TWO ARMS IN AMESBURY *
Civil War Reenactment & Living History Weekend
(June 2nd & 3rd) 2007
Location:
Woodsom Farm, Lion’s Mouth Rd., Amesbury, Massachusetts
Many reenactments occur nearer to the Mason-Dixon Line, but…
This is the other end of “Where it All Began” – between the birthplaces of famed
abolitionists Wm. Lloyd Garrison and J. Greenleaf Whittier.
On the border with New Hampshire, Amesbury, Massachusetts was home to Quaker
abolitionist / poet, John Greenleaf Whittier. Originally a part of Salisbury,
Amesbury can claim to be one of the six communities along the end of the
Merrimack River – an area first settled in 1635. Amesbury has many treasures,
but one of its greatest is the home of J. G. Whittier which has been maintained
much like Whittier would have kept it until his death in 1892. It is packed full
of amazing memorabilia from the movers and shakers of the northern abolitionist
movement and just across the river is the home of William Lloyd Garrison who, in
his paper “The Liberator,” urged immediate unconditional emancipation.
Amesbury can also claim the home of Nathaniel Currier (of Currier & Ives fame)
which is located just on the edge of the spacious and beauteous Woodsom Farm.
“The Farm contains approximately 370 acres of prime pastureland, bird nesting
sites, open space, drumlin hills, and wetlands, bisected by Lions’ Mouth Road
and is located approximately two miles from the Town Center.”
The City of the Town of Amesbury (fun name, huh?) is undergoing an amazing
period of transition. The downtown is thriving with new destinations, excellent
eateries and eclectic shops amidst “ould time” family businesses and the
elegance of historical brick mills towering over and around the roaring waters
of the Powow River. Amesbury is truly a city experiencing Renaissance.
Amesbury’s Bartlett Museum exhibit continues to be “Amesbury At War: A Tradition
of Service & Sacrifice which includes a fantastic diorama of the Battle of
Hatcher’s Run. Just across the glorious Merrimack River is Newburyport which
keeps a fantastic museum at the former home of Caleb Cushing. Last year the
public was thrilled by our eclectic gathering; the 11th and 13th MASS Infantry
Regiments, the 5th Mass Battery, Liberty Greys, and assorted units put on quite
a show. This year we hope to host a full battle reenactment – the largest yet
witnessed in this area. A minimal registration fee ($5 / reenactor) will be
partially refunded and artillery bounties may be available. Your participation
in this “historic” event would be immensely appreciated.
Proceeds go toward historic preservation & restoration of recently defiled
historic monuments of Gettysburg.
Sincerely,
P. “Jancy” Jancewicz, Event Coordinator
19 Whittier Avenue, Amesbury, MA 01913
978.834.0142
jancyman@comcast.net
Alternate Email:
historicusrex@yahoo.com
*This title designates a reference to the Raise the Arm Event and the fact that
it is the second gathering at that place while playing with the "TO ARMS!"
recruitment Call for volunteers during the Civil War.