Gentlemen and Ladies,
It has come to our attention here at the Maine Living History Association that there are misunderstandings about our group as well as the upcoming Civil War event, ‘We Are Coming, Father Abraham’.
The MLHA was formed to support living history and its affect on the state of Maine and her citizens. Presently, there is a heavy concentration on the Civil War as that is celebrating its Sesquicentennial. Most of our original members are also focused on that era and so the foundation was created. Our present activities have afforded us the funds to officially become established as a Non-Profit 501 c 3 organization. As the funding becomes more available and other parties become involved, the focus will be more widespread to include, but not limited to Vikings through yesterday. If it honors the history of Maine, it will be considered.
Some of what we are presently offering and what will form a more precise mission in the months ahead, is to organize events each year as well as offer assistance to groups/individuals wishing to do the same. Lectures, trips, discounted museums, future fiscal sponsorships, and possibly discounted insurance are also in discussion.
Presently, we are organizing the event at Good Will Hinckley as well as supporting a request to recognize the homestead of Sgt. Andrew Tozier. We have also been requested to assist in fund raising for the 1st ME Cavalry monument on the Aldie battlefield in Virginia.
We have members from all walks of history: reenactors, professional Living Historians, Historical Society members, authors, ancestors, amateur history buffs, etc. We even recently had a carpenter who has never had a connection to history join to share his talents while supporting ours.
Our members are couples, singles, and families, young, older than young and everywhere in between. We work together for the common good and have a fun time doing it. We share skills and learn new ones. There is truly a place for everyone here. We are not limited to any specific role other than to share our love of history while helping to preserve it and pass it down.
Regarding ‘We Are Coming, Father Abraham’ (WACFA), this event was originally planned to be held at Fort Knox State Historic Site. Due to circumstances beyond our control, we were asked to find another venue. Our group and our event have been graciously welcomed by the family of educators, professionals and community members at Good Will Hinckley.
Although WACFA includes the “Mustering in of the 20th ME”, it is not focused solely on them. In fact, the unit was borne of the call to arms that President Lincoln issued in 1862, which is what the WACFA event seeks to recreate!
This event is about Lincoln’s call in July of 1862. We are honoring those men who answered the call…. The 20th ME being the icon, if you will, of the Maine spirit. The focus is on Maine and the activities surrounding that fateful time in our history. We will follow along as men leave their homes, muster in and go off to war. We will experience camp life already being experienced by infantry, cavalry, and artillery. We will see the turmoil at home as women are struggling for a right to vote. We’ll celebrate the joy of a newly married couple and join them for a full scale reception supper and dance and then the groom’s pending departure to go to war.
The event website is being updated, if you have not signed up for email updates, please do so by visiting gwh2012.civilwarmaine.org
If you have any questions, please ask! The more communication we all have, the better the group and the event will be! You may reach us via email at hq@civilwarmaine.org or by phone at 207-200-6542.
We look forward to seeing you in the past.
~Miss Rose and the entire MLHA family.