Ron Gray - President ------- P.O. Box 116 Dianne Silva - Secretary ------- 852 East State Street Suzanne Stucker - Treasurer ------- Jacksonville, IL 62651
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General Benjamin H. Grierson Society
Fifthteenth Annual General Grierson Liberty Days
Written by Administrator
Sunday, 20 September 2009 05:20
June 18th - 20th 2009
All events at Community Park and are FREE.
Grierson Days 2009 a Big Success! Many Thanks to All Who Attended, Volunteered, and Participated.
The Grierson Society (Ron Gray, Chairman), The City of Jacksonville, The Village of South Jacksonville, our hosts, our sponsors and our reenactors all invite you to step back in time and experience the life of a civil war soldier at the 15th AnnualGeneral Grierson Days Reenactment. This year's event promises entertainment, excitement and surprises for the entire family.
Last Updated on Thursday, 25 February 2010 16:33
Children's Activities
Written by Administrator
Wednesday, 04 November 2009 22:49
This year's event will include a few new activities for children and teenagers. For older children we will have an area where they can climb a signal tower and cross a 20' rope bridge constructed of timber and rope lashings. Knot tying and lashing techniques will be demonstrated and children will have a chance to try their hand at these skills.
For younger children (ages 4-9) there will be a hands-on area where they can wash clothes, beat rugs, hang laundry and do other daily chores from the 1800's.
These areas will be open 10-2 pm Saturday and Sunday of the event.
"Prairie Play Corner"
Will include:
-wash tubs w/wash boards & laundry
-clothesline for hanging washed items using peg clothespin's, Also an antique drying rack for smaller items.
-copper boilers & stirring poles to simulate laundry day.
-wooden buckets to be used to "fetch" water.
-tin wash basins to clean plates & utensils, with wooden plate racks for drying.
-brooms for sweeping a rug or hearth.
-hanging rugs and wire rug beaters.
-basket or box of caps, bonnets, and aprons for dress up.- Reproduction toys of the period will be on display.
-This area will be for younger children and their parents, Depending on size of the area, a certain number will be admitted at one
time, Children will have 10-15 minute, (depending on whether or not others are waiting) to try the different domestic stations
w/people in period dress explaining how and why the articles were used.
Children will ring a school bell to indicate when it's time for the next group.
Last Updated on Sunday, 08 November 2009 01:33
Silent Auction Listing 2010
Written by Administrator
Wednesday, 13 January 2010 00:00
Click here for a listing of some items at our Silent Auction held during the 2010 Grand Ball.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 20 January 2010 03:26
MEET GENERALGRIERSON AT 15th ANNUAL GRIERSON DAYS CIVIL WAR REENACTMENT.
JACKSONVILLE,ILLINOIS - General Grierson Days is the largest Civil War Reenactment event in the Midwest, and is recognized by the reenactors as one of the best-organized events. Battles on both Saturday and Sunday will feature more than 50 horses, 500 reenactors and families and several cannons.
General Grierson Days is one of Illinois' best reenactments for both family and soldier alike. It is one the largest civil war reenactment events in west central Illinois. Battles on both Saturday and Sunday will include lots of action! Each battle is different and there are always a few surprises.
All events are open and free to the public at the Jacksonville Community Park, with the exception of the Grand Ball, held at the Nichols Park Pavilion, Nichols Park, on Saturday night.
Grierson joined the Union war effort as a volunteer, from Jacksonville. His family lived in Jacksonville and remained here during the Civil War. He taught music in Jacksonville and was a merchant, owning his own GeneralStore in Meredosia. An unlikely candidate for a Cavalry Officer, he had been kicked in the head by a horse in his youth. "Grierson's Raid", was a sixteen day foray through the South, from LaGrange, TN, to Baton Rouge, LA, pulling the attention of the Southern army from Vicksburg and allowing Grant to take Vicksburg. Many Civil War scholars believe it was the turning point of the war.
For more information about Grierson Days, including lodging, please contact us at 1-800-593-5678.
Come early and visit both the Confederate and Union Camps. Experience life in military camps as it was lived in the 1860's. Watch the soldiers drill and prepare for battle; prepare meals; and, practice medicine. Stay late and retunt o the camps after the battles to visit with the reenactors. Dressed in period clothing, they also eat, sleep and converse in period style. Ask questions! Want to know about their horses? Weapons? Food? Clothing? Lifestyle?Reenactors are walking history lessons and like to share their knowledge of the Civil War era with visitors.
Watch for special areas and demonstrations like the artillery displays and Commanding Officer Tents. Also be alert to impromptu skits or performances in and around thec mps and buildings. You never know what will happen next!
Be prepared to visit the sutlers, craft and food vendors. Food will be available on the grounds both days. How about some homemade root beer and strawberry shortcake?!!
PLEASE BE CAREFUL!
Respect anyand all barriers. These are erected for your safety and the safety of the participants. While in the camps be watchful of in-ground cooking pits used for warmth and meal preparation. And please be extra careful around the horses. They may kick! Keep all children and pets with you at all times.Thank you for joining us for this year's event. We hope you enjoy your journey to the Civil War here, in Jacksonville. We hope you can find time to visit them and thank them for making this year's General Grierson Days possible.
Last Updated on Friday, 16 October 2009 18:45
Directions
Written by Administrator
Sunday, 20 September 2009 05:40
From Community Park, exit right onto Morton Ave, travel a few blocks to Clay St and turn left at that stoplight. Travel a little over a mile North on Clay to Independence Ave and turn right. Go about half a mile to Myrtle St and turn right -go half a block and turn left at the arch entrance way of East Cemetery.Once inside the cemetery go past the first road to the left till you get to a Y intersection- take the left fork in the road to yet another Y intersection and take the left fork also. Travel just a little further straight and you'll see a street sign that says Hutchison Dr.- stop at that street sign and you will find the grave markers.
General Benjamin H. Grierson 1826- 1911
Grierson H. Grierson was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on July 8, 1826. As an 8-year-old he was kicked in the face by a horse and lay in a coma for two weeks. His cheek bore a scar and he lost his vision for two months due to this injury. It is said he wore his beard to hide the scar on his cheek.Grierson move to 852 East State Street in Jacksonville, Illinois with his family in the fall of 1850 when he was 24. He taught the piano lessons.It was here he learned that he had been hand picked by Ulysses S. Grant to lead an important military mission, which would become known as Grierson's Raid. This mission encompassed 600 miles in just 16 days.
General Grierson and his wife, Alice, are buried in the Jacksonville East Cemetery.
For information about this year's event and special overnight packages that are available,contact the Jacksonville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau at 1-800-593-5678,and we also invite you to visit the following links for more info on General Grierson:
The Quilt Competition: Fabric samples were sent out to 20 individual quilters who each assembled a square, not knowing how any of the other individuals would be assembling theirs. The squares were then sent back in to be judged. Lois Weisberg, Peace and Appliqué Quilt Store in Rochester, was the judge and Nancy Fry was awarded 1st Place. Her square is 3rd row down, 3rd from the left (the one featuring General Grierson’s picture.) All the squares were then assembled into the lovely quilt you see below. It was hand stitched by Linda Kistan with the names of all 20 quilters listed on the back.
RAFFLE TICKETS are $l.00 each or five for $6.00 Make checks payable to The Grierson Society
To benefit the Fifthteenth Annual General Grierson Liberty Days June 18th - 20th in Jacksonville Community Park and the restoration of the grierson family burial plot in East Cemetery Jacksonville. Drawing to be held Sunday June 20th during the Grierson Days Civil War Reenactment
Location: Beautiful City Park with Convenient Parking All events are free and the public is invited to join the fun. Food available on the grounds
Related sites: General Grierson's Home on East State Street General Grierson's final resting place in Jacksonville East Cemetery
General Grierson Days is held annually under the shade of more than 200 trees in a 62 acre park located in the center of the community. Saturday and Sunday feature battle re-enactments and the opportunity for the hundreds of area families that this event attracts to step back through time to experience life during the civil war.
Ladies will be hosted at a Saturday afternoon tea and discussion of fashion followed by a discussion of hair styles. While across the park a rousing game of baseball will be played just as it was during the Civil War. Bring the youngsters out, because we'll be looking for some volunteers to help! Saturday evening will feature the Grand Ball held in the historic setting of the Nichols Park Pavilion. Sponsored by the 50 Year Pilot Club of Jacksonville, the Ball will feature Deborah Hyland as the Dance Mistress and period music by the Megan Green Ensemble.
Sunday morning will find us gathered together for church services and the weekend will culminate with a Sunday afternoon civil war battle.
Through out the day there will be demonstrations, drills and activities including the opportunity to wander through settler row and see the period clothing, supplies and equipment for sale. There will also be food and craft vendors on the grounds.Have a sandwich and wash it down with a cold, homemade root beer and of course a piece of Strawberry Shortcake for dessert! All events are free,and the public is encouraged to attend.
