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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (May 15, 2019)
Wednesday, May 15, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon REENACTOR: Event is set for next weekend in Camp Sherman Continued from page 1 the era of the 1860s. It is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. For Stanovich, educa- tion is one of the key goals of reenactment. Whether it9s school kids coming out to learn more about the Civil War, or the general public coming out to see a mock battle or to stroll through a military encampment, it9s about gaining an apprecia- tion for the extraordinary cir- cumstances surrounding the nation9s bloodiest conflict. Civil War battles were often horrific, with men shot down in windrows by musket and artillery fire, many killed and others suffering grievous, crippling wounds. <Those were your friends, sometimes your family, people you grew up with,= Stanovich said. <This was not a good war. This is something people had to deal with on a day-to-day basis. We9re not glorifying this.= Civil War reenactment has ebbed and flowed in popu- larity since the centenary of the conflict in the 1960s. It hit a peak of popularity in the 1990s when Ken Burns9 powerful multi-part Civil War documentary on PBS and the movie <Gettysburg= sparked renewed interest in the conflict. The endeavor is currently at a low ebb. Stanovich notes that many people he9s reenacted with over the years are aging out, and they9re not being replaced. <There9s not as many young people getting it any- more,= he said. <The younger crowd is into online gaming and that sort of thing.= And reenactment has drawn controversy in recent years, as symbols and memo- rials of the Confederacy draw fire 4 often from people who are not particularly interested in historical context. For Stanovich, context is critical. <There9s been some con- troversy over the flag 4 the Confederate flag,= he acknowledged. <We use it properly, in the proper his- torical context.= The Confederate forces in the reenactment fly the Army of Northern Virginia battle flag on the field of battle, as appropriate to the 1864 encounter battle setting of the reenactment. The Second National Flag is flown at Stanovich9s headquarters tent. <Everyone tries to be pretty accurate 4 as accurate as possible in the flags that represent their unit.= For dedicated reenactors, the goal of the endeavor is to create moments when they can touch the past, when it feels alive in the current moment. Stanovich finds the setting at House On Metolius particularly conducive to that effort. Most reenactments take place in parks near major highways, where the modern world inevitably intrudes. That9s not so much the case in Camp Sherman. <I step out of my tent and I9m surrounded by nothing but trees and mountains,= he said. <It9s nice. Yeah, it9s nice. Makes it a lot easier to do the time travel thing.= The mountain meadow setting offers over five acres of living history with Cowgirls & Indians to close in June By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief After 16 years of rounding up the finest Western cloth- ing, art and accessories at Cowgirls & Indians Resale in Sisters, Kate Aspen is hanging up her spurs. Health challenges mean that Aspen is closing up the storefront 4 but there will be one last go-round on Thursday, June 6, from 4 to 7 p.m. <We9re going to have a huge, blow-out party,= Aspen told The Nugget. <After that, I9ll be closing down the store.= She plans to continue sell- ing her line of jewelry and a few consignment items online. The Sisters woman, who has built a national reputation for first-class consignment Western goods, insists on clos- ing up the bunkhouse in style. Western singer-songwriter hats • hats • hats! Stormy Kromer, Scala, Stetson Joni Harms will be on hand during the sale-party to sing everyone on down the trail. Cowgirls & Indians rounded up Western clothing and sold it on consignment, gradually expanding into Western art. <I was selling bronzes and artwork,= Aspen said. <That was fun, too, because I9ve always loved art.= Aspen knows what she9ll miss the most about hav- ing a shop in Sisters: <All of the friends I have made. I9ve made so many friends from tourists who come back every year and stop by the shop and say hi and buy something. It9s hard to let it go, but it9s got to happen.= Aspen expressed her appreciation for all of those who have rallied in recent weeks to contribute items for sale. Donations continue (www.metolius.com) is off Highway 20 two miles north of Camp Sherman, off road 1420. The Northwest Civil War Council (www.nwcwc.net) is a nonprofit, living-history organization dedicated to educating the public and members about the American Civil War. Through edu- cational drama at reenact- ments, participants discover and learn about history and the people who lived in the 1860s. CIVIL WAR Reenactment & Living History SATURDAY & SUNDAY May 18-19 | 9 a.m.-4 p.m. At House on Metolius in Camp Sherman Blue & Grey battle with CANNONS AND MUSKETS 11 a.m. & 3 p.m. both days Learn about Infantry, Cavalry, Artillery, Medicine, Fashion, Music and Civilian Life of the 1860s. PHOTO PROVIDED Kate Aspen is hanging up her resale spurs. to be accepted; proceeds will help defer Kate9s medi- cal expenses. For informa- tion, contact Patti Jo Beal at 541-408-7264. For more information on Kate Aspen9s jewelry, visit Cowgirls & Indians Resale on Facebook. Hear Abraham Lincoln speak, Saturday only, 1 p.m. Adults $8, seniors/students $5, Kids under 6 free Parking $5 to the Boy Scouts Serving Sisters Since 1976 oing on g t e g o t Need We’ve ? s t c e j o r spring p ing you need! th FREE got every Local Delivery Lumber • Hardware • Paint Fencing & Decking • Doors & Windows ows 290 W. Cascade Ave. 541-549-8424 www.mackenziecreekmercantile.com campsites, stores, medical practices, music, war report- ing, yarn-spinning, fashion and other activities of the era. Civil War artillery, infantry and cavalry are represented. Mock battles with can- nons and muskets firing black powder are scheduled for 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. each day. General admission is $8; seniors and students, $5. Children under six, free. Parking, $5 per vehicle to help the Boy Scouts. House On Metolius 11 Hours: M-F 8 to 5, Sat. 8 to 4:30, Closed Sundays 440 N. Pine St. • 541-549-8141 • www.hoyts.net www.NWCWC.net View video from 2018 event at bit.ly/NuggetCivilWar Broadcast Sponsors Local Media Partner