Oxford Celebrates 150th Anniversary of Civil War Ending

Oxford First Selectman George R. Temple said he had the pleasure of attending a Civil War ceremony recently at Oxford Congregational Church.

“It was a beautiful ceremony,” Temple said.

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Abraham Lincoln reenactor Lewis Dube congratulates Great Oak School student Emma Lobraico for her prizewinning essay “Forgiveness, the Reunification of Our Nation.” Mr. Lincoln read Ms. Lobraico’s work as part of Oxford’s celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the end of the Civil War. Sponsored by the Oxford Historical Society and funded by the Connecticut Community Foundation, the program took place on Saturday, April 11 at the Oxford Congregational Church.

Union Army reenactors stand at attention as veteran Ronald Stebar reads some of the names of the 106 Oxford men who volunteered for service in the War Between the States. An audience of approximately 125 persons commemorated the peace reached at Appomattox on April 9, 1865 in a ceremony held on April 11 at the Oxford Congregational Church. A bell tolled after each soldier’s name. Also on the program was music from the Civil War era, sung by an ecumenical choir.