Old Clinton War Days is this weekend, beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday with battle reenactment events taking place at 2 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
The camp is open, rain or shine. War Days is celebrated in the Old Clinton Historic District on Highway 129, a mile from Gray and 10 miles Northeast of Macon. The street address of the location of the event is 412 Pulaski St., Gray.
More information about Clinton can be found at the website, www. oldclinton.org, and on the Old Clinton Historic Society Facebook page.
This year marks the 45th anniversary of War Days that is the chief fundraiser for the Old Clinton Historical Society. Admission is $5 for adults during the May 2-3 event. Ages 6-18 are $3, and children under the age of 5 are free.
The Battle of Sunshine Church is reenacted Saturday and the Battle of Griswoldville Sunday.
Each day features food vendors, arts and crafts booths and demonstrations. The historic McCarthy-Pope House, the oldest existing house in Clinton, will be open and furnished in the era of the Civil War. Miss Annie’s Store will be open with displays of war relics and a prize-winning exhibit of Griswold pistol parts, pistols and other authentic weapons.
There are also vendors selling Civil War-era clothing and collectables.
The calendar for each day begins with the call to colors at 9:05 a.m., and the authentic camps open at 10. A lady’s tea is held at 11 a.m. Saturday and a memorial service at 8 p.m. that evening in the Clinton Cemetery, next to Clinton Methodist Church.
The Sunday calendar also includes a church service at the historic McCarthy-Pope House at 11 a.m.
The camp closes at 5 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday.
The Old Clinton Historic Society was formed in 1974 to preserve, protect, and enhance the unique character of the Old Clinton Historic District for the education, appreciation, and enjoyment of present and future generations.
Clinton was the county seat for Jones County from 1808 to 1905, and the Clinton Cemetery is the final resting place of 28 Confederate and Union soldiers.
Clinton is one of seven sites on Georgia’s Antebellum Trail and one of three sites in Jones County on the March to the Sea Heritage Trail. It is a Georgia Historic Heartland Travel Destination and is easily accessible from Jones County’s Ocmulgee-Piedmont Scenic Byway whose southern trail head is in Gray. The number to call for more information is 478-251-6745.
