in full battle mode, though we could not see anything because all the activity was taking place beyond the trees. As we drove up, we heard gun-fire, canon fire, and people screaming with war-dedicated passion. Oh, and smoke! Lots of it!
After the surrender, the men returned home …
The “Living Historians” as they call themselves, all stayed in these little tents for the weekend and were set up around the ranch. All the participants could be asked questions. The most popular recipient of this was the surgeon, where there we all sorts of questions raised about the inhumanity of the surgeons of the day. It seems it is just our own modern conveniences that make the surgeons appear gruesome in Civil War Days. Here’s to raising our tin cups to modern medicine!
Horses …
The women watch as the men have a mock fight. This girl … she is just too cute with her little teddy bear!
The Civil War Days is one of those signs I’ve seen year after year, thinking, “ooo! That would be fun,” and somehow miss it every year. (It couldn’t be a crazy summer schedule…) So, next year, if you are in town and you see a sign, don’t forget about it. It just might be an experience to remember for next year!