Subject: Re: World War I Re-enactors. From: Brian Bigler <usemeum@mhtc.net> Message-ID: <c52ab342-5550-3407-5223-a6fda80fa62f@mhtc.net> Date: Thu, 24 May 2018 06:32:28 -0500
Hello all of you history lovers,
WWI on the home front is one of those areas where we as presenters of
history often overlook the facts that there was also a darker side of
the regional story during the war. We may not know that Wisconsin was
actually dubbed the "Traitor State" and that German speaking individuals
that were well established state residents and Americans were viewed as
suspect by some. Patriotic fervor took many turns during this period
and perhaps you will find that your hometown took a darker side of
history during this period (see sedition map Wisconsin Historical
Society iconography that shows areas of the state targeted and stories
of the war years).
Loyalty Day parades, propaganda and local newspapers reported more than
just the war over there they encouraged home front locals to participate
proudly and declared those who did not as the enemy or disloyal. Some
state individuals were actually dragged from their homes and beaten by
angry mobs. Churches that used German or even Norwegian in their weekly
services abruptly stopped these practices. And so on.
I always find that a good exhibit attempts to tell the "total story" and
takes an even path through the middle of history when it relays its
messages to the visiting public. It is not always the rosy story that
we want, but it is the true story.
Another story often overlooked during the duration of WWI is that a
serious flu epidemic was on the horizon when the war came to a close - a
story often usurped by the war itself.
Keep up the good work all of you!
Sincerely,
Brian J. Bigler
Exhibit designer - Mount Horeb
On 5/21/2018 10:00 PM, Mondovi History wrote:
> Just wondering if anyone has contacts for or knows of World War I
> re-enactors. The Mondovi Area Historical Society is planning on
> commemorating the centennial of the war at our annual "The Past in the
> Park" event on July 1st. We realize it is late in the game to be
> inquiring, but we thought we had a group lined up and now have learned
> that they won't be coming.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Steve Mikelson
> Mondovi Area Historical Society