By Nathan Duke
Staff Writer

History will repeat itself on the lawn in front of the Fitts Museum when Charles W. Canney Camp No. 5, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War sets up camp there on Saturday, July 23.

Food and drink will be sold at the event, which will begin at 10 a.m. and end at 3 p.m., and a silent auction will take place to raise money for the restoration of Candia's Civil War monument.

Fitts Museum trustee and Living History Day coordinator Janet Lewis stands by a quilt made recently with Civil War-era reproduction fabrics. The quilt is being auctioned to raise money for the restoration of the town's Civil War statue. (Nathan Duke Photo)

Canney Camp No. 5, whose headquarters are in Rochester, will set up tents, fire muskets, cook over a fire and discuss life in a Civil War camp. The event will also feature games and music.

The event is being coordinated by trustees of the Fitts Museum, though the Candia Historical Society and the Candia Community Woman's Club will assist with food preparation.

The museum will also set out its display of Civil War artifacts, which includes muskets, swords, bullets and cartridge cases, to coincide with the event.

Trustee Janet Lewis said the event will also be a nice opportunity for residents who have never visited the museum.

"There are people who have lived in town for years and years, but have never come in this building," she said.

Museum trustees sent out letters to local businesses to see if they had any products, services or gift certificates to donate to the silent auction.

The event will be run similarly to an actual auction, but instead of shouting out bids, participants will write them down.

Among the items to be auctioned are a book on the history of Candia and a quilt by Daughters of American Revolution member Gail Thomas. The quilt has been hanging at both Smyth Public Library and the town offices in recent weeks.

"It is a full-sized handmade quilt," said museum trustee Pat Larkin. "It's a reproduction of fabrics from the Civil War era. The quilt is beautiful and, I would think, it will be wellsought after."

The auction will also feature gift certificates from a number of local businesses, including Pasquale's Ristorante, Country Woods and memberships to Curves.

Food at the event will include hot dogs, cornbread, beans, a variety of sandwiches and different types of pie for desert. The Historical Society will offer make-your-own ice cream sundaes, as well as root beer floats and brownies.

All proceeds from the event will benefit Candia's Civil War monument.

The monument's restoration will cost an estimated $22,500. So far, about $1,500 has been raised, said Selectman Clark Thyng.

Thyng said the town is currently seeking options to help pay for the project.

"We have applied with grants from the state that would increase the amount (raised) greatly," he said.

Thyng said he expects to find out by the end of the year whether the grants will be given to the restoration project.

The Civil War Living History day is open for the public and donations will be accepted for the restoration project. Residents interested in volunteering for the event can contact Janet Lewis at 483-2672 or Pat Larkin at 483-8881.

The rain date for the event will be Sunday, July 24, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., but only if there is heavy downpour on July 23. The Fitts Museum is located at 185 High Street (Route 27).