More Info: Catherine Pappas

Communications Manager

(413) 205-5041

Info Line (413) 205-5115

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- West Springfield, MA     January 6, 2012

FIRST PERSON HISTORIC PRESENTATION

Eastern States Exposition’s Storrowton Village Museum will present its annual First Person Presentation, "August Hazard, the Hazard Powder Company, and the Hazardville Gunpowder Industry,” Friday, Jan. 20 at 7 p.m., in its historic Meetinghouse.

Historian Elliot Levy, of Longmeadow, Mass., will appear in costume as Colonel Augustus Hazard, the man behind Enfield's gunpowder manufacturing complex. Col. Hazard's decision to ship gunpowder to the South on the eve of the Civil War led to questions of his loyalty to the Union.

Levy is the Executive Director of Career Services at Branford Hall Career Institute and a 16-year Civil War re-enactor. He also portrays Captain John Bigelow of the 9th Mass. Light Artillery, and Civil War hero Lt. Howard Burnham, of Longmeadow, Mass.

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.

Reservations for this event are encouraged but not required. Click here to email your reservation. 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. 16 – Oct. 2, 2011.

Note: This event is weather permitting. If the weather is questionable, please call the Village for details prior to your departure.

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.

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