United States Sanitary Commission Boston Branch (the civilian branch of the 22nd Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry) in 19th century dress.
The 4th annual Civil War Concert featuring the band, Dixon’s Gold, will take place on the grounds of the Forbes House Museum on Sunday, 10 August at 4pm.
Dixon’s Gold, comprised of lead musician, Donn Scott Shetler, along with Jill Gross, Bruce Millard, John Moriconi and Mitch Nelin will cover songs sung by Civil War troops, both north and south.
The band will perform with mandolin, mandocello, string bass, trumpet, penny whistle, clarinet, banjo, and guitar, along with vocals. Theywill play favorites such as Johnny Comes Marching Home, The Battle Cry of Freedom and Lakes Of The Pontchatrain. The audience will be encouraged to sing along.
“The music can be traced back to ballads from the old country, England and Ireland,” says Donn Scott Shetler, “since many conscripts were immigrants or descendants of those countries.”
The festivities will include a Victorian PT Barnum style exhibit, The Fee Jee Mermaid, by the United States Sanitary Commission Boston Branch (the civilian branch of the 22nd Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry).
The 22nd Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry will perform re-enactor drills, and there will be tours of the FHM Lincoln Cabin and viewing of the 1924 silent film featuring Mary Bowditch Forbes and the Grand Army of the Republic.
The Lincoln Cabin, an exact replica of President Lincoln’s Hodgenville, KY birthplace, was built in 1924 by Dorchester native Thomas Murdock and commissioned by Mary Bowditch Forbes (1878- 1962). Ms. Forbes, the daughter and granddaughter of China Trade merchants, collected President Lincoln and Civil War memorabilia for 50 years.
Here’s what you need to know to enjoy the afternoon at Forbes House Museum on 10 August:
Come Early to see the Civil War re-enactors and the FHM Lincoln cabin from 2-4pm
The Concert with Dixon’s Gold begins at 4pm on the south lawn of the Museum! Concert goers MUST bring their own lawn chairs and/or blankets.
Tickets can be purchased in advance (in fact we strongly suggest that you do) by calling the Museum with a credit card at 617.696.1815, or using the Paypal link on the Museum’s website: http://www.forbeshousemuseum.org/calendar.html.
Adult $15; Adult Member $13
Student/Senior $10; Student/Senior Member $8
Children under age 5 are free!
Purchase your tickets in advance, and order a box meal from Gerard’s in Adams Village for $10 per person! The box contains a sandwich, fruit cup, chips, brownie and bottled water (your choice of chicken salad, ham and cheese or vegetarian).
For more information on Donn Scott Shetler and Dixon’s Gold, visit the website or the Facebook page.
For more information about the 22nd Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, and the United States Sanitary Commission Boston Branch (the civilian branch of the 22nd Massachusetts), visit their website at http://www.22ndmass.org/.
For more information on programs, events, exhibits and group tours at Forbes House Museum, call 617.696.1815 or visit our website.