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Civil War Weekend set for Nov. 22-23 near Hempstead
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| The historic Liendo Plantation near Hempstead opens its grounds for Civil War Weekend Nov. 22-23. The weekend-long festival features more than 1,000 re-enactors presenting re-enactment battles on Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. |
By Michael Bunch and Deborah Deggs Cariker
On the weekend before Thanksgiving, Nov. 22-23, the Liendo Plantation near Hempstead takes a step back in time with a Civil War Weekend. The annual event draws nearly 1,000 re-enactors who will bring history to life at the historic home.
The home was built in 1853 by Leonard Waller Groce, the son of Jared Groce, on what was originally a Spanish land grant of 67,000 acre. It was named Liendo – for land grant holder Justo Liendo – and was one of Texas’ earliest cotton plantations.
On Nov 21. there will be a living history school day for area elementary and junior high schools.
Connie Hamilton’s “day job” is as a primary school teacher in Alvin, but camp life transforms her into a farmer’s wife of the 1800s.
“I enjoy the unique setting re-enacting provides to demonstrate the details and routines of 19th century America,” she said. “I can see enthusiasm and imagination in the faces of both the children and adults as we have conversations about our camp setting and the civilian life of people in that era. They are having fun while learning.”
Susan Gibson, of Waller, started re-enacting 10 years ago upon meeting her husband, Wil Gibson, Brigadier General of the 11th Texas Cavalry.
“Liendo is special to me because it has so much to see and do. The plantation house gives you that true period of time we are in during the Civil War event, and the demonstrators all throughout the lawn area are incredible,” she said. “The school day on Friday when the school kids come for the Living History is a lesson that can’t be duplicated in a classroom.”
For a brief time after the Civil War, Liendo served as headquarters for Gen. George Armstrong Custer, who disobeyed Federal orders to burn the home to the ground because the family had been kind to he and his wife.
Re-enactors of all ages speak of Liendo as a special place – the house, the grounds, the actual historical import of the plantation.
“My favorite memory of re-enacting is the first time I went to Liendo. We drove in late Friday night. Camp fires glowed, silhouetting the tents and casting shadows in the trees. A blanket of smoke hovered above the camp and, when I got out of the truck, I could hear low, muffled voices of men and the shuffling of restless horses moving on tether lines. It was really like stepping back in time,” Connie Hamilton said.
Civil War Weekend is Nov. 22 and 23. Gates open at 9 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday for the public and the battles are at 2 p.m. both days. Seniors (55-plus) and children ages seven-to-12 pay $5; everyone else, $10.
“We usually have about 1,000 re-re-enactors who portray the cavalry, infantry, artillery and medical branches of service on both the U.S. and C.S. sides,” Lt. Michael Bunch said. “We all work very hard to present this living history weekend in order to earn funds to preserve historical Civil War sites, offer history students at colleges a small scholarship and to support the Civil War Museum located in Spring.”
The restored Liendo Plantation House opens its doors for guided public tours during the living history weekend; an additional fee of $5 per person is required. Besides its distinction as a historic landmark in this state, Liendo also is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was the home of world-renowned sculptor Elizabet Ney.
Liendo Plantation is in Hempstead, 55 miles west of Houston off US 290. Coming from Houston take US 290 north, exit FM 1488 and turn right on FM 1488, about ¾ of a mile then turn right onto Wyatt Chapel Road. The gate to the plantation will be well marked about one mile on the right. Follow the signs. This event will occur rain or shine. Additional information is available on www.liendoplantation.com or www.11texascav.org or by calling (979) 826-3126 or (281) 443-2602.
The home was built in 1853 by Leonard Waller Groce, the son of Jared Groce, on what was originally a Spanish land grant of 67,000 acre. It was named Liendo – for land grant holder Justo Liendo – and was one of Texas’ earliest cotton plantations.
On Nov 21. there will be a living history school day for area elementary and junior high schools.
Connie Hamilton’s “day job” is as a primary school teacher in Alvin, but camp life transforms her into a farmer’s wife of the 1800s.
“I enjoy the unique setting re-enacting provides to demonstrate the details and routines of 19th century America,” she said. “I can see enthusiasm and imagination in the faces of both the children and adults as we have conversations about our camp setting and the civilian life of people in that era. They are having fun while learning.”
Susan Gibson, of Waller, started re-enacting 10 years ago upon meeting her husband, Wil Gibson, Brigadier General of the 11th Texas Cavalry.
“Liendo is special to me because it has so much to see and do. The plantation house gives you that true period of time we are in during the Civil War event, and the demonstrators all throughout the lawn area are incredible,” she said. “The school day on Friday when the school kids come for the Living History is a lesson that can’t be duplicated in a classroom.”
For a brief time after the Civil War, Liendo served as headquarters for Gen. George Armstrong Custer, who disobeyed Federal orders to burn the home to the ground because the family had been kind to he and his wife.
Re-enactors of all ages speak of Liendo as a special place – the house, the grounds, the actual historical import of the plantation.
“My favorite memory of re-enacting is the first time I went to Liendo. We drove in late Friday night. Camp fires glowed, silhouetting the tents and casting shadows in the trees. A blanket of smoke hovered above the camp and, when I got out of the truck, I could hear low, muffled voices of men and the shuffling of restless horses moving on tether lines. It was really like stepping back in time,” Connie Hamilton said.
Civil War Weekend is Nov. 22 and 23. Gates open at 9 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday for the public and the battles are at 2 p.m. both days. Seniors (55-plus) and children ages seven-to-12 pay $5; everyone else, $10.
“We usually have about 1,000 re-re-enactors who portray the cavalry, infantry, artillery and medical branches of service on both the U.S. and C.S. sides,” Lt. Michael Bunch said. “We all work very hard to present this living history weekend in order to earn funds to preserve historical Civil War sites, offer history students at colleges a small scholarship and to support the Civil War Museum located in Spring.”
The restored Liendo Plantation House opens its doors for guided public tours during the living history weekend; an additional fee of $5 per person is required. Besides its distinction as a historic landmark in this state, Liendo also is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was the home of world-renowned sculptor Elizabet Ney.
Liendo Plantation is in Hempstead, 55 miles west of Houston off US 290. Coming from Houston take US 290 north, exit FM 1488 and turn right on FM 1488, about ¾ of a mile then turn right onto Wyatt Chapel Road. The gate to the plantation will be well marked about one mile on the right. Follow the signs. This event will occur rain or shine. Additional information is available on www.liendoplantation.com or www.11texascav.org or by calling (979) 826-3126 or (281) 443-2602.
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