| The "Legends and Lore" production by the Calhoun Historical Society returns to Heritage Village, Calhoun County Park, Saturday and Sunday, October 15-16 at 2 p.m. $5 admission fee, pre-school children free.
FLASHBACK TO CLASSIC PRODUCTION
Louisa Hays (Terry Harris), wife of Peregrine Hays,
welcomes one of three tours to Heritage Village, besieged
by renegade Civil War bands, lurking in distance
Myrtle Stemple, wife of Andrew Stemple (Susie Barnes) says, "I deal with both sides, telling whoever comes I hate the other side ... It's hard to survive," as Moccasin Rangers ready to sweep down on her house
By Bob Weaver/October 2012
The Calhoun Historical Society production of "Legends and Lore" was presented at Calhoun Park over the weekend, a step-back to life in Calhoun during the Civil War.
The walking tour drama features members of the society portraying historical figures of 1861, a war deeply dividing families in the county, all dealing with separation and hardships with an uncertain future.
Nancy Hart (Casey Harris Hill) portrays blood-letter
Nancy Hart (left), Shadrach Badgett (Bob Bonar) gives
tale of life and times during the war
Most able-bodied men were away with the armies, but some stayed with regional bands of guerrilla fighters, with blood being spilled along the primitive roads and in every community.
Society members continued to do more than an admirable job recreating the time, with horsemen and their rifles firing guns invading the village, causing those attending to take cover.
During the dark years of the war, Calhoun had no government, with virtually all official functions from marriage certificates, schools, and record keeping to law enforcement, courts, and mail service discontinued.
Moccasin Rangers capture enemy soldier near village
(L)Thomas Figgins (Roger Jarvis) and Aisley Jarvis
(Linda Jarvis) have a little disagreement at the
Jarvis Store at Oka; (R) Confederate soldier stands guard
Calhoun's renegade bands of so-called "sympathizers" took a bloody toll on property and life.
It would be difficult to fathom the frustration and pain suffered by Calhoun citizens.
"Legends and Lore" characters from the time gave visitors a small taste of the terrible war in which somewhere between 600,000 and 700,000 people died, but factoring in the wounded, the total casualty number rises to around 1,030,000.
(L) Steven School actors Sandra Marshall and (R) actors
Mrs. Robert Bonar and Mrs. Donald Stevens observe day
There were more than 50,000 casualties during the course of the battle at Gettysburg and during the Battle of Cold Harbor in Virginia, nearly 7,000 men died in a span of 20 minutes.
There was no record-keeping in Calhoun to recall death and causality.
There are lingering effects of the war in Calhoun County holding forth to present day.
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