First Person
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- West Springfield, Mass.
FIRST PERSON HISTORIC PRESENTATION AT STORROWTON VILLAGE MUSEUM
Storrowton Village Museum will present its annual First Person Presentation, "A Visit with Lt. Commander Lane Hadley: Civil War Naval Surgeon," Friday, January 25 at 7:30 p.m. in the Meetinghouse. The reconstructed Early American Village is located on the grounds of Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, Mass.
Dressed in period-appropriate clothing, Robert M. Bedard, M.D., of Tolland, Conn., will appear as Lt. Commander Hadley as he takes guests through a combination of a fervent recruiting speech and a recap of the trials and tribulations faced as a naval surgeon during the American Civil War.
His presentation will touch on the types of diseases and injuries encountered by the men, medical approaches of the period and the techniques and tools used, as well as medications employed.
Dr. Bedard has been a reenactor since 1987 as a member of the 5th New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry as well as an associate member with the 27th & 14th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. He has taken part in numerous events including battle reenactments, living history encampments and lectures. Having served as a rifleman, he is now assistant regimental surgeon. Highlighting the naval aspects of the American Civil War, he is a charter member of the Kearsage Afterguard.
Dr. Bedard is the medical director of the Connecticut Asthma & Allergy Center LLC in West Hartford and serves on the staff of Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center, the Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Manchester Memorial Hospital, UConn Health Center and Hartford Hospital. He is a clinical instructor at the UConn School of Medicine and serves on the Medical Advisory Board at Hartford Hospital.
The 45-minute presentation will be followed by a question and answer period. Admission is $5, children under 6 are admitted free and tickets will be available at the door.
Storrowton Village Museum, an educational arm of Eastern States Exposition, presents hands-on school programs and guided tours of its historic buildings throughout the year as well as seasonal 19th century-themed events. It is the site of Storrowton Tavern/Carriage House and Storrowton Village Museum Gift Shop and is a picturesque, popular site for weddings held in its Meetinghouse and Gazebo.
Reservations for this event are encouraged but not required. For more information, call the Village at 413-205-5051. Visit www.thebige.com for details on all the events at Eastern States Exposition throughout the year as well as the annual Big E, which takes place Sept. 12-28, 2008.
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Note: This event is weather permitting. If the weather is questionable, please call the Village for details prior to your departure.