Springfield’s 250th to feature living history demonstrations

Living history reenactors who will be on hand to celebrate Springfield's 250th birthday will be able to fire their weapons in the downtown area.

http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20110421/NEWS02/704219911

Published April 21, 2011 in the Rutland Herald

Springfield’s 250th to feature living history demonstrations

By SUSAN SMALLHEER

SPRINGFIELD — The sounds of muskets and rifles will echo through downtown Springfield this summer, as part of Springfield’s 250th birthday celebration.

The Springfield Select Board recently waived enforcement of a town ordinance that prohibits the discharge of firearms in the downtown area so historical reenactors can re-create both the French and Indian War and Civil War time periods.

Under the ordinance, people are prohibited from discharging fireworks or gunpowder within 500 feet of a house.

Select Board member John Swanson, chairman of the town’s birthday celebration, stepped down from the board to make the request for suspension of the ordinance.

Swanson said reenactors will be setting up camp on two weekends this summer on The Commons and planned on using historical firearms as part of their history demonstration.

Swanson said the reenactors may also use part of the adjoining Summer Hill Cemetery for their demonstrations.

Swanson said the French and Indian War Weekend will be held July 23 at The Commons, while the Civil War Living History Day will be held Aug. 6. A President Abraham Lincoln reenactor is expected to attend the event. There will be a Civil War Ball later that night, featuring period ballroom dancing at the VFW Hall.

Springfield, along with many Connecticut River Valley towns, received its grant in 1761 from Gov. Benning Wentworth of New Hampshire.

The town is planning a summer-long series of events that will culminate on Aug. 20, the actual date of the town’s charter.

Swanson said the living history groups would be doing “a lot of drilling” and use of the vintage firearms was part of the experience.

Select Board member Michael Knoras was concerned about liability to the town from the reenactors.

“I don’t think that is necessary,” responded Swanson, himself a living history aficionado, who said the reenactors train and drill regularly and are well aware of safety issues.

Town Manager Robert Forguites said the town in the past had waived the ordinance for the Fourth of July fireworks, which also fall under the ordinance. He said the Vermont Civil War Hemlocks, a living history organization, was given a waiver in 1998, with no liability issues.

Swanson said in both cases the reenactors would be at The Commons from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.