WHS Senior Keeps Civil War Era Alive
Jones Reenacts Battles and Creates Fashions of the 1860's
Launch the media gallery 1 playerA little bit of the 1860's is still alive nearly 150 years later. Megan Jones, a senior at Wahoo High School, keeps the events of the Civil War of 1861-1865 fresh through her hobby of reenacting.
Jones has been helping her uncle reenact the Civil War since she was about ten years old, but wasn't really interested until about five years ago. Jones, her uncle, and his family belong to a group called the Fremont Pathfinders. They and others caught up in the hobby take weekend retreats to parks, historical sites, or just someone's field. They step back into the times of the Civil War, donning the dress and weapons that were used then. When in character, they reenact battles or scenes from the war.
"We dress up in the clothes that they would have worn then and perform for the public or just have fun!" Jones explained. "We load guns with blanks and shoot at each other." Jones's favorite parts of reenacting are the weapons, outfits and people.
All of the dresses Jones wears are handmade--by Jones herself. This seamstress finds her inspiration from books, movies, and patterns that she has purchased. By looking at a picture of an outfit she likes, she can piece the dress together using the myriad of patterns she has collected over the years. It takes Jones about a week to make a dress.
"I haven't bought a dress yet, but I want to," stated Jones.
This hobby has not only given Jones something educational to do on the weekends, but has also helped her in choosing a future career.
"I want to be a history teacher now because I love history so much, and I think it's because of actually getting to see it right before your eyes and touch what they touched," Jones stated.
WHS Senior Keeps Civil Way Era Alive
| Angieheart_on_my_sleeve88@hotmail.comWahooStudent | May 01, 2006 | Megan has always been into the civil war as long as I've known her.I remeber last year when we were in American History class, and she basically begged Mr.Moser to go over the Civil War before finals came around. And of course we did. Megan brought in tons of Civil War things to show us, because she did reinactments of the Civil War with her uncle(if I rember right). It was all neat to see. Keep it up Meg!! |