15th Annual River of Time

Bay City's historic riverfront becomes home to hundreds of re-enactors

September 25, 2005
By: Stephen Kent

For fifteen years September has been the month for Bay City to step back in time as the Historical Society sponsors the River of Time encampment. Hundreds ofre-enactors, representing the Bay Area's entire historic time line converge on the river front to create a living history display.

Re-enactors and other participants begin arriving on Friday, and students from around the area come for a first hand view of what life was like in the past. Saturday and Sunday is open to the public and admission is free. Visitors can witness historic battles, see how food was prepared, and get a lesson in how our forefathers lived.

The "hobby" of historic re-enacting has a strong following in Michigan. For many of those who participate it becomes almost a lifestyle. Entire families get into the act and become very serious about accurately living in a particular historic period.

Each year the River of Time committee brings in historical impersonators such as President Abraham Lincoln and wife Mary Todd Lincoln. These actors completely immerse themselves in the life and times of their character and essentially become the person.

The historical characters present historic events, like the Gettysburg Address, as well as teaching their character to River of Time visitors. Everyone can enjoy a chance to get up close and personal with an American President or other historical figure.

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Scenes from the 2005 River of Time
Emily Olaughlin, Rachel Mann, Annie Chapman, and friend	Elliot MacFarlane recruits volunteers for MacFralands Company

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2½ year old princess Yasmine Shukait	Michelle Wilson
Native American Mike Scott (Nodin)	Wilderness Map Maker David Thompson (c. 1784-1815)

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Civil War Period	Dennis Haske - VFW Post 7486
Making Rope	Steve Graves and the Williams Gun