Civil War Dancing And More For Gettysburg

Originally published July 2016 · p. 56

David Klinepeter (right) was presented a Pennsylvania House of Representatives Citation by Rep. Readshaw for his service to the Pennsylvania Gettysburg Monuments Project. (CWDF Photo)

(CWDF Photo) Since 2004, the CWDF has conducted the Civil War Preservation Ball to raise money for the Pennsylvania Gettysburg Monument Project. This year’s ball raised over $7,000, bringing the thirteen-year total to $90,000. The money helps fund the maintenance and repair of Pennsylvania Monuments at Gettysburg National Military Park. Dancers came from Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia to “dance for preservation” in the beautiful rotunda of the Pennsylvania Capitol Building on April 2. Dance instruction was provided by the Victorian Dance Ensemble, music was played by the Philadelphia Brigade Band, and Dr. Lawrence Keener-Farley served as dance master. Special guests included Ed Clark, Superintendent of Gettysburg National Military Park, Dan Bringman, CFO of the Gettysburg Foundation, and Barbara Mowery, President of the Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Association. Also attending were State Representative Harry Readshaw, founder of the veteran and long-time reenactor, also celebrated his 90th birthday in April. The CWDF also supports Gettysburg National Military Park by providing unique interactive programs at the Park throughout the year. The Victorian Dance Ensemble has presented dance demonstrations with audience participation for the Park’s Annual Music Muster since

Pennsylvania Gettysburg Monument Project, and State Representatives Daniel Moul, Russell Diamond, and William Kortz. During the Ball, David Klinepeter, a charter member of the CWDF, who has portrayed Pennsylvania’s Civil War Governor Andrew Curtin for 25 years, was presented a House of Representatives Citation by Rep. Readshaw for his service to the Pennsylvania Gettysburg Monuments Project. Dave, a World War II

Lawrence and Annette Keener-Farley own the collection used by the CWDF Ordnance Detachment for the “Guns of Gettysburg” display at the GNMP Visitor Center. The original weapons are available for close inspection and even light handling, a rare opportunity for visitors to touch a piece of American history.

Civil War Dancing And More For Gettysburg GETTYSBURG, PA.—The years 1861 to 1865 were not all blood and mud, death and destruction. On the homefront, there was grace and beauty, music and dancing! The Victorian Dance Ensemble, the performing troupe of the Civil War Dance Foundation (CWDF), is dedicated to recreating this bygone era. The organization conducts balls, dance demonstrations, dance classes, artifact displays, and living history programs.

CWDF Flag Display. Tyrone Cornbower points out different designs of the National Color during the CWDF’s “The Colors of the Blue,” a display of Union Army flags at the GNMP Visitor Center. (CWDF Photo)

1999 and will be performing again on August 13. The VDE and the Philadelphia Brigade Band will also be conducting a ball at the Visitor Center on August 26 to celebrate the Centennial of the National Park Service. Several times a year, the CWDF’s Ordnance Detachment displays original Civil War weapons, including the most common muskets, rifle-muskets, rifles, carbines, revolvers, and various edged weapons used at Gettysburg. The artifacts are available for close inspection and “light handling” by visitors. It is a rare opportunity for guests to actually touch a piece of American history and see how they worked. Visitors of all ages are fascinated and delighted by this unique exhibit. The exhibit also includes information on the role of women and children in the manufacturing of ammunition and the hundreds who died doing that dangerous work. The CWDF’s Ladies Union Relief Association displays civilian artifacts, presents living history programs about civilian aid societies, and recreates Christmas in the 1860s for the Gettysburg Foundation, with activities for children. The CWDF also presents a display “The Colors of the Blue,” a collection of high-quality reproduction flags of the Union Army. The display includes various designs of national and regimental colors, and the headquarter flag system that was used for the first time at Gettysburg. The CWDF will be leading the dancing at the National Civil War Ball on Remembrance Day, November 19. This ball, sponsored by the Sons of Veterans Reserve, the Military Department of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, donates its profit to the Gettysburg National Military Park. To encourage more people to give Civil War dancing a try, the CWDF recently released an instructional DVD, with a formal ball in period attire, an instructional portion with dancers in modern attire to better show the moves and a 38-page dance manual that has detailed descriptions of the dances. For more information about the CWDF, visit www.CivilWarDance. org.

CWDF Preservation Ball. Over 175 people came from ten states to “dance for preservation” in the beautiful rotunda of the Pennsylvania Capitol Building. They raised over $7,000 for monument preservation at Gettysburg National Military Park.

CWDF Dobbin Dance. Members of the Civil War Dance Foundation demonstrating “The Lancer’s Quadrille” at the Dobbin House during Gettysburg National Military Park’s Music Muster. (CWDF Photo)