ponto
June 25th, 2005, 10:16 PM
Homefront Café and Civil War Museum curator Ernie Parnell proudly announces the Grand Opening at 8:00 a.m. on July 2, 2005 of the Homefront Café—a facility dedicated to preserving the history of America during the mid-nineteenth century. The café is located at 34 West Second Street. It will provide education and entertainment concerning mid-nineteenth century subjects, including living history presentations by re-enactors and artisans who use the same techniques as crafters during the 1800s.
“The mid-nineteenth century is an interesting part of American history,” said curator Ernie Parnell. “There is the Civil War, of course, which is a fascinating subject by itself, and changed the face of America forever, but also a lot of things were happening on the home front as well. Industrialization occurred during this time period which led to many of the inventions we know today. The whole time period represents a turning point in the history of America.”
Ernie Parnell has been a Civil War buff since he was eight years old. As a child his uncle, a true Southerner from South Carolina, introduced him to his first Civil War re-enactment. He was hooked ever since. He has been a re-enactor within the Cincinnati, Ohio, area for numerous years, has an extensive library covering the Civil War subject and has written several educational booklets. He has also done countless speeches, rifle/cannon demonstrations, and first-person impressions at city and state parks, historical societies, schools and local street fairs. In every occasion he has endeavored to involve the public interactively. According to Mr. Parnell, Maysville has some interesting ties to the Civil War and, among other things, was instrumental in distributing arms throughout Kentucky during that time.
Homefront Café’s “Civil War Relic Room” contains items from the mid-nineteenth century time period including rifles, swords, and relics that were used during the war. Covering all aspects of the era, the museum also contains everyday women’s items, personal, medical, and drug artifacts. A curator is usually available during hours of operation to answer questions about how these items were used and what differences there may be between today’s times and life during the Civil War.
Grand Opening exhibits will highlight life during the Civil War with displays meant to educate and entertain. Among these displays is a 12 foot by 5 foot relief carving depicting a battle during the war and dedicated to the fighting men from the surrounding area, dioramas of various themes, and a large collection of nineteenth century photographs. A special exhibit during the grand opening includes a life size cannon model called a “Quaker Gun”. These Quaker Guns, named so because they were actually dummy cannons that didn’t represent a real threat, were often used during the Civil War to intimidate the enemy.
Special guests include living history re-enactors and speakers who will provide demonstrations of life during the 1800s. These presenters will be dressed in period clothing including uniforms worn by soldiers during the Civil War and women in dresses from the mid-nineteenth century era. Activities include speeches and presentations, all educational in nature. Admission is free to the public.
Also incorporated into the Civil War Museum area is a coffee and gift shop. The coffee shop serves espresso based drinks, baked goods, and gourmet sandwiches. No purchase is necessary to participate in the grand opening events or to tour the museum’s many displays.
When asked why they chose July 2nd for their grand opening, Mr. Parnell replied, “Early July marks the anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, the most decisive battle during the Civil War. While the actual battle began on July 1st, it was July 2nd when most of the infantry arrived on the field, including most of the Union Corps and Longstreet’s third division, commanded by the infamous George Pickett. I guess you could say we are arriving on the field.”
More information about the Homefront Café and its grand opening can be found at their web site: www.homefrontcafe.com.
“The mid-nineteenth century is an interesting part of American history,” said curator Ernie Parnell. “There is the Civil War, of course, which is a fascinating subject by itself, and changed the face of America forever, but also a lot of things were happening on the home front as well. Industrialization occurred during this time period which led to many of the inventions we know today. The whole time period represents a turning point in the history of America.”
Ernie Parnell has been a Civil War buff since he was eight years old. As a child his uncle, a true Southerner from South Carolina, introduced him to his first Civil War re-enactment. He was hooked ever since. He has been a re-enactor within the Cincinnati, Ohio, area for numerous years, has an extensive library covering the Civil War subject and has written several educational booklets. He has also done countless speeches, rifle/cannon demonstrations, and first-person impressions at city and state parks, historical societies, schools and local street fairs. In every occasion he has endeavored to involve the public interactively. According to Mr. Parnell, Maysville has some interesting ties to the Civil War and, among other things, was instrumental in distributing arms throughout Kentucky during that time.
Homefront Café’s “Civil War Relic Room” contains items from the mid-nineteenth century time period including rifles, swords, and relics that were used during the war. Covering all aspects of the era, the museum also contains everyday women’s items, personal, medical, and drug artifacts. A curator is usually available during hours of operation to answer questions about how these items were used and what differences there may be between today’s times and life during the Civil War.
Grand Opening exhibits will highlight life during the Civil War with displays meant to educate and entertain. Among these displays is a 12 foot by 5 foot relief carving depicting a battle during the war and dedicated to the fighting men from the surrounding area, dioramas of various themes, and a large collection of nineteenth century photographs. A special exhibit during the grand opening includes a life size cannon model called a “Quaker Gun”. These Quaker Guns, named so because they were actually dummy cannons that didn’t represent a real threat, were often used during the Civil War to intimidate the enemy.
Special guests include living history re-enactors and speakers who will provide demonstrations of life during the 1800s. These presenters will be dressed in period clothing including uniforms worn by soldiers during the Civil War and women in dresses from the mid-nineteenth century era. Activities include speeches and presentations, all educational in nature. Admission is free to the public.
Also incorporated into the Civil War Museum area is a coffee and gift shop. The coffee shop serves espresso based drinks, baked goods, and gourmet sandwiches. No purchase is necessary to participate in the grand opening events or to tour the museum’s many displays.
When asked why they chose July 2nd for their grand opening, Mr. Parnell replied, “Early July marks the anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, the most decisive battle during the Civil War. While the actual battle began on July 1st, it was July 2nd when most of the infantry arrived on the field, including most of the Union Corps and Longstreet’s third division, commanded by the infamous George Pickett. I guess you could say we are arriving on the field.”
More information about the Homefront Café and its grand opening can be found at their web site: www.homefrontcafe.com.