For ten years, there was a living history event held at a series of sites in Hillsborough and it ended last year. However, a new group of citizens in town have created History Alive to replace it on Aug. 17 and 18. How will it be different from Living History?
It will be held in only two sites in Hillsborough. Jones Road site will focus on the active reenactment of the Civil, and French and Indian Wars – complete with horses and cannons, and sutlers. (Sutlers are people, including women, who traveled with the soldiers to sell and provide things they need like shoes, mending of clothes, and weapons.) In addition, the popular gold panning for kids will be held down by the brook.
At the historic Hillsborough Center, History Alive will be focusing on the hundred years from the 1760s to the 1860s of the more local NH history. Instead of having George Washington come, Oney, the slave of Martha Washington who escaped and spent the rest of her life in New Hampshire, will be there.
Instead of focusing on one small area, there will be tours and scavenger hunts all around the center’s green, including Civil War quilts, writers on the underground railroad and slavery in the state.
You will be entertained by Civil War musicians, abolitionist singers, and on Saturday evening a special contra dance in a barn nearby. There are events that will be fun for all ages, e.g. animals in the town pound and horse sheds, exhibits and demonstrations of blacksmithing, stonewall building, antique window repair, cider making, ice cream making, costumes and games and many other events.
A beautiful quilt commemorating the 250th celebration of the oldest church in town will be displayed and prizes given to all who can find all the buildings in the Center that are depicted on the quilt.
Cost, good for the two full days, is $10 for adults, $8 for senior citizens, and $5 for children. Children of the local schools surrounding Hillsborough will be admitted free.
For more details, visit www.historyalivenh.org.