Battles of Lexington, Concord reenacted at Century Village, museum

“The reenactors were just fantastic in their attention to detail, to following the script that they were using, which is the official script from Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts,” said Andrew Mizsak, manager of external relations and government affairs at Century Village Museum and Historical Education Center. 

On April 18, 1775, the citizens of Lexington stood vigil throughout the night until the British showed up at 5 a.m.

“I always had it backwards – I thought the British came in and then the colonists came to the party,” Mr. Mizsak said. 

But in fact, they were waiting for the British to show up as soon as Paul Revere let them know, and church bells rang out at night to warn them. 

“I take a little extra point of pride knowing that some of the first minutemen to be there were from Bedford, Massachusetts, my sister city to my hometown,” Mr. Mizsak said. 

The reenactors gave displays of artillery pieces and presentations on the life of the British soldier and the Campfield hospital.

Folks from all over the country came in for the event, with around 160 reenactors from Michigan, Wisconsin, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and all over Ohio. 

“What this reenactment group did with regards to their attention to detail – having, for example, the king’s cypher in their cannon to their unit number, or crush, in the buttons on their uniform – was unbelievable,” Mr. Mizsak said. “These are folks who take seriously what they do, their craft of living history.” 

“That’s what makes all the difference,

because the people who attended really got to feel as if they were there,” he said. 

Many of the folks who find a passion in reenactments or living history work as educators, like history or political science teachers. 

“They read and study and study and read,” Mr. Mizsak said. 

They look at artist renderings from the time period of what those uniforms consist of and how their artillery pieces or muskets look.

“I was asked to take on this event because of my interest in military history and, of course, how it ties into the birth of our nation … It’s the kick-off to America250,” a nationwide celebration of the 250th

anniversary of American independence. Mr. Mizsak is also the secretary of the Geauga County America250 Committee. 

Looking ahead, Century Village will host its Civil War reenactment during Memorial Day Weekend, coinciding with the 160th anniversary of the end of the Civil War. 

In July, historical interpreter Olivia Ruprecht will give a presentation on Thomas Jefferson. The Raccoon County Music Festival follows, in early August. The steam power show will also take place in August, followed by a second World War II commemoration in September and the apple butter festival in October.

“It’s going to be a busy summer, with plenty of cool events for folks to check out,” Mr. Mizsak said.