Civil War alive and well for re-enactors in Woodbridge Living-history group brings Civil War to life BY JESSICA ALFREY Correspondent PHOTOS BY ERIC SUCAR staff Nicholas Mauro, of Somerset, (middle) stands at attention as Larry Korczyk (l) of Edison teaches Paul Rosato, of Woodbridge, how to inspect his rifle at the Civil War re-enactment held at Parker Press Park in Woodbridge on Aug. 4. The Civilian Village included living-history participants demonstrating a plethora of crafts, cooking, dressmaking, quilting, and even a daily skirmish showing off the various weapons from the Civil War era. WOODBRIDGE - The Civil War may have ended nearly 150 years ago, but that does not mean that a bit of history cannot come alive in Woodbridge. It did just that this past weekend at Parker Press Park when the Robert E. Lee Civil War Round Table of Central New Jersey sponsored the Civil War Living History Weekend. The weekend included re-enactments of military skirmishes, a candlelight tour, and many crafts and demonstrations, including a dressmaker who explained the many layers of women's clothing and examples of toys from the era. Fourteen-year-old Paul Rosato, of Woodbridge, aims his rifle prior to firing off a black-powder round. Phil Kahn, a historian and member of the planning committee for the living-history event, said the soldiers involved in the re-enactment tried to be as realistic as possible by wearing all-wool uniforms and spending the entire weekend sleeping at the site. Kahn said the appeal of the weekend is the opportunity to step back in time. "I think it's because people have a chance to see something that they can't get out of books," said Kahn. "You can read about it, watch movies and television about it, but you can't feel the wool of the uniforms, see the smoke of the cook fires, the firing of the guns, or know what the gun smoke smells like. They get to see it." The Civil War Living History Weekend is now in its 24th year, though the Civil War Roundtable has been involved for the past 10 years or so. Other groups putting time and money into the event include the 7th Virginia Cavalry Company A and the 2nd Rhode Island Infantry Company D. "Surgeon" Gary Brake of Colonia greets passers-by at the re-enactment. Kahn said the event usually draws between 800 and 1,200 people over the weekend, depending on the weather conditions. The Robert E. Lee. Civil War Round Table of Central New Jersey is a nonpartisan group for people interested in the Civil War; it was established in 1989 and has roughly 170 members. The group has had speakers, including James I. "Bud" Robertson Jr., a professor of history at Virginia Tech who did the definitive work on the life of Gen. Stonewall Jackson, and author Thomas J. Craughwell, author of "Stealing Lincoln's Body," who spoke about the failed plot to steal the famous emancipator's corpse. The group also takes several trips throughout the year to places such as Richmond, Va., and Gettysburg, Pa. In addition to sponsoring the Living History Weekend, the Roundtable also has a Civil War Library and Resource Center on Green Street in Woodbridge that boasts over 2,000 volumes. Members pay roughly $35 yearly dues to help finance the group's activities. Anyone interested in becoming a member should attend the group's monthly meetings, which are held on the first Monday of every month at the Woodbridge Public Library, George Fredrick Plaza, at 7 p.m.