History day at Country Doctor Museum Nov. 12

The Country Doctor Museum and Bailey Area Ministries are teaming up to provide residents and visitors a fun-filled day on Saturday, Nov. 12.

“History Alive!” will be held 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Country Doctor Museum, 6642 Peele Road, with Civil War medical re-enactors, free horse drawn carriage rides and admission to the museum. Children can enjoy free pony rides, a petting area with chicks and rabbits, and old-fashioned toy making. Vendors will sell food and drinks.

On the same day, a Thanksgiving Festival will be held at Bailey United Methodist Church, 12437 Green St. A bake sale, local vendors, live music, children’s games and inflatables, and a dinner plate sale will be offered. Proceeds benefit Bailey Area Ministries, which provides emergency financial and food assistance for people in southern Nash County. Food plate tickets ($7 for adults; $3 for children 12 and under) should be purchased in advance by calling 252-235-4576. Pick up begins at 11 a.m.

At the Country Doctor Museum, Old North State Field Hospital Civil War re-enactors will include James Mills of Thomasville, surgeon major, and George Chance of Charlotte, assistant surgeon, who will talk about the overall health care of soldiers during the Civil War and surgical aspects of the 19th century. Janet Chance of Charlotte, unit herbalist, will display herbs and plants and discuss herbal medicine and the use of herbs in cooking and household cleaning. Tom Thompson of Graham will talk about weaponry and wounds. Bobby Blackburn of Thomasville, a Civil War artist, will display medical artwork.

The museum also is hosting a special exhibit “The Price of War: A Collection of United States Colored Troops Civil War Records,” about five African-American soldiers injured during the Civil War. Their photographs and disability discharge papers document contributions and sacrifices made by the United States Colored Troops, regiments of the U.S. Army composed of African-American soldiers. The photographs were taken by an Army surgeon who recognized the educational value of documenting war wounds for future generations. The exhibit is on loan from Dr. Matthew Farina of Southern Pines.

Bailey Area Ministries was formed by Bailey Baptist Church, Bailey Church of God, Bailey United Methodist Church, Cornerstone Pentecostal Holiness Church and Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church. It serves residents in southern Nash County and is completely funded by donations. More than 180 families have received help with food, finances, utilities or prescriptions in 2011.

The Country Doctor Museum is operated by Laupus Library at East Carolina University. For more information, call 252-235-4165 or visit http://www.countrydoctormuseum.org.

For more news about East Carolina University, visit http://www.ecu.edu/cs-admin/news.