Civil War re-enactors march in historic downtown Medina

Events, including battles and a ball, continue until Sunday

Photos by Tom Rivers – Re-enactors marched down Main Street in Medina this morning, part of a three-day Civil War encampment in the community.

MEDINA – Downtown Medina was the scene of a moving parade and ceremony this morning when about 100 Civil War re-enactors marched down Main Street.

The event included the re-enactment of a ceremony at the beginning of the war 152 years ago. Back then Medina soldiers in Company D of the 28th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment stopped on Main Street and the women of Medina gave Company D Captain Erwin Bowen a sword for protection.

The sword has stayed in Bowen’s family, and his great-great granddaughter, Mary Zimmerman Robinson of Medina, handed off the sword to re-enactor Simon Taylor, who was portraying Capt. Bowen. That took place on a stage in front of the Bent’s Opera House, which opened in 1865.

“You can read about the Civil War, but the re-enactors bring the whole thing to life,” said Dan Dedo of Batavia, who watched the parade with his wife Bonnie. They plan to see the battle at 2 p.m. next to the GCC campus on Route 31A.

The Medina re-enactment on Main Street was a reminder of the sacrifice of so many families, Mrs. Dedo said.

Medina is hosting its first Civil War encampment this weekend. The event was initially planned to stay at the GCC campus, but the Medina community welcomed the parade down Main Street, where several Civil War era buildings remain.

Adam Tabelski, the former village mayor, is honorary chairman of the event. He recently returned from an overseas deployment with the Army. He served as master of ceremonies during the parade, and dressed in a top hat and a suit on loan from the Medina Historical Society.

“We have a wonderful historic Main Street,” Tabelski said after the parade. “Let’s show off the re-enactors and remind people of our community’s past.”

Visit http://civilwaratgcc.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/cw-medina-encampment-program-2013-final.pdf for a schedule of Civil War events in Medina.