Reliving history

BATAVIA – Christie and Daniel Volke, of Batavia, enjoyed sharing their wedding day with President Abraham Lincoln and other historical figures.

After getting married in the gazebo at the Batavia Riverwalk on Saturday, they headed over to the Civic War encampment that was taking place elsewhere on the Riverwalk.

"It was kind of fun," said Christie Volke, as her husband was busy playing with a Civil War saber. "It adds to the day."

The Batavia Depot Museum hosted the event, which will continue Sunday starting at 11 a.m. A full schedule of activities is available at the Batavia Park District's website, www.bataviaparks.org.

Youngsters Calvin and Wilhelm Lackner of St. Charles, who belong to Cub Scout Pack 801 in St. Charles, were having fun learning how to shoot a cannon. To be authentic for their roles, they donned blue wool coats, similar to what Civil War soldiers would have worn.

"It would have been hard if you are in the hot sun all day wearing the jacket," Wilhelm said.

Fortunately, temperatures were in the 60s on Saturday, which was great relief to Civil War re-enactor Trevor Steinbach, of Batavia.

"This is the perfect weather," Steinbach said.

He is a Civil War medical re-enactor in the 17th Corps Field Hospital Inc. re-enactment group.

"The camp represents all the different aspects that a person would have encountered in a military camp," Steinbach said. "I think the best thing about being a re-enactor is you get to educate the public."

Molly Middel, of Aurora, agreed. She has been a re-enactor for 10 years.

On Saturday, she was demonstrating how horses were used in the Civil War.

"I've loved horses all my life, and I love camping and history," Middel said. "This is a combination of all three."