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Step back in time with Civil War Re-enactment

History buffs will get a chance to step back into the 1860s this weekend when Bensenville's Fischer Farm plays host to a Civil War Re-enactment.

Members of the Blue and Gray will gather from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at 16W680 Grand Ave. to see what life was like during one of the most significant periods in our nation's history.

Visitors will see demonstrations of civilian life and the trials and tribulations of those fighting in the war. There will be a rally for drills in the morning and a skirmish in the afternoon, as well as first-person presentations throughout the day.

Event highlights will include meeting soldiers and black abolitionist Harriet Tubman, hearing President Abraham Lincoln speak, listening to music and seeing the firing of cannon at 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m.

Brian Flora, retired United States diplomat and historian, will describe the capture of Atlanta in "Atlanta, the March to the Sea" from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Other events will include a Civil War scavenger hunt; "Candies & Chocolates," a look at era-related candies and chocolates; and "America's Pastime," which features baseball during the Civil War.

Visitors also may explore the five-acre Fischer Farm, which contains nine structures that originally were owned by the Fischer family.

Fischer Woods, the land just north of the cabin, is a rare forest preserve with the remnants of prairie, wetland and woodland ecosystems. The parcel has been left untouched and is what settlers looked upon when they arrived in the area.

Complimentary tours of Fischer Farm are available from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 to 7 p.m. Thursdays.

For details, call (630) 834-3152 or visit www.bensenvilleparkdistrict.org.

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