Historic Warwick Blog: 95th Annual George Washington Day Picnic in Lewis Park, July 28, 6-8PM, Civil War Living History Program, 4-8PM, Open to the Public

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

95th Annual George Washington Day Picnic in Lewis Park, July 28, 6-8PM, Civil War Living History Program, 4-8PM, Open to the Public

PRESS RELEASE

For Details Contact:
Robert Schmick
Executive Director
845-781-3729

Hear Ye, Hear Ye, Come one, Come all

On Saturday, July 28th the Warwick Historical Society will commemorate the 95th annual George Washington Day Picnic with a Civil War re-enactment. This is free and open to the community.It's a potluck picnic, so do bring grandma's potato salad and anything else you think people might enjoy!
In 1917 the Warwick Historical Society held its first George Washington Day Picnic to celebrate and commemorate the visit of George Washington and his entourage to Warwick’s Baird’s Tavern in 1782.

A meticulous record keeper, George Washington recorded his visit in his journal along with the purchase of some grog at the Baird’s Tavern. A day of activities for the whole family is planned right in the center of the Village of Warwick in Lewis Park on Main Street across from the Village Hall.

The highlight will be a Civil War re-enactment by the 15th New York Cavalry. As a part of George Custer’s division the 15th fought throughout the Shenandoah Valley under the command of Phil Sheridan. They were present at Five Forks, and Appomattox, and participated in the last Cavalry charge of the Civil War. They currently make their home at Hill-Hold Museum in Campbell Hall, New York.

The re-enactment and games will run from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. followed by the traditional “Pot-luck” picnic until 8 p.m. under the trees in Lewis Park. Bring a covered dish to share! The Historical Society requests that each family bring a covered dish to share, but bring your own drink. There will be tables and chairs available, and bring your own picnic blankets if you prefer and use the park for this wonderful community event.

The Historical Society will provide the paper products and plastic utensils. Join in the fun and games to help us celebrate this historic event.

DETAILS:

WHO: WARWICK HISTORICAL SOCIETY

WHAT: GEORGE WASHINGTON DAY PICNIC

WHEN: SATURDAY, JULY 28, 2012, 4 – 8 p.m.

WHERE: LEWIS PARK, MAIN STREET, WARWICK.

Warwick Historical Society, A.W. Buckbee Center, 2 Colonial Ave. Warwick, NY, 845-986-3236, whs@warwick.net. Check out: historicwarwickny.blogspot.co or our Facebook: "Warwick Historical Society."

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

At our Summer History Camp this year kids will dig up crystals that fluoresce under a special black light. The crystals were actually discovered in the area as early as the 1820s and collectors from all over the United States and Europe came to the specifically places like Amity in the Town of Warwick to find these rare specimens for their museums, universities and their private collections. One of the largest off site exhibitions of these crystals is found in the Ecoles des Mines in Paris; there are over 150 samples of minerals specifically from Amity, NY in that collection which were discovered in large in the 1830s. What is interesting to imagine is that geologist and mineralogists from the greatest institutions of higher learning were traveling by horseback and carriage to the wilds of Warwick in the 1820s and 1830s to find rocks for their cabinets of curiosities.

Wawayanda Furnace ( 19th century ) the furnace that many of us remember seeing on our trips to the New Jersey State Park actually was integral to iron ore production supplied by Warwick mines. On a recent sojourn into the woods we visited some local iron ore mines that would have supplied the mid-nineteenth century Wawayanda Furnace. Of course, these operations were supplanted by the end of the nineteenth century when places with better quality ore that were closer to cheaper forms of transportation, like water and rail shut them down.

Ken Hamilton, "Woodlands Interpreter", will present the early 18th century life of Algonquin-speaking people, like the Minsi people of the Lenape tribe, of what was later named by Benjamin Aske as "Warwick." Here we see a trade camp with historially accurate artifact reproductions produced by Mr. Hamilton by hand; he an accomplished leatherworker, blacksmith and silversmith. As an "historical artifact artist", Mr. Hamilton produces props used in many living history scenarios and museums throughout the country. He will share some of his knowledge with campers at the Summer History Camp 2012. See further details.