ST. ALBANS — Had you wandered into the meeting Wednesday afternoon you might have left with a question in mind:
Who did more planning, the Confederate raiders who struck St. Albans by surprise 150 years ago, or these people working to commemorate and re-enact the event?
Chances are it’s at least a draw in terms of brainpower and man and womanpower. Of course, when it comes to risk, the rebels — having had the potential for bodily harm — win hands down. But try telling that to a group of people who have no certainty about the weather nine months from now, possible conflicting events, and no guarantee that their ideas will grab the public’s imagination in the same way it’s captivated theirs.
Three annual Civil War Heritage Weekends have just passed as warm ups to the 2014 event. Despite rigorous publicity measures, it’s fully expected that some area residents still ask: What is this St. Albans Raid 150th Anniversary Commemoration all about?
More than a dozen stalwarts, with assistance from a cadre of volunteers and Civil War re-enactors, have been trying to answer that very question. Are they always comfortable with having signed on for the duration? Truth is, like any human endeavor of this scope – they do have their moments.
And so, for argument’s sake, assume the logistics of this much touted, yet still-to-be-buttoned up 2014 event, are of a scale equal to or perhaps larger than the original episode known as “the northernmost land action of the Civil War.”
After all, on Oct. 19, 1864, there was no publicity chair, no parking subcommittee, no Mayor’s Ball, and no need for whatever a reasonable number of Port-o-lets might be (at least none history has recorded).
The list goes on and on, proving that logistics for a raid commemoration just might be a bit more complicated than what 21-year-old Confederate Army Lt. Bennett Young faced when pulling off the surprise robbery of local banks and the direction of 20 rebels who volunteered to do it.
Young and his men didn’t solicit local restaurants to offer $18.64 entrees, didn’t worry about period games for children in the park, didn’t ask the Boy Scouts to clean up their mess, and certainly never thought about tour buses.
So, when on Wednesday, raid commemoration chair Warren Hamm called the meeting to order in the basement of the First Congregational Church, he, in a way, stood in for Lt. Young, the guy who so long ago probably felt a bit of anxiety about what he had gotten himself involved with, too.
St. Albans Raid Commemoration Sponsorship Chair Denise Smith, listens as Cindy Rutkowski, who is in charge of administration, provides a report at a Wednesday meeting. Behind the women are raid volunteers Tom Hungerford and Michelle Saine.
Hamm, however, was the model of confidence. “This will be fantastic,” he said, and within 90 minutes had asked for and got reports from the various events’ chairs. Prior to the raid, Lt. Young had a final meeting with “his people” in a hotel room on North Main Street. He probably felt he had done everything he could to plan ahead. At this point, the raid commemoration people, at least, know there’s time – but with the Sept. 18-21 event looming, it’s of the dwindling kind. There’s always the sense that more help and financial aid would be welcomed.
Here are a few of the key points raised at the meeting and, as the raid committee has been screaming for months: Much more, including an event schedule, is available online.
Raid Re-enactments
Perhaps the most eagerly anticipated part of the commemoration, the re-enactments on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 20 and 21 in Taylor Park will take place on a stage having its back toward North Main Street and facing an audience of about 5,000 people situated between it and the Civil War Monument.
Rich Rodriguez, who has written the script for the re-enactment of the St. Albans Raid, provides an overview of the production that he also will direct and narrate.
Rich Rodriguez has written an elaborate script based on historical facts. Civil War re-enactors, including those who will race into the action on horseback, will supplement professional actors. Those with speaking parts will wear wireless microphones.
Sets will include Lt. Young’s hotel room, the St. Albans, Franklin County and First National Banks, including a bank interior. An additional façade will represent the shop where the only fatal shooting will be re-enacted.
A professional camera crew will film and simulcast the action via a large Jumbotron (cost $7,500) situated in front of the audience.
A Heritage Review of stage actors, historical re-enactors, and others will follow each reenactment.
Mayor’s Ball
Some 150 tickets will be available to the Civil War style ball being held in the Bliss Room of the St. Albans Historical Museum. No food will be served. Music will be provided by the renowned 2nd South Carolina String Band, which also will perform twice for two hours in the park over the weekend.
Those attending the ball are being asked to dress in period attire or formal dress. Tickets will be sold individually for the ball and for a 90-minute promenade. Promenade ticketholders will visit three local restaurants each offering an appetizer and a drink just before the ball begins.
A free Civil War Clothing Workshop is being held Saturday, Jan. 18, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the St. Albans Historical Museum to assist those planning to dress in Civil War style.
Sponsorships
Raising the between $70,000 and $80,000 necessary for the event continues. Sponsorship chair Denise Smith says about half the money has been promised.
Publicity for the St. Albans Raid takes all forms, such as the small image, top right, which now hangs in its full 2 by 4 foot size inside the northbound Interstate 89 rest stop. The other items here herald the advent of St. Albans Messenger Monopoly, The St. Albans Raid Edition. The popular game, offering prizes, will begin next month in the newspaper.
The raid commemoration is a nonprofit. Its representatives have sat down with potential business sponsors and are anxious to hear from them and others. The community is being asked by organizers to recognize this event for its potential benefits and as a compliment to burgeoning local pride.
Sponsorships at various levels (from $250 to $20,000) offer participants varying levels of exposure and benefits. Legacy sponsors, Peoples Trust Company and Rotary Club of St. Albans, have brought the event to this point. Smith can be reached for more details at 802-355-0694 and at stalbansraid@gmail.com. Checks made payable to The St. Albans Raid should be mailed to: St. Albans Raid, P.O. Box 722, St. Albans, VT 05478.
A merchandising agreement covering St. Albans Raid memorabilia and clothing has been reached with JC Images, of St. Albans, to help fund the event.
Also of importance:
SPECIAL GUESTS: The only living relative of raid leader Confederate Lt. Bennett Young, a great-great-great grandniece and her husband, will attend, as will the great-great-great grandson of Union Army Capt. George Conger, who played a key role in the response to the raid. Colin Conger and his wife reside in Georgia, Vt. Invitations to other dignitaries will be sent soon.
PARKING & TRAFFIC: Volunteers Homer Wetherby and Henry Nuemberger have scouted out 2,500 to 3,000 available parking places including the former Eveready plant, St. Albans Drive-In and Collins Perley Sports & Fitness Center. Arrangements are being made to shuttle visitors to downtown.
St. Albans Police Lt. Ron Hoague says the department is willing and able to provide assistance, including closures of North Main, Fairfield, and Church streets. Particular attention will be paid to horses that will walk from another site on Fairfield Street to the park for the re-enactments.
St. Albans Historical Museum Director Alex Lehning lays out the facility’s involvement and needs in a report to the St. Albans Raid Commemoration Committee on Wednesday.
MUSEUM: St. Albans Historical Museum & Society President John Newton, and museum director Alex Lehning pledged their continued cooperation. Logistics involving the museum include an added Saturday, Sept. 20, morning event featuring the Civil War Dance Foundation, which prior to the ball that night will provide lessons. Other events offered free by the committee at the museum include Vermont author Howard Coffin’s “The St. Albans Raid” presentation on Thursday, Sept. 18, and his Friday, Sept. 19, talk on “Vermont and the Civil War.” Noted Civil War researcher and singer Linda Radtke presents “The Vermont Civil War Songbook,” a mixture of music and engaging stories on Wednesday, Sept. 17. All presentations are at 7 p.m.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: The Franklin County Regional Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the St. Albans Raid Half Marathon at 8 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 18. Among other valuable assistance, the chamber is helping with publicity and general planning.
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Volunteers are needed. Write to stalbansraid@gmail.com. The public is also asked to visit the Facebook page.
