Make that Dollar Stretch and Make it Yourself

One of the best traits we have working for our battlefield, is the fact that we can make the dollar go a long way, since we work off a small yearly budget for programs. Interpretive tools can be very expensive. We do not sacrifice authenticity and just go out and buy the cheapest item we find. So rather than spend $150.00 for a pair of trousers, we make our own. In fact, a lot of our clothing we made using patterns such as Charlie Childs from Country Cloth. 

Some of the clothing we use in our programs are 100% hand stitched and the quality of that shows. Verses buying some cheaply made garment that is not incorrect. Believe of not, we have had questions asked about our clothing and since we do make about 80% of our own, this process allows us to answer those questions thoroughly. Not to mention, it does give you the pride of knowing what went into making that garment and the appreciation of the work that went into it. 

Our township historian wanted to make a pair of wild check trousers for a more upper-middle class civilian impression, such as a Chambersburg male, aged late 30's. Since he had the material on hand, in which he had found on the ground during one of his park checks, that was a freebie. The pattern itself cost about $15.00 and just add on a few dollars for thread. For less than $20.00 and a complete weekend, he had his new trousers. The savings? Well, he saved about $130.00. That extra money can now go into something else that will help to interpret or for educational tools at Monterey Pass Battlefield Park.

Lay out the fabric and trace the pattern pieces. This is the most tedious part of the operation.

Look over the instructions and stack the pieces.

Since these are civilian trousers that came from a tailor, we decided to machine stitch most of the trousers. However, there are limitations to that which you will have to bring out the needle and do some top stitching by hand. This is one of the pockets.

This is the button fly. You can use a machine, but it's easier to actually do this part by hand. Remember, hand stitch those buttons holes. 

The hand stitched mule ear pocket. 

After 18 instructional steps, the trousers are finished. 

Building a Mountaintop Community Program Phase I

Our committee has been working hard researching and trying to gather period tools and items for a new program we hope to unveil next year. The program "Building a Mountaintop Community" is a program that will break down several different eras from the building the Great Wagon Road to farming, lumber industry, mining and railroad. With so much history up at Monterey Pass, this program is designed to go from many different time periods while interacting with a living historian or interpreter. These photos are phase one of the program and we are happy to say, that the research is coming together very nicely and the visual tools will be very helpful as many people should recognize many of the tools. 

This is a field set up for a worker or in this case a foreman in charge of a work crew. 

Students will obtain a better understanding of what life was like at Monterey Pass from the 1700’s to 1900 by interacting with a living historian. The living historian will show students various hand held tools and equipment used to farm and build a mountaintop community called Monterey from the 1700’s to the 1900’s. Students will also learn how life in the community changed prior and after the American Civil War and will demonstrate some of the common activities children would have done to help out around the house/farm. 

Some of our Civilian Programs

The Monterey Pass Battlefield Institution has been around for many years now. During that time, we have developed many programs that were demonstrated at various networks of historical sites. South Mountain State Battlefield, Antietam National Battlefield, Renfrew Museum & Park and Old Bedford Village. While, working civilians programs are harder to do as many parks don't want to hurt the integrity of their resource, we have found many ways of doing programs without jeopardizing the historical resources.

A Working Civilian Impression

We recently purchased several implements that one would have seen around a farm, home and or in town during the mid 1800's. The photograph is based upon two impressions more or less warmer weather and cooler weather. The press is close to the period and is original.

A straw hat, heavy course red shirt with a cotton shirt underneath. A neckerchief is wrapped around the wearers neck. The trousers are made from a cotton-cotton welt/wrap.

A linen overshirt along with a wool hat changes up the appearance of this farmer. Instead of braces, he chooses to wear a leather belt around his true waist. The wheel barrel would contain the fruit that was to be processed into juice with a table to store the juice once the containers are full.

The Workers Civilian Impression

Last year we did an event at Antietam National Battlefield at the Roulette Farm. Three themes were put together for this event, the family itself, the battle and agriculture. The LR was at the Mumma Farm having the Sunday picnic, while we were preparing to leave in the wake of the battle. Both farms were visited by each other as we’re all affiliated.

For the workers impression, Marshall and I wore over shirts, cotton shirts, and cotton trousers held up by a belt. Marshall choose to wear a straw hat while I choose to wear a wheel cap. We both wore neckerchiefs and carried water in gord. We headed to the Mumma farm to help work on the farm and a course had lunch there.

Citizens of the Cumberland Valley

As part of our civilian impression, last year our mess and members of the 1st Maine Cavalry participated in a mustering at the Hessian Barracks in Frederick, Maryland. This 150th Commemoration event focused on civilians being recruited, examined by a physician and mustering into what would become Company B, 1st Potomac Home Brigade of Cavalry or better known as Cole’s Cavalry. The event was heavily researched as there are numerous resources describing the layout of camps, receiving arms, drilling, camp life itself and finally receiving uniforms. The men of came in wearing regular dress clothes and brought with them what they could carry.

Although I had plenty to research about the experiences during their stay in Frederick, I had to also research the area I was from. I portrayed a farmer from northern Frederick County near the town of New Midway. I wore a simple sack coat made from wool flannel, cotton trousers, work boots, a regular shirt, and cravat and beehive slouch hat. I wrapped a coverlet in a form of a blanket roll and I carried my tooth brush, tooth paste, tobacco, playing cards, journal, over shirt and extra socks in a small carpet bag.

Marshall portrayed a worker along the Monocacy River near Woodsboro. He wore a simple outfit. He had on blue jeans-cloth trousers, shirt, waistcoat and a mechanics’ cap made from painted linen. Aaron portrayed a worker at the C&O Canal and he wore overalls made from jeans-cloth with work boots, sack coat, shirt and a corduroy mechanics’ cap.

During the event, we were all mustered into service by the recruiting officer. From there we received our papers and went to the medical tent to be examined by a physician. Once he approved we assembled on the grounds of the barracks and began to learn the basic school of the soldier and drill. We displayed the arms such as the 1841 Mississippi Rifle and the accouterments it went with to show what the guard duty was issued. Canteens were also on hand.

While we drilled, a few ladies were on hand. One of them was Alicia. She wore her best day dress, showing her support for what the men were doing as there were several accounts of ladies mingling with the men.

Citizens of Cumberland Valley Ladies Aid Society Program

One of the newest interpretive programs that the Citizens of Cumberland Valley will start offering is "Packages from Home". This program shows what type of items that we sent from the home front to those serving on the front lines of the American Civil War. Besides doing sewing demonstrations, our ladies will interpret many things on display from shirts and socks to soap, food, stationary items to bandages. The program was a hit with visitors at South Mountain State Battlefield and Washington Monument because it is a topic very seldom talked about. This program will be advertised shortly on brochures and will be given to children and adults alike. Great job to our civilian coordinator Alicia for putting this program together.