HARPERSFIELD TOWNSHIP - - The generous shade of a mulberry tree stretched over sleeping soldiers at Shandy Hall Sunday afternoon as the summer breeze carried the sulfur smell of gunpowder off into history.
The soldiers were resting after a strenuous re-enactment battle of the war of 1812, just before packing up camp and heading back to their home front.
"Everyone follows me when I say so," re-enacter Ken Hall said. "They follow me because I wear the foxtail hat. No one else gets to wear a hat this cool," he said.
Hall portrayed Capt. John Payne as he narrated the afternoon battle, often shouting over the cannon and rifle fire, "Bring me that prisoner!"
The War of 1812 event was the first full-scale encampment re-enactment at Shandy Hall and featured the 89th Grenadiers from Niagara Falls, Canada, and the First Lincoln Militia from Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Hall, a former junior high school history teacher, said he far prefers the hands-on lessons of the battlefield to desk and chalkboard learning.
"My days in the classroom lend to this teaching. (The classroom) is where all this useless re-enactment trivia comes from," he said.
Shandy Hall site manager Scott Longert said the re-enactment was a new take on an old story.
"Without the re-enacters who came all the way from Canada, this wouldn't have been possible. To be able to host this kind of event here is great use of this historical site," he said.
The re-enactment and encampment is more than just carefully scripted battlefield deaths. The soldiers spend the weekend living in authentic campsites, doing everything soldiers of 1812 would have done.
The mid-day cannon welcomed each afternoon. Children joined the ranks of the mini-militia and magician Rodney the Younger performed 19th century magic as visitors toured the historic home of Col. Robert Harper.
"This is our biggest re-enactment yet, by far. We have more than 400 people on this property over the weekend," Longert said. "We had a lot of fun and there was a lot of gunfire," he said.
Shandy Hall, located on Route 84, will host a World War II battle Aug. 4. Admission is $5 for adults and $4 for seniors and children.
For more information about Shandy Hall and the re-enactment, contact Longert at (216) 721-5722 ext. 3.
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WARREN DILLAWAY
Discussion
It's 1812 all over again
Shandy Hall hosts its largest re-eanactment
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