Upcoming Event-Wakarusa Maple Syrup Festival

As our readers may know the event season is starting to ramp up here at Black Powder and Lace. As much as possible we will attempt to post pictures from past events to give people a taste of what to expect if they join us.

Our first event on the schedule is a small living history at the Wakarusa, Indiana historical museum held in conjunction with the local Maple Syrup Festival. This year (2018) the event will be April 28th and 29th.

 My home unit, the 21st Indiana Light Artillery, normally sets up at the old train station building. There we talk about Civil War history and do demonstrations for anyone who asks.

Teaching new recruit how to make cartridges for muskets

Musket Firing Demonstration

View of Doctor's Office, coach car and caboose

Often times the ladies setup in "Grandma's House" to show a little bit of home life during the period. 

Quilting in Grandma's House

Cooking on the wood stove

While we are doing that, the 7th Indiana Light Artillery sets up a small encampment on another portion of the grounds.

7th Indiana Camp

7th Indiana Camp up close

They bring out their 3 Inch Ordnance Rifle to do firing demonstrations with.  To put on a show for the crowd we will switch coats or "galvanize" in reenactor parlance to Confederate. Then we will have a short skirmish, five to ten minutes long usually.  Canister wipes us out but the spectators enjoy it.



We have firepower.. a Henry

Federal Infantry with the Iron Brigade supporting the artillery

7th Indiana firing on us

Corporal providing cover fire while private reloads

The museum also has a schoolhouse, a fire station (both not pictured here) a blacksmith and a sugar shack.

Sugar shack seen through the driving rain

Maple Syrup boiler

Blacksmith shop in action

A few things regarding these pictures. First, the area is built up around with trailer factories and such so the background will often have modern things. Second, these pictures are from 2017 where it was raining much of the time. Also, the museum is not directly connected to the main festival area which is downtown.  I have walked down there once or twice but I have no photographs of it.  You will have to go to the Wakarusa Maple Syrup Festival Facebook page for more information on that aspect.

-Corporal