Nebraskaland

July 2019 • Nebraskaland 41 brown. "I kind of feel a sense of duty to get it as historically accurate as possible, because [Fort Atkinson] is there for education. So cutting corners like that wasn't something I wanted to do," he said. "If I had that information I was going to make it as close to how it would have been as possible." It took multiple frustrating tries to make something he was satisfi ed with. But now, with one season of living history successfully under his belt, Gaghagen has begun making clothing for other volunteers. Some reenactors put their own research behind their clothing, studying old paintings, visiting museums, checking out library books, even taking notes from movies like "Pride and Prejudice." And thanks to the Internet, resources are just a click away, and more extensive than ever before. After a certain point, you develop an eye for period accuracy. Fort Kearny State Historical Park volunteer Renae Hunt can watch a historical drama and spot inaccuracies in the clothing; Blazicevich can do the same thing with patterns. As she's discovered, some patterns made by mainstream companies can look vaguely historical, but turn out to be riddled with inaccuracies once you take a closer look. Most volunteers at Fort Atkinson choose clothing patterns made by companies that specialize in historical accuracy, said Denise Wenke of Omaha. Some companies "have actually gone into museums and gotten a chance to get hands-on and take measurements and see where the curves are, which way the seams run," she said. "It's a much better option for me." Sewing period clothing is very diff erent from sewing modern garments, Wenke said. At fi rst glance, the whole set-up can be a bit bewildering, even for an experienced seamstress. "A lot of the seams aren't placed where they are in modern garments, necessarily. There are a lot of curved seams. And the pattern pieces just do not look like what you're used to pattern pieces looking like," she said. "They just had a very diff erent idea of how to cover the human body." After researching, creating and wearing period garments, volunteers often gain a unique perspective into the lives and culture of the people they portray. For soldiers at Fort Atkinson, standing up straight and tall was an important part of their image as military men – something living history volunteers learn as they contend with period-accurate uniforms so tight-fi tting they're unable to slouch. And for Wenke, a volunteer at Fort Atkinson, hand-sewing period clothing gave her insight into the rise of the sewing machine. "After making something by hand you can appreciate why people had fewer changes of clothes in this time period, and why, as soon as the sewing machine was invented, even though the price was sky-high, they were in such demand that communities would band together to buy one." While it's possible to make a living history outfi t inexpensively, some volunteers take it up a notch, investing in custom-made shoes, specially tailored soldier's uniforms, period-style prescription eyeglasses, period-accurate weaponry, and more. It quickly adds up. People portraying soldiers can easily spend $2,000 or more on a full kit. In the end, putting on a handmade, period-accurate outfi t can be a special experience, and it does something valuable for the person wearing it, too, not just the visitors looking at him or her. "Putting that outfi t on runs you right back in time," said Wade Davis of Bonner Springs, Kansas, who portrays an Indian trader and interpreter at Fort Atkinson. "It helps transport you back to the time and place, kind of like an actor preparing for a role." And when the image is complete, the results are pretty unforgettable. N Living history events are held at the following Nebraska state historical parks: Fort Atkinson, Rock Creek Station, Fort Hartsuff , Buff alo Bill Ranch, Fort Kearny and Arbor Lodge. Indian Cave State Park occasionally holds events as well. For more information, visit Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov or contact individual parks. Opposite: Katelyn Reeder of Kearney portrays an upper-class civilian at Fort Kearny State Historical Park. Linda Hendrickson handmade her lace gloves. Ella Vance cuts out a pattern at a sewing party organized by Heather Blazicevich (left), one of the living history volunteers at Fort Atkinson who helps newcomers create their fi rst period ensemble.

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