Civil War Show offers history lesson

MANSFIELD – Mark Elrod, of Maryland, was relaxing on a bench Saturday with his trombone, typical of an instrument a German immigrant would have brought to America in 1840 to play in a town band.

He even played a bit Saturday for the media amid booms from military re-enactors' cannons and gunfire nearby at the annual Ohio Civil War Show at the Richland County Fairgrounds at 750 N. Home Road.

"I'm not a trombone player," said Elrod, a musician and retired U.S. Army master sergeant and 27-year veteran who also also served in the U.S. Marines.

He and his wife, Judy, a native of Bucyrus, met in Rockville, Maryland, in a brass band they both played in: he, a tuba player, and she, on trumpet.

"This is what I call a Civil War circus. It's one of the biggest ones I go to, and I say that with the biggest reverence," he said.

On Sunday, Mark Elrod will perform with the 73rd Ohio Regimental Band, playing original period music on a Civil War tuba.

Demonstrations galore could be watched throughout the fairgrounds as families strolled about amid the sunshine, atmosphere and the many people in period costumes, from artillery men to campers.

Inside Fairhaven Hall, dozens of vendors setup to buy and sell memorabilia from the Civil War, World War I and World War II. Many tables had weapons, including an array of guns, knives, swords and more.

Ron Chojnacki, of Medina, had a big crowd around his display of military images: framed photographs of Union and Confederate soldiers.

Why does he love the Civil War?

"I just love the history," said Chojnacki, adding that he has been coming to the show for 37 years.

Chojnacki showed a visitor a pair of Civil War officer's field glasses, or binoculars.

"They were used extensively during the war and imported from France, most of them," he said. "I bought them in Ohio from an antique dealer. ... All of them work still."

Chojnacki also demonstrated the use of a miniature hat-like box called a cheese box from the War of 1812, made by cheese manufacturers who were contracted by the military to make canteens.

"It's still got the 'U.S.' on it," he said of the Army green container.

Re-enactors Deann Lewis, of Bellefontaine, and Sharon Cox, of Reynoldsburg, came to the show to camp as part of the 5th Kentucky Infantry Regiment.

They toured the vendors' tables leaving their covered wagon outside for a bit.

"The 5th Kentucky was considered the 'orphan brigade,' " Lewis said. "Kentucky went northern, and so those Kentuckians who went with the Confederacy didn't have a home. They couldn't get supplies from their home, and they had to find other places to get supplies."

Elsewhere, re-enactors showed off their firepower and maneuvers, as well as bayonet attacks.

Dave Miller of Cleveland, a retired history teacher, narrated for the crowd as members of a brigade of the American Revolution performed in a grassy field.

"Notice the drums. Your drums are the walkie-talkies of the 18th century," he said. "The officer is not going to stand there and shout himself to death. He would simply give the order to the drummer and he would beat out a certain rhythm, and that's prime and load."

Abe Lincoln also walked the fairground and recited the Gettysburg Address from the midway of the fairgrounds at noon.

Abe, also known as Wooster resident Jerry Payn, handed out pennies to children.

Guarding the president was Mark Watts, of Nova, who also portrays Robert Weston McBride, of Mansfield.

A mechanic, Watts said he's been into the Civil War for about eight years.

"I like to teach the young people about history," he said.

The annual Ohio Civil War show continues from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $7.

lwhitmir@nncogannett.com

419-521-7223

Twitter: @LWhitmir