North Collins 2004

NORTH COLLINS, N.Y. - Sometimes the onset of winter can be depressing, and one good way to stave it off is by doing a little reenacting. On December 18, 2004 - just a week before Christmas - six Columbia Rifles participated in an afternoon-long living history to commemorate the grand opening of the North Collins Historical Museum. North Collins is a rural village with a population of about 1,000 located about thirty miles due south of Buffalo.

The CRs presented anything but a "uniform" impression, instead depicting a variety of period military attire - in both blue and gray.

John Tobey and I wore Union infantry enlisted uniforms - John in late-war kit and I in mid-war attire, circa Chancellorsville (allowing the opportunity to wear those cool leggings many of us obtained for the Chancellorsville-Wilderness living history in August). Kevin O'Beirne attended as a non-descript Union line officer sans rank insignia.

Our Rebel contingent included Nick Redding in Confederate line officer's togs, Dave "Nolan" Berndt as a mid-war Army of Northern Virginia enlisted infantryman, and Charles (I can't believe he drove from Maryland for this) Heath with his "everything but the horse" ANV cavalry impression. This latter was no doubt calculated to destroy the hobby in some fashion.

The North Collins Historical Museum occupies a two-floor building that formerly housed the town library. The museum building was originally a carriage house dating to 1872.

From 2002 through 2004, the small historical society worked diligently to raise funds and provide the labor necessary to entirely rehabilitate the first floor of the structure into a public-access room showcasing their small but impressive collection of artifacts.

The refurbished first floor features relics from various periods of the town's history. Of particular interest was an banner from the 1864 U.S. Presidential re-election campaign of Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson.

In addition to the banner, the museum houses a number of interesting Civil War relics, including a large period print of a panoramic scene from Andersonville prison camp, several rifled-muskets including one with a unique pop-out bayonet, leathers from Union soldiers, and even a fairly rare gutta-percha Federal knapsack in excellent condition.

The museum's second floor houses an office and serves as the storage area for the historical society's additional relics that are not on public display.

"We were very glad to have the museum open to the public and be able to showcase our collection," said Georgianne Bowman, North Collins Historical Society Secretary and North Collins Town and Village Historian in a press release.

Bowman added, "We're also excited to have the Columbia Rifles attending our opening day. Our collection includes several interesting Civil War artifacts and the reenactors helped highlight and complement those."

Over 200 men - more than 25 percent of North Collins' 1860 population - served in the Union army during the Civil War, primarily in the 10th New York Cavalry, 44th New York, 100th New York, and 116th New York.

The day of the grand opening was sunny and a warm 40 degrees - which was good, because Chawls spent almost all day outdoors on the porch showcasing a bunch of cavalry stuff to the thirty or so spectators that attended.

The CR served as an honor guard during the ribbon cutting ceremony, featuring several local politicians, and spent the afternoon doing "living history stuff"

Aside from lending color to the ribbon cutting ceremony (and the photograph that was printed in the local newspaper), the CRs chatted with members of the public and held an informal fashion show with our assemblage of uniforms.

After the museum closed for the day, the CRs had the opportunity to peruse the collection (and handle several of the relics) for an extra hour, which was both informative and fun. This is yet another example that, no matter how small the town, your local historical society probably has a few rare treasures squirreled away that are worth the time to check out.

John Tobey offered a few thoughts on the event: "I reformed my hat, and every time Sparky looked at me he started snickering. Of course, I laughed too when I wore the hat in front of a mirror when I got home. That hat is definitely a keeper. At this event I noticed that hobnails really do conduct the cold to the soles of your feet. And somebody has got to glue O'Bee's girlie gun into its holster, permanently."

As it grew dark, the boys quit the museum and retired fifteen or so miles north to the O'Beirne Plantation for pizza, wings, beer, and "profound discussion".

All in all, it was a nice way to stave off the onset of winter and see some good pards prior to the holidays, and a good way to close out the 2004 reenacting season!

Jeff Henion is a member of the Columbia Rifles from western New York State.