Students majoring in history at Northland attended the Nineteenth Annual Civil War Reenactment at the Wade House in Greenbush, Wisconsin, on September 25–26. The reenactment brings to life the battlefield sights and sounds from the Civil War as well as camp life—complete with medical reenactments and nineteenth century folk music.
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The Wade House is an old stagecoach inn that operated from 1844 to 1941; however, one weekend in September each year, it becomes the site of the Civil War. During the reenactment, students have opportunities to interact with the reenactors on topics that range from the historical to the hobbyist. President Lincoln is onsite reciting several of his more famous speeches and can be easily swayed to pose for a picture or two. A sutlers’ village sells a variety of souvenirs, reenactment costumes, and accessories from hats to swords.
The student experience though is more than sights and sounds . . . it is hands on. The spectator does not exist here as stumbling through the tents of an encampment can turn into an hour-long conversation on weapons, food, generals, or any other of many Civil War topics with someone who has spent a lot of time studying it and recreating it several times a year. The experience is like learning from traveling back in time.
The History Department at Northland is committed to providing its students with a wide variety of opportunities to experience history. There is tremendous value in getting out of the classroom for a day and interacting with each other in such an environment as a Civil War reenactment. It allows the academic interaction to take a new level of integration with the student.