SHERBURNE – The 61st Regiment Civil War Reenactors, displaying a wide array of the era’s artifacts, will once again camp out in Sherburne’s Historic Park on School Street, as local residents prepare to celebrate Heritage Day on Saturday.
According to Sherburne Town Historian Rose Wellman, the annual event has expanded this year to include a special presentation by the group at 7 p.m., Thursday, at the Chenango County Historical Society Museum, 45 Rexford St. in Norwich, followed by an Ice Cream Social.
In addition, Wellman said the reenactors will offer a “special salute” to Captain Isaac ‘Ikey’ Plumb, Jr., a Sherburne native who was killed by a confederate sharpshooter while serving the Union during the Civil War, which will take place at 5 p.m. on Friday at the Civil War Monument adjacent to the United Church of Christ in downtown Sherburne.
Local Cub Scout Troop 66, celebrating 100 years of scouting, will officially kick off Heritage Day in Historic Park and perform the flag raising ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday, in front of the historic schoolhouse, according to Wellman, who added the scouts’ anniversary brought a “special significance” to Heritage Day this year.
She also said that, prior to the annual event’s official opening ceremony, the 61st Regiment will hold its traditional cemetery salute, between 8:30 and 9 a.m., following which the Sherburne Historical Society, from the porch of the log cabin, will host a bake sale and offer free coffee.
There will be a number of events and activities throughout the day for residents of all ages, stated Wellman, including Cathy Weinell, “in her schoolteacher role,” with workshops and play from 11 a.m. to noon, in the historic schoolhouse for children ages 5 to 12, and a noon presentation by Esther Doty on Civil War clothing.
Local residents Pat and Bob Kane will follow at 1 p.m. to discuss the myriad covered bridges they have documented, now included in the National Historic Register, said Wellman, and Sherburne Historical Society Ed Aley will display his collection of antique milk bottles, compiled from a number of different area dairies and farms.
