DOVER (Tusco TV) - The Dover Public Library is teaming up with the Tuscarawas Valley Civil War Round Table to bring the war between the states to life this weekend at the Canal Dover Park.

Library Director Jim Gill says the first-ever Dover Civil War Day is happening this Saturday from 9 am to 4 pm at the park located just off of East Front Street overlooking the Tuscarawas River. He says they have fun activities planned throughout the day including interactive marching drills with the 41st Ohio Volunteer Infantry and an opportunity to experience life through the eyes of soldiers on both sides of the Civil War.

“At 10:30, we’re going to have a meet ta Civil War Soldier, so we’re actually gonna have two. There’s soldiers everywhere, but we’re gonna have a Union soldier and a Confederate soldier so people can experience and see the differences in the uniforms and what they carried and their guns, their equipment,” he says. “They get to touch it, feel it, and maybe even put some of it on.” 

Other highlights of the day include a look at the life of a bugle boy at 10 am and a program on the music of the Civil War at 11:30. President Abraham Lincoln will be making an appearance at 1 pm, followed by a ladies tea and etiquette demonstration at 2 pm. Gill says this is a way to showcase the park and celebrate the area’s history.

“This county has a great Civil War heritage with the 51st OVI out of this county, with the fairgrounds, with Camp Mustering Point where soldiers were trained before they went off to war, so we just want to celebrate all of that,” he says. “It is a topic that’s fascinating to people today still so many years later.” 

The event also includes a  book sale happening throughout the day with a variety of Civil War-related materials available for the cost of a donation.