Acton Camera: Living history at The Robbins House
Concordians traveled back in time to a Civil War encampment featuring reenactors from the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry.
Photos: Ken McGagh/The Acton Bridge
By Christine M. Quirk — [email protected]
Concordians traveled back in time July 26 during a Civil War encampment at The Robbins House that featured reenactors from the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry.
Visitors to the living history event explored replicas of tent encampments, spoke with uniformed interpreters, and watched a display of Civil War-era rifle handling.
The 54th Massachusetts was the first officially recognized Black regiment in the Union Army, and its story inspired the 1990 movie, “Glory.” Among its soldiers: George Washington Dugan, a Concordian whose name was added to the Civil War memorial in Monument Square last November.
“The 54th Massachusetts is nationally recognized for its historic role — and its legacy ties directly to the story of Ellen Garrison, born at The Robbins House and a pioneering civil rights activist and educator,” The Robbins House said in a statement.
The town’s newest school, the Ellen Garrison Building at Acton Middle School, was named in Garrison’s honor.
The Robbins House focuses on teaching about Acton’s African, African American, and antislavery history from the 17th through 19th centuries.
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