MANSFIELD, Ohio — Civil War Weekend at the Ohio State Reformatory will return Saturday, June 20.
The second annual event will feature living history with demonstrations by reenactors, self-guided tours of the historic prison (available 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.), along with food and vendors.
Military camps will be set up outside, where reenactors will demonstrate what life was like for Civil War soldiers. There will also be reenactors dressed as civilians inside the Reformatory, playing such roles as a mourning widow, drunkard in jail and surgeon. There will be approximately 100 reenactors total.
Mary Kennard, OSR’s program director, said people will be able to ask the reenactors questions, noting, “Engagement is definitely encouraged.”
Admission costs $12 for adults (18 and over) and $10 for students (7-17), seniors (60+), college students and military personnel (with valid I.D.). Tickets include admission to the Civil War event, a self-guided tour of the Reformatory and parking.
There will also be a lantern tour that will commence at 7 p.m. and allow people to walk through the prison to view several vignettes with scenes that depict aspects of Civil War life and culture. People must be 13 or older to participate. Tickets cost $15 and must be purchased in advance of the event, which can be done here.
Last year’s event drew a couple thousand people, Kennard said. “We were really happy with it,” she commented.
Ohio is rich in Civil War history, with many Civil War reenactments, she said. What differentiates the event at the Reformatory from other Civil War reenactments is the utilization of space within the historic prison for demonstrations, she said, adding, “It’s different and feels fresh because of the venue.”
More than 4,000 Civil War soldiers were trained for battle at Camp Mordecai Bartley, which was located at the present site of the Ohio State Reformatory. The camp opened in August of 1861. It was named in honor of the Mansfield man who served as governor of Ohio in the 1840s.
The 32nd Regiment under Col. T.H. Ford was the first outfit to train at Camp Bartley. By late August 1861, 750 men had arrived at the camp.
For more information about Civil War Weekend, call 419-522-2644, or visit www.ohiostatereformatory.org.
