Civil War Concert Featuring Re-Enactments Next Month at Forbes House Museum

The Forbes House Museum is hosting its third annual Civil War Concert next month.

The event, on the grounds of the museum Aug. 11 at 3 p.m., will feature Dixon’s Gold, a band that will perform cover songs sung by Civil War troops, both north and south.

Dixon’s Gold is comprised of lead musician, Donn Scott Shetler, along with Jill Gross, Bruce Millard, John Moriconi and Eric Kilburn and will perform with mandolin, mandocello, string bass, trumpet, penny whistle, clarinet, banjo, and guitar, along with vocals. They will 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.

Check out video of Dixon's Gold performing by clicking here.

“The music can be traced back to ballads from the old country, England and Ireland,” Shetler said in a press release, “since many conscripts were immigrants or descendants of those countries.”

The festivities will also include re-enactor drills by the 22nd Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, a Victorian Lawn Party demonstration by the United States Sanitary Commission Boston Branch (the 22nd Massachusetts ladies civilian group), tours of the FHM Lincoln Cabin and a viewing of a 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, will be open to the public. It was built in 1924 by Dorchester native Thomas Murdock and commissioned by Mary Bowditch Forbes (1878- 1962). Ms. Forbes, a descendant of China Trade merchants, collected President Lincoln and Civil War memorabilia for 50 years.

Concert goers must bring their own lawn chairs and blankets.  Snack items and beverages will be for sale by Julia Elizabeth with Loose Your Manners catering. Guests are welcome to bring their own food and beverages, too.

Tickets are available in advance; $10 per person for adults; $8 per person for members; $25 for a family of four; $20 for a member family. Children under 5 are free.

Visit the events page on the museum’s website, http://forbeshousemuseum.org/calendar.html to purchase tickets using a Paypal option, or call the museum with a credit card at 617.696.1815.

For more information on Donn Scott Shetler and Dixon’s Gold, visit the website http://www.cmonman.com/ or the Facebook pagehttps://www.facebook.com/donnscott.shetler.

For more information about the 22nd Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, and the United States Sanitary Commission Boston Branch (the 22nd Massachusetts ladies civilian group), visit their website at http://www.22ndmass.org/.

For more information on programs, membership and group tours at Forbes House Museum, call 617.696.1815 or visit our website atwww.forbeshousemuseum.org.