LAKEPORT, Calif. – When the defending Bass Bowl Champion Clear Lake High School varsity football team walks onto the Kelseyville High Schools home field on Oct. 26, it will encounter more than just the Kelseyville football team.
They will be looking down the barrel of a Civil War cannon.
The Bass Bowl Committee has announced a cooperative effort with the California Historical Artillery Society (CHAS) to bring Civil War living history to Lake County the week of the Bass Bowl.
“We wanted to have a Civil War cannon at the Bass Bowl to commemorate the Sesquicentennial of the Civil War,” Bass Bowl executive director Phil Smoley explained. “They needed additional event staff at their upcoming Civil War Reenactment in Duncans Mills. So we negotiated a ‘win-win’ deal where they will be getting extra staff help from Lake County for their ‘Civil War Days’ and they will bring a artillery team for the Bass Bowl to fire after each touchdown, and then do living history demonstrations the next day.”
At last years Bass Bowl in Lakeport, the cannon fired after every score, startling the overflow crowd.
“But the score was 7-3, so it did not get to fire very often,” Smoley said. “Hopefully there will be more scoring at this years game so we can give these guys a work out.”
On July 14 and 15, the quaint north coast town of Duncans Mills, Calif., will become the fields of Virginia circa 1863.
“Civil War Days” is one of the largest reenactments west of the Mississippi. The event will give visitors the opportunity to interact with the soldiers and civilians of the Civil War and witness the camps of the Union and Confederacy.
Visitors will see how civilians lived and served with the armies of 1863, in what was referred to as the first “modern war.”
This will be an event that will not only serve as an educational experience, but an unforgettable trip that will delight audiences of all ages.
The Bass Bowl Committee committed to providing 30 “man-days,” or an average of 10 workers for each of the three days the CHAS needs help.
“Friday, the 13th, is the set up day, and then the next two days will be the actual event,” according to Bass Bowl President Rob Ishihara. “They need staff to help with setting up, parking, collecting entrance fees, hauling off garbage, bringing hay and water to the horses, and other needs. There will be plenty of time for event staff to enjoy the event and watch the battles. It’s light work, and it will be rewarding, educational, and it will be helping with Lake County athletics. We need volunteers to fulfill our part of the bargain.”
Besides historical reenactments, the CHAS is involved with horse rescue. They use Standardbred trotters rescued from California’s tracks and retrains them as artillery horses. These horses now live on a lush 40-acre ranch in the Salinas Valley.
They presently use more than 30 horses that were destined for an unpleasant demise. These ex-trotter race horses, typically of no use to anyone, are discarded at auction by the pound.
They are used exclusively by CHAS and given a second chance at life in the service of the “Army.” Horse enthusiasts can help support them by “sponsoring” a favorite horse and contributing toward its care.
In addition to bringing Civil War history to Lake County, the Bass Bowl is planning a series of events leading up the big rivalry game between the Clear Lake High Cardinals and the Kelseyville High Knights.
Events include a Kiss My Bass Pageant fundraiser, and a Bass Bowling event at Lakeside Lanes. Net proceeds of these events are to be split between the two schools athletic departments.
“Funding for local sports programs is nearly non-existent,” according to Bass Bowl Commissioner Boone Bridges. “Without strong local support, they will go away, and that would be a disaster. These events will go a long way to keep these schools athletic programs going.”
The “Civil War Days” event is just minutes from the ocean, along the Russian River.
“The location is beautifully forested, with lots of hiking trails,” Smoley said. “We can use all the help we can get. It is the perfect opportunity for a family to volunteer to help while learning about history. Students can earn community hour credits, too!”
Volunteers and event staff will be camping next to the event grounds.
To volunteer to assist in this event, contact Phil Smoley at 707-264-4905 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
