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The 10th annual
Lawrence County History Festival is almost here! We will be experiencing many new and exciting changes to the festival
this year. Chief among these changes is that the festival has been moved from Murray Park to the grounds of Bedford
North Lawrence High School.
An exciting addition for 2011 will be the Red Cross
Cabin Open House, to be held on Friday evening from 6-8 p.m. The cabin was formerly owned by Clara Barton, the
founder of the American Red Cross, and is currently located on the back lot at Bedford North Lawrence High School. The
American Red Cross was founded by Clara Barton shortly after the Civil War ended, and this cabin was given to her in
the early 20th century to be used for Red Cross purposes. It was previously located on a farm in Lawrence County, Indiana
(commonly called the Red Cross Farm), and was moved to its current location several years ago. The cabin is expected
to be moved later this year to Spring Mill State Park in Mitchell, Indiana, where it will be restored over a period of years.
This will be the last opportunity to see the cabin until this work is completed.
The festival consists of a Native American
powwow and a historical timeline. The timeline consists of civilian demonstrations as well as military drills and
skirmishes that range from the Revolutionary War through World War II. In addition, there are sutlers and vendors offering
for sale a variety of items such as Native American jewelry, handcrafted items, supplies for military and civilian re-enactors,
and more. Food is offered for sale at the festival as well.
Spectators may listen to the stories of the Native
Americans, participate in powwow dancing, shop for Native American handcrafts, visit and sit in the encampments of soldiers
from the Civil War and World War II, visit a buffalo hunter's encampment, participate in children's games,
learn about medical practices from the Revolutionary War, and talk to a wide variety of historical characters, including
Clara Barton, Mrs. Thomas (Stonewall) Jackson, Belle Boyd (famous Confederate spy) and Governor and Mrs. Oliver P. Morton
(governor of Indiana during the Civil War). There is so much to do and experience at the History Festival/Powwow!
Friday is our School Day on which students from several
local elementary schools and Bedford North Lawrence High School may come out and experience history. Approximately 1200
students will attend the School Day this year.
Saturday is the first day the festival opens to the public. The past couple of years, the number of
visitors was among the largest we had ever had, and we are hoping to top that record for 2011. The festival will open
at 10am on Saturday and have many shows and presentations going on throughout the day, including the Native American Powwow.
The "doors" will close around 5 pm that afternoon. However, a Civil War Ball will be held at Lincoln
Elementary School at 8 p.m. that evening. The Ball is open to the public, and is free of charge (as is the entire festival).
Sunday is the final day of the festival/powwow,
but there are plenty of activities to participate in. The festival will open at noon on the final day and will
close at 4 p.m.
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