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Introduction
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| Dinner on the grounds in central Illinois. Click on any photo to view an enlargement. |
Welcome to the Mackinaw River Valley Civil
War Civilian Internet home. This site is devoted to researching, creating, and demonstrating accurate impressions
of civilians from Central Illinois during the 19th century. All interested parties are welcome to learn from these pages. Every attempt is made for historical accuracy while enjoying the
recreations, making new friends, and teaching others about the roles of civilians from Illinois in
the 19th century. The purpose is to learn and grow with tolerance, guidance, and understanding.
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| Blacksmith at Minooka, Illinois, Reenactment |
Demonstrators of the past, often
called "Living Historians," involve themselves in three essential activites: research, creation, and demonstration. Research
in books, newspapers, diaries, letters, photographs, artifacts, and other primary sources helps them make their impressions
as historically accurate as possible. They create their impressions using local seamstresses and craftsmen, commercial sutlers,
emporiums, flea markets, their own devices, or any other source that provides material goods that
closely resemble objects used during the 19th century. Demonstrations to experience the 19th century and teach others
about the era occur at reenactments, museums, school events, civic organization meetings, round tables, and any other venue
where people hold an interst in civilian life in Illinois during the 19th century.
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| United States Sanitary Commission photograph (Library of Congress) |
Please wander through the site to see and read
what's here.
Your humble servant,
V. O. Furrh
Civil War Civilian and Mackinaw River Valley
Proprietor
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