Denise Wierzbicki
I became fascinated with the spy, Rose O’Neal Greenhow in 2018 and I read everything I can find regarding her life and contributions to the Southern cause. I started to portray her in 2019 before the pandemic began. I feel that she is a very important person regarding the War, and I believe that her story needs to be told. My talk will cover her time as a young girl coming to Washington City to when she was asked by our President, Jefferson Davis, to go to Europe for our Country and its cause.
I am a member of the Jamestown Society, UDC, Daughters of the American Revolution, and have worked as a docent in Arlington House in Arlington National Cemetery. My living history journey began in 2013, and I am a member of Civil War Historical Impressions and am currently on the Board of Directors. The Dixie Rose Relief Society is an offshoot of CWHI, in which we portray Southern women during the war for Southern independence.

Andrew C. M. Mizsak, M.A.P., MBM
Flags of the Civil War

Amelia Schmotzer The Christianization of Antebellum Southern Slaves: Motivation and Methods

Valerie Hamil Civil War Herb Lady
Mrs. Hamill has been a reenactor for nearly 20 years, and is a member of the 1st Ohio, Battery A Ohio Statehouse Unit and a founding member of the Rosecrans Command Headquarters in Sunbury, Ohio. She also portrays Major Pauline Cushman, Spy of the Cumberland, which is the first known female veteran of the US Army.


Holly Ray - Interpreting CDVs: Beyond the First Glance
This will be an interactive class to teach the value of slowing down and taking the time to observe details in images. We will take a cursory look at several Civil War era images and you will write down observations. Then we will enlarge the images and re-evaluate our findings, discussing as a group. You will be surprised at the “hidden” treasures that are preserved for us!
By day, Holly is Medical Director at Champion Animal Hospital in Warren, OH. Outside of work, once of her passions is Civil War era studies, both military and civilian. She is a member of Civil War Historical Impressions and actively participates in living history with her portrayal of Varina Davis. Holly loves to make reproductions of accessories and millinery, and will go to great lengths to recreate detail work. On a more academic level, she is an active collector of 1850s-1870s images of women in riding habits in CDV, ambrotype, and tintype formats and has written several articles based on her research for The Homefront Herald, a publication dedicated to Civil War Civilian historians. Another of Holly’s passions is showing her horses, being especially fond of the art and sport of sidesaddle, which allows her to combine the love of history and horses. She because a certified sidesaddle instructor in 2017.

Michael Rhodes
19th Century Photography
Michael Rhodes has been a photographer for 33 years primarily wedding and portrait. He has collected 19th century images for the past 15 year shooting wet plate collodian process for 5 years. During the past 4 years he has been researching and working with period photographic techniques. He is the largest case manufacturer in the world.
Message or call/text 440-666-8588 to reserve your spot!



Barbara Toncheff

Duncan Virostko The Ohio Artillery Story

Edward E. Keyse as Commodore John C. Carter
The Second Battle of Lake Erie
Ed Keyse is honored to portray Commodore John C. Carter a career US Navel Officer. He was the Captain of the USS Michigan, home port Erie, PA, for most of the Civil War. This was the First All Iron Ship of the US Navy and served the longest continuest commission.
Ed has presented to: The Erie Marine Museum (the remains of the Michigan are there), President Garfield’s Home (Ed lives a few blocks from there), the Lake County Historical Society, The Sandusky Historical Society, and other groups including Civil War Round Tables in Ohio.
Ed has sailed Lake Erie from one end to the other and sailed into almost every port on both the North and South shores. He has an intimate relationship with the water and conditions Commodore Carter sailed in.s

Dr. Annette Pascal
Spinning
An interactive spinning demo: From Fleece to Shawl

Diane Virostko - The Civil War Songbird - What Soldiers Heard: A capella Songs, Hymns & Spirituals
I first became interested in the Civgil War, specifically the fashions, when my son was tapped to be part of the entertainment when the Ohio Chataugua came to Lakewood for the 150th. I made him a frock coat out of the wrong fabric, but using the buttons from my Father’s uniform as it turned out they were made by the ame company that turned out military buttons during the Civil War…and down the rabbit hole I went!
I made my first day dress for the Chataugua; and while attending the presentations I thought, “I could do that”. So I took the family information about my Great Grandmother, did tons of research, and developed a Living History presentation based on herlife on the farm, as well as, her visit to her sister-in-law here in the ‘big city”. I have always used acappella music in my presentations. Music was so very important in those times.
I sing with the Westshore Chorale here in Lakewood, and I have been a Cantor at my local church for many years. I have also sung with the Opera Circle. When haven’t I been singing?
How was the civil War Songbird born?!?
My good friend who plays Belle Montgomery knew that I was going to be at Hale Farm again this year, and she requested that I pop by and sing for her. I did. She proceeded to walk me over the entire Southern Camp enlisting troops to give me a listen/
I had been thinking of a way that I could contributre to reeenacting and took her encouragement to make a display and a song list. I sang at Hale and Zoar and received very good feedback. I look forward to singing at other encampments.
I chose “Songbird” becaue I am like a Song Sparrow–small, kind of plain, but with a very big voice. I hope you find my voice just as pretty as that little bird.

Lynne Bury - Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic, Inc (GAR)
From Civil War to Heritage Societies
Upon marriage to a Civil War Cenntenial Re-enactor, English teacher Lynne Bury found herself plunged into mid 19th Century with no resources but the library and ingenuity. With no “sutlers” or commercial patterns yet on the scene (not to mention the internet!), she began what would become a lifetime of research by collecting the primary women’s magazines of the era, visiting numerous Ohio libraries, and pawing through thousands of original articles of clothing at any museum that would allow it.
In a few years she found herself winning gown competitions, lecturing and writing articles for various Victorian publicatons. When her husband retired from 18 years as an artillery officer, Lynne and daughter Elizabeth became proprietors of the successful Ocatgon Ladies’ Repository. In this capacity they have designed a line of 1860’s clothing patterns for women and children, developed kits for accessories, published a magazine and 5 needlework pattern books as well as a line of cross-stitch charts and a popular book on styling hair.
Over the years Lynne has worked at the Kent State Fashion Museum, served as consultant to the Ohio Historical Society, Wellington Museum, Wayne Co. Historical Society and Stark Co. Historical Society and is a popular speaker in local schools.
A descendant of numerous Union Veterans, she has served 3 terms as National President at the Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic and is the current National Historian and Assistant Scretary and active locally. Lynne completed the creation of a museum room at the Military Museum at the Ohio Veteran’s Home in Sandusky, Ohio. This museum room features Civil War Veteran memorabilia and focus on the Ladies of the G.A.R. and their role after the Civil War.
Lynne has also served as the National President of the Dames of the Loyal Legon, the women’s counterpart organization to the Military Order of the Loyal Legion, which was formed the night President Lincoln was shot. Lynne has also served on the coalition committee for “Lincoln in Cleveland 2015” a 3 month long event with symposiums, special displays, various peakers and concerts, all culminating with a recreated funeral processon to honor President Lincoln’s lying in state in Cleveland in 1865.
She and her husband reside in their restored 1883 octagonal house where they give tours, teas and workshops on Victorian crafts, and Lynne also serves as a Board Member for the Nonprofit association.

Amelia Schmotzer: The Christianization of Antebellum Southern Slaves:
Motivation & Methods

Keely Hopkins
Momento Mori Jewelry

John Huffman
Founder and Director of the 73rd Ohio Volunteer Regimental Band
John M. Huffman, Jr. is the founder and director of the 73 rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment Band.
Organized in June 2012, the band seeks to portray a 19 th century military brass band that was formed in
Chillicothe, Ohio in the 1860’s. The band performs period correct music on 150 year old instruments
while wearing period correct Federal uniforms. The band has played at a number of concerts,
reenactments, parades, weddings, formal balls, and various other events. Mr. Huffman is the Jr. Vice
Commander of the Department of Ohio, Sons of Union Veterans Civil War, as well as a member of the
Sons of Veterans Reserve, and the Jr. Vice Commander of the Ohio Commandery, Military Order of the
Loyal Legion of the United States.
John M. Huffman will present The Regiment Brass Band and the Role It Played in the Civil War.
Get an up close look at the instruments of the era, the music that was popular at the time, and the life of
a musician in a Regiment.

John Spaziana
Crews of the Hunley

John Rys Behave Yourself! Etiquette of the Ballroom
