There are at least two good reasons why you may want to attend an unusual presentation being offered here next month.
Either you’re curious about period clothing and have never had the opportunity to hear an expert on the subject, or you’ve heard all this talk about the 150th anniversary of the St. Albans Raid and know that with a bit more knowledge about Civil War era clothing you just might “really dress up” for the Sept. 18-21, 2014 events.
Either way, Lynn Sawyer, who is a well-known Civil War era civilian re-enactor in Vermont, will aim to please when she appears in the Bliss Room at the St. Albans Historical Museum at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 1.
Sawyer, who in her contemporary life is a senior database configuration architect (more understandably described as doing computer applications work) first became interested in this topic when doing research on the history of her Cambridge home. But more about that later.
Her appearance in St. Albans is at the request of the St. Albans Raid Commemorative Committee, a diverse group of local residents who have taken on the somewhat daunting challenge of recreating the Oct. 19, 1864 Confederate assault and numerous related events that now are some 18 months away.
Civil War re-enactor and period clothing expert Lynn Sawyer poses with her father, Bob Austin.
The period clothing presentation, being presented free of charge, is being held now so that area residents (especially seamstresses) will have plenty of time to plan and create their own period clothing, or costumes for others. A Civil War Costume Ball including a best-period-clothing contest is among a number of venues where 1860’s clothing will be welcomed during the Sept. 18-21, 2014 commemoration. Of course some may avail themselves of costume rental services.
Don’t expect a stuffy talk that merely gropes through the layers and layers of history and material related to this subject. Sawyer has a passion for the everyday and the grand apparel that was found in the wardrobes of the era.
She has considerable experience portraying a woman of the 1860s and in educating others about the clothing of that time.
“I belong to an organization called the 18th Vermont Regiment,” she said. “We put on educational programs and events and engage in fundraising to help preserve Civil War battlefields, erect monuments, etc. Some of us are re-enactors and we do tend to join forces with the Champlain Valley Historical Reenactors (CVHR) at various events. I’ve been doing this actively for two years, and have been a history buff for many, many years prior to this.”
The CVHR has worked with the St. Albans Historical Museum and the raid anniversary planning committee to produce the last two Civil War Heritage Weekend events. They were held in Taylor Park in July of both 2011 and 2012. The third such living-history weekend takes place this Aug. 17-18, as yet another run-up to the main 2014 commemoration.
Sawyer is also the newly elected president of Cambridge Historical Society and was the chair of the committee that put on the Cambridge Civil War Days event last October hosted by it. She is back in that role again this year.
Her commitment to sharing her knowledge is a time-consuming one. “Reenactment events typically occupy a full weekend,” she said. “Last year I probably did the equivalent of about eight full weekends of related activities, which for me is a lot considering I work full time and also have my Cambridge Historical Society responsibilities.
“At the end of a typical reenactment weekend, I’ve probably given a mini version of a clothing workshop dozens of times.”
Without spoiling things, it is fair to say that Sawyer’s approach to her clothing seminars holds her audience’s attention and includes at least one surprise. As she says in her promotional material, “Have you ever wondered what was under those dresses? Come find out!”
While she has been in Taylor Park during the local Civil War Heritage weekend, the May 1 engagement will be her first formal, full-length presentation in St. Albans.
“The interest in the clothing specifically took off when the Cambridge Historical Society started to plan for the first Cambridge Civil War Days event almost three years ago,” she explained. “I wanted to dress for the event, but did not want to misrepresent the ‘look’ and thus the reading and researching began. Once I put on my first period-accurate dress and corset, I was hooked.”
Living history weekends offer the public an opportunity to speak with re-enactors who remain in character during the course of their encounters.
Says Sawyer, “At the re-enacting events, I represent the women on the home front and talk about what life was like for the women left at home while the men went off to the war. However the most frequently asked questions I get are related to the clothing and so I end up talking about them a lot.”
An1860’s era family poses for a photograph.
Her presentation will be geared especially toward those who are looking for clothing resources and helpful hints on how to create their own best 1860s’ impression within a budget. One doesn’t have to plan to create such a costume, however, in order to attend.
Sawyer said her research proves that the adage, “the clothes make the man” was never as true as during the second half of the 19th century.
“Clothing was an integral part of Victorian etiquette. Dressing properly to one’s gender and age was a social expectation and would be indicative of a person’s social class,” said Sawyer in materials provided to the event’s planners.
In short, the workshop will include information, demonstrations and examples of proper attire for ladies, gentlemen and children of the Civil War period. Sawyer will dress in the clothing of the era, and will have a male volunteer and child model to assist.
“Men’s clothing was significantly less complex than women’s,” she said. “However, simple changes in a man’s clothing could impact the perception of his social class.”
The demonstration here will show how a few changes in attire could dictate who a man was.
As for Victorian children, “They were dressed as miniature adults with a few minor differences,” said Sawyer. That, too will be revealed during the program.
Speaking of the research into her historic Cambridge home that sparked her interest in this subject, Sawyer said, “I discovered the man who lived here during that period was the first Cambridge resident to enlist in the war and subsequently never made it home. I love social history and the human experience fascinates me: How did they live, what did they do for work, what were their social customs … and what did the wear and why?”
The Franklin County Business & Professional Women’s group will provide refreshment for the event.
By GARY RUTKOWSKI
St. Albans Messenger Staff Writer
