Civil War at the Historic Cannon Ball House

Springfield’s Historic Cannon Ball House, located at 126 Morris Ave., will again be part of Union County’s Four Centuries in a Weekend on Oct. 20 and Oct. 21.

This year is the sesquicentennial of the Civil War battle of Antietam, the single bloodiest day in American history. Fought on Sept. 17, 1862 this battle saw approximately 23,000 men killed or wounded from both the Union and the Confederacy. Among those mortally wounded was Captain Edward Wade, a resident of Millburn, then Springfield.

In memory of Captain Wade, the Cannon Ball House will have a Civil War theme. On exhibit will be various belongings of Captain Wade, including his ceremonial sword, which will be on display at the house for the first time this year. An authentic newspaper from 1861 reporting the firing on Fort Sumter and the 1862 correspondence of another Civil War soldier, Wellington Briant will also be featured. Another highlight of the weekend will be the exhibition of a letter written by the “Angel of the battlefield,” Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross.

On Saturday Oct. 20 only, the Cannon Ball House’s property will become the site of a Civil War battlefield with both Union and Confederate re-enactors setting up camp. There will also be a Civilian Soldiers Aide Society display and with a small cannon on the property there is always the chance the Cannon Ball House could re-earn its name. Inside the house, Civil War era music will be playing as part of the celebrations. So join us and hear about Springfield’s “boys in blue” and that one Poole brother in grey!

Hours: Saturday, Oct. 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 21 from noon to 4.

For more information call 973-376-4784.