Civil War Encampment Comes to Old Economy Village

Old Economy Village plans to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War with a slew of events on Saturday.

“Civil War Day,” runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and includes music from B.J. Pino Wildcat Regiment Brass Band, a nationally renowned 30-piece brass orchestra in which the musicians wear authentic uniforms.

“They play authentic music. Some of the instruments are authentic. They wear authentic Civil War uniforms. They’re renowned all over the country,” said Lynn Popovich, administrator at Old Economy.

Old Economy at 270 16th St., Ambridge, is a landmark that preserves the history and culture of the Harmonists, a 19th-century religious communal society.

Though the Harmonists were pacifists and didn’t join the war, Popovich said they were still involved with helping its victims by making care packages and adopting orphans.

Popovich said the idea for a Civil War Day was brought up last year to the events committee, and its members felt the event would be wonderful for the site, she said.

“Hopefully it’s going to be a big, big wonderful day,” she said.

Union and Confederate re-enactor groups will demonstrate aspects of the daily lives of soldiers and civilians during the Civil War.

Popovich said several re-enactment groups from all over Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, and Virginia are coming. They’ll portray civilian and military activities -- everything from making medical supplies and running a recruitment office to running infantry drills, preparing military food and recreating a court-martial scenario.

A recruitment center will be set up in the storeroom building, while re-enactor encampments will be out in the garden. A cannon will also be set up on the grounds, “although we’re not going to shoot it,” Popovich said.

Tours and craft demonstrations will include wet-plate photography, printing, blacksmithing and dressmaking, along with period storytelling and dramatic vignettes. Children’s games and crafts will also take place and Civil War items will be available for purchase. Even the food will be authentic.

“We’re going to have fried chicken dinners with original Civil War corned bread recipes,” Popovich said.

Re-enactors include Mary Todd Lincoln and Gen. Stonewall Jackson.

One of the biggest draws of the day is the B.J. Pino Wildcat Regiment Band, Popovich said. Emily Lapisardi, one of the board members at Old Economy, secured the group, which volunteered to come to the event at a “very reasonable cost,” Popovich said.

Other performers of period music will include Bill Lockard and Tom Crytzer, and the Accoustic Shadows.

Admission is $12 for adults, $6 for children, and free for children under 3. Call 724-266-4500 for more information. 

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The Civil War Page

This past April 12, the nation marked the 150th anniversary of the start of the American Civil War.

Patch has launched a Civil War Page to highlight all the events in the different Patch communities where the war played a role — from battle commemorations and re-enactments, to book readings, memorials and other events. You can check out stories and photo galleries and comment on posts to the page, as well as share your thoughts and pictures.