This fall, area arts and history organizations invite the public to experience the Civil War home front through a living history event inspired by the Sanitary Fairs of the era. The event brings together local organizations and groups dedicated to preserving 19th-century history and culture and will be held at the Western Illinois Museum. Visitors are invited to explore and learn about Civil War–era Sanitary Fairs on Sunday, October 19, from 1:00 to 5:00 pm.
Sanitary Fairs were large-scale fundraising events organized primarily by women during the American Civil War to support the work of the United States Sanitary Commission, a civilian-run organization that provided critical aid to Union soldiers. These fairs combined education, entertainment, and charity to raise money for medical supplies, clothing, and food. The name "Sanitary" refers to the Commission's mission to improve health conditions in military camps and hospitals. Fairs were a creative and communal response to the war’s pressing needs, embodying the spirit of volunteerism and civic duty.
Organized by The Hub Arts and Cultural Center in Rushville and the Western Illinois Museum in Macomb, who have created a version of the Sanitary Fair, bringing this powerful history to life through hands-on experiences, music, and storytelling that highlight the resilience and ingenuity of Illinoisans during the Civil War.
Program Highlights
-1:00 to 5:00 pm - Experience the re-creation of a vibrant “fair” atmosphere with:
Exhibits from the Western Illinois Museum’s collection, including period tintype portraits, clothing, and accessories such as the era’s popular hair jewelry,
Discover the Civil War through the eyes of local roundtable re-enactors, who will share stories of women’s vital work organizing Sanitary Fairs, the daily life of soldiers, the weapons they carried, and the legacy of the Grand Army of the Republic in preserving their service.
-1:30 to 2:30 pm - Grand Parade and Dance performance, by The Hub’s Historical Dancers. The performance features dances that would have been enjoyed during the Sanitary Fairs. The dancers will invite audience members to join in a dance at the end of their performance.
-3:00 to 3:45 pm - Enjoy live music of the era performed by a brass quintet led by composer and bandleader John Mindeman. The ensemble features Bruce Briney and Anne McNamara on trumpet, Rachel Hockenberry on horn, John Mindeman on trombone, and Mike Rockstroh on tuba.
-4:00 to 4:45 pm Musical Performance with Chris Vallillo
From patriotic anthems and campfire ditties to reworked versions of popular songs of the era, Civil War soldiers reshaped music to suit their tastes and capture the struggles and hardships they endured. Award-winning folk musician and folklorist Chris Vallillo draws from the journals and letters of the troops, bringing these rare and long-forgotten songs back to life.
This family-friendly event will illuminate how ordinary people on the home front supported the war effort through creativity, cooperation, and care. Visitors will gain insight into the daily lives of those who stayed behind, the challenges they faced, and the innovative ways they came together to help both soldiers and civilians.
The Civil War Era Sanitary Fair is an opportunity to connect with local history, celebrate community resilience, and honor the legacy of civic action that continues to inspire us today.
Admission is free, with a suggested donation of $5 to support the program's presentation.
The program is supported in part by the Illinois Humanities Council.
For more information, call 309-837-2750, text 309-837-2613, or email
aW5mbyB8IHdpbXVzZXVtICEgb3Jn. The Western Illinois Museum is located at 201 S. Lafayette Street, one block south of Macomb’s Courthouse Square. The building is fully accessible, and free accessible parking is available.
About the Western Hub
The Foreground Rural Initiative Western Hub, known as the Western Hub, was created with the help and support of Illinois Humanities. The group consists of artists, humanitarians, teachers, and humanities organizations in the Western region of Illinois. The Western Hub meets monthly to support each other’s projects and collaborate.
About the Hub’s Historical Dancers
The Hub’s Historical Dancers' mission is to learn, perform, and teach dances of the 1800s. Dance helps keep the history and culture of people alive. Throughout history, social dance has helped define a civilization. By learning historical social dances, we gain a better understanding of the events, challenges, and celebrations of past generations. By teaching historical dance to the present generation, we help preserve the choreographic movement of the dances for future generations. This also gives the current generation a better understanding of the historical significance of the era of the 1800s.
About John Mindeman
John Mindeman is a versatile trombonist, euphoniumist, teacher, arranger, and composer. He has performed with leading ensembles including the Chicago Symphony, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Joffrey Ballet, Chicago Sinfonietta, and Millar Brass Ensemble, as well as the Orquesta Filarmónica de Santiago (Chile) and the Sinfónica Nacional de Costa Rica. For 23 years, he served as Professor of Trombone and Euphonium at Western Illinois University, also teaching a decade at the Birch Creek Music Performance Center. His works have been performed by groups such as the New York Philharmonic Brass, Monarch Brass, and the Elgin Symphony. In 2017, he founded the Red Peppers Ragtime Ensemble, highlighting early 20th-century popular music and overlooked Black and female composers. He lives in Macomb with his wife and daughter.
About Chris Vallillo
Chris Vallillo is a singer-songwriter and roots musician who brings the people and places of “unmetropolitan” America to life in song. Having spent the past 30 years in the rural Midwest, he has developed a natural affinity for American roots music. Performing on six-string and bottleneck slide guitars, Vallillo blends original, contemporary, and traditional songs and narratives into compelling, entertaining portraits of the Midwest. Dirty Linen Magazine described his music as “vivid, original story songs,” while Folk Wax Magazine editor Arthur Wood wrote, “Vallillo’s guitar playing flows like warm honey and is a true aural delight.
About Participating Re-enactors
Estelle Plewa Bath
"Battlefield Relief Boxes: The Work of the United States Sanitary Commission (USSC)"
This display highlights a selection of items collected, crafted, or purchased by regional Ladies Aid Societies and Soldier Aid Societies for the United States Sanitary Commission. From 1863 to 1865, Sanitary Fairs served as the primary fundraising tool for these groups, generating the money needed to purchase vital supplies and cover the cost of transporting them to military camps, hospitals, and battlefronts. Visitors will see examples of the kinds of goods that brought comfort and relief to soldiers, and learn how community efforts on the home front played a critical role in supporting the Union war effort.
About Estelle Plewa Bath
With a lifelong interest in education and history—particularly cultural and social issues—Stasia Bath has developed a series of historical interpretations focused on the 19th century and Civil War era. As an active member of two Civil War roundtables and a regular participant in regional reenactments and educational programs, she helps the public better understand how the past continues to shape American life today.
Stasia Bath has presented for WIU history courses, the L.I.F.E. program, and Quincy’s Civil War Symposium series, as well as at events like Macomb’s Local History Day, Dickens on the Square, and Burlington’s Living Windows. I also speak at civic and community groups and volunteer with the Western Illinois Museum, where I’ve developed several “Victorian Ladies” programs for their Our Front Porch series, including two seasonal video presentations.
Tim Jacobs
"Arms, Artifacts, and Aftermath: The Civil War Soldier’s World"
Step into the world of the Civil War soldier through the weapons they carried and the keepsakes they preserved. This program highlights swords, armaments, and post-war GAR memorabilia, offering a glimpse into both the battlefield and the memories that endured long after the war.
About Tim Jacobs
Tim, a native of Adams County, grew up in Camp Point before moving to Quincy at the age of 12. After two years at Southern Illinois University and four years of service in the United States Air Force, he earned a degree in Psychology from Quincy College. He later completed his medical degree at Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and, following residency and military service, returned home to practice at Quincy Medical Group’s Ambulatory Care Center until his retirement in 2022.
Alongside his medical career, Tim has always had a deep interest in history. He serves on the Board of the Historical Society of Quincy and Adams County and is the Commander of the Tri-State Civil War Roundtable. (TSCWRT) He has presented numerous programs on the Civil War and the stories of soldiers from West Central Illinois. Since retiring, he has been able to devote even more time to sharing and exploring these historical pursuits.
Tim and his wife, Jane, have been married for 47 years and are proud parents of four children, including three adopted sons, and six grandchildren.
Ray Wilson
"Beyond the Battlefield: Daily Life and Legacy of the Civil War Soldier"
Step into the daily life of a Civil War soldier, from the weapons they carried to the personal items they kept close. Ray Wilson will guide visitors in exploring the lasting impact of the war through the history of the Women’s Relief Corps, the Grand Army of the Republic, and the Sons of Union Veterans, revealing how these organizations supported the war effort, preserved memory, and honored service for generations.
About Ray Wilson
With over 50 years of studying the American Civil War, Ray Wilson’s passion began in childhood, sparked by family stories and treasured artifacts. Today, he specializes in Civil War genealogy, tracing both Union and Confederate ancestors for his own family and others. His research includes six great-grandfathers, dozens of uncles and cousins who served, and detailed histories of the soldiers listed on the Kossuth Civil War Monument—the first of its kind west of the Mississippi River. A dedicated public historian, Ray has presented programs on genealogy and monument history, works to preserve veterans’ headstones with the Des Moines County Pioneer Cemetery Commission, and currently serves as President of the Southeast Iowa Civil War Roundtable. He is also an active member of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Robert Mitchell Camp #206, and the Des Moines County Genealogy Association.
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