Athens MO, event cancelled

[Mississippian1861]

From Facebook:

"ATHENS REENACTMENT CANCELLED!!
Athens battles and reenactment set for Aug 1-3, 2025 has been cancelled.
I wanted to update you on the Athens battle cancellation. The state changed its rules and informed us 3 weeks before the reenactment, that it now requires a 2 million dollar liability policy for the reenactment to proceed. At that time we had, as we always have had, a 1 million dollar policy. We hurried and added another million dollar umbrella policy to our existing policy, but the state was not satisfied. We were willing to pay almost 900 dollars more for our policy to suffice Jeff City. Chalk it up to unelected bureaucrats on a power quest. My apologies to everyone who planned on attending. We continue to try and work with the state, but it is becoming harder progressively. Please let any fellow reenactors know who might have been planning on attending. I hope to see you in Hermann!
Dave Plummer
President MCWRA"

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

Seen this last night. Very regrettable.

I had hoped to go this event this year, (plans did not pan out). I'd love to do a Missouri State Guard impression at least once, and I've always heard that's a great one to do it at.

Though I think August is a terrible time to do it!

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

The state changed its rules and informed us 3 weeks before the reenactment, that it now requires a 2 million dollar liability policy for the reenactment to proceed. At that time we had, as we always have had, a 1 million dollar policy. We hurried and added another million dollar umbrella policy to our existing policy, but the state was not satisfied. We were willing to pay almost 900 dollars more for our policy to suffice Jeff City. Chalk it up to unelected bureaucrats on a power quest.

I suspect there is a lot more to this story, though what I don't know.

 

[Lampasas Bill]

Really sad to hear. Back in the early 1980's Dickson Stauffer and I, representing Holmes' Brigade and the Missouri Civil War Reenactor's Association, worked with Missouri State Historic Sites to organize the first reenactment at Athens. Up to that time the site's principal event had been a motorcycle hill climb. The battle reenactment soon became a popular event for regional reenactors, depicting the defense of the town by the newly raised 21st Missouri Volunteers against a superior force of local Missouri State Guard. It was reenacted on the original site and culminated with the bayonet charge of the U.S. volunteers to disperse the attacking Guardsmen. It became one of three popular reenactments sponsored by the State of Missouri and the Missouri Civil War Reenactor's Association--Athens, Lexington (battle of the hemp bales) and Pilot Knob--all reenacted on the original sites in alternating years. Sorry to here it's come to this.

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

From Facebook:

"ATHENS REENACTMENT CANCELLED!!
Athens battles and reenactment set for Aug 1-3, 2025 has been cancelled.
I wanted to update you on the Athens battle cancellation. The state changed its rules and informed us 3 weeks before the reenactment, that it now requires a 2 million dollar liability policy for the reenactment to proceed. At that time we had, as we always have had, a 1 million dollar policy. We hurried and added another million dollar umbrella policy to our existing policy, but the state was not satisfied. We were willing to pay almost 900 dollars more for our policy to suffice Jeff City. Chalk it up to unelected bureaucrats on a power quest. My apologies to everyone who planned on attending. We continue to try and work with the state, but it is becoming harder progressively. Please let any fellow reenactors know who might have been planning on attending. I hope to see you in Hermann!
Dave Plummer
President MCWRA"

Darn it.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

Really sad to hear. Back in the early 1980's Dickson Stauffer and I, representing Holmes' Brigade and the Missouri Civil War Reenactor's Association, worked with Missouri State Historic Sites to organize the first reenactment at Athens. Up to that time the site's principal event had been a motorcycle hill climb. The battle reenactment soon became a popular event for regional reenactors, depicting the defense of the town by the newly raised 21st Missouri Volunteers against a superior force of local Missouri State Guard. It was reenacted on the original site and culminated with the bayonet charge of the U.S. volunteers to disperse the attacking Guardsmen. It became one of three popular reenactments sponsored by the State of Missouri and the Missouri Civil War Reenactor's Association--Athens, Lexington (battle of the hemp bales) and Pilot Knob--all reenacted on the original sites in alternating years. Sorry to here it's come to this.

I first heard of the event, or rather read, in an old issue of Civil War Historian I ran across recently and decided, I'd like to go to that event one day.

Amazing story on how it started up. Also apparently reenacting the wooden cannon.