Militia encampment planned at Compass Inn Museum

Editor’s Note: This event has been canceled. The Compass Inn Museum and Ligonier Valley Historical Society headquarters are closed as a precaution for two weeks, through Aug. 28, because of an employee’s potential exposure to the coronavirus.

A local re-enactment group that portrays a Revolutionary War-era militia unit and working blacksmiths will greet visitors this weekend at the Compass Inn Museum in Laughlintown.

Hours are 11 a.m.to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday .

While the covid-19 pandemic canceled several other summer events at the restored 1799 stagecoach stop, Proctor’s Militia is expected to demonstrate firing of muskets and a cannon while encamped on the museum grounds.

Visitors will be able to interact with militia members and with others portraying camp followers — wives and sweethearts of the soldiers who performed such vital tasks as washing and mending clothes and tending cattle, according to Theresa Gay Rohall, executive director of the Ligonier Valley Historical Society, which operates the museum.

All visitors will be asked to wear masks. Also, Rohall said, “People won’t be able to get as close as they could in the past. There will be 6-foot barriers.”

Also known as the Independent Battalion Westmoreland County Pennsylvania, the re-enactment group bases its presentations on a militia unit that was formed May 16, 1775, at Hanna’s Town, Westmoreland County’s first local seat of government. The original unit served during and after the Revolutionary War, defending Western Pennsylvania settlers against British and Native American foes.

Area craftsmen demonstrate their skills at the museum’s recreated period blacksmith shop.

Ed Appleby of Laurel Mountain Borough will be on hand Sunday, “working at the anvil and demonstrating the art of blacksmithing,” he said.

He plans to make grill sets that can be used for cooking over a campfire. He’s been getting plenty of orders for such items during the pandemic.

“Everybody wants camping gear because that’s all they can do,” he said.

Rohall hopes to reschedule canceled re-enactments of 19th-century pastimes, including a cricket team and a medicine show.

She acknowledged that visitation at the museum has been slow since it opened for the season (Fridays-Sundays) on June 20. Self-guided tours have replaced docent-led visits.

“We’ve closed the second floor because of two-way traffic and lack of ventilation,” she said. “We did bring a bedroom downstairs so people can see it.”

The militia and blacksmith demonstrations are included in museum admission: $10 for adults, $9 for those age 62 or older and $6 for ages 6-17.

Visit compassinn.com for more information.