March 1999 Buffalo

As a high school student at Parkersburg South, Deanna Abbott stumbled upon a book with Civil War-era photos. "I had no idea those types of photographs existed," recalls Abbott. "So I had to find out for myself."

In the years since, Abbott has been collecting photos of grim-faced women in their Civil War finery. In these pictures, the women almost always have their mouths shut, and some have the lips turned down. (Smiling at the camera was a custom which developed much later, well into the 20th century.)

picture courtesy of the Charleston Gazette, August 11, 1999

Deanna Abbott will show her collection of Civil War-era portraits and photos such as these at the Craik-Patton House's Civil War Weekend on Saturday and Sunday.

Who are they all? Abbott seldom unlocks that mystery. "They wind up in dusty boxes in antique shops. No one knows who they are. Family members seldom identified them."

Abbott will bring her photos to the Craik-Patton House on Kanawha Boulevard East near Daniel Boone Park Saturday and Sunday for the Col. George S. Patton Memorial Civil War Weekend.

The two-day event, which runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, will include living history portrayals, Civil War exhibits and displays, and tours of the historic Craik-Patton House. House tours are $3. All other events are free.

The 36th Virginia Infantry will re-enact the two-month Confederate occupation of Charleston in 1862, presenting drills, camp life and skirmishes.

Local historians Richard Andre, Steve Cunningham and Beth White, Jack Dickinson, Brian Kesterson, Terry Lowry, Tim McKinney, John Wideman and William Wintz will sell their Civil War books.

Abbott, now 29, never embarked on a career other than the Civil War, and her speech lapses into an antiquated lingo. "I'm self-employed. I have a small Civil War-era sutlery. I'm a merchant. I sell Civil War millinery, women's hats and bonnets."

This weekend, she'll wear a big hoop skirt and a straw hat. Her mother, Sharon, with whom she shares a Parkersburg apartment, will dress in period garb as well. They'll display Deanna's photos and sell the hats and bonnets which Deanna has sewn.

Deanna frequents flea markets, antique shops and Civil War shows, always looking for old photos she can buy cheap. "I don't collect them for value. I collect them for research for my business."

She takes her goods to six or seven Civil War re- enactments each year. Can she make a living doing this? "Barely," she says. "Barely by the skin of your teeth."

She also displays Civil War-era clothing she has bought but doesn't sell. She collects too much, she concedes. "That's why I'm poor."

To contact staff writer Bob Schwarz, call 348-1249.

These pictures were taken by Terry Wass for the 36th Virginia, Company A.
If you use or borrow a photograph, please give the 36th Va, Co A credit.

If you have questions or comments, please contact me at tmwass@msn.com, or
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