Cruz Nite has been postponed until Aug. 30 because of rain.

 

CHESHIRE, Mass. — This Saturday's Cruz Nite will have a historical twist to mark the town's 225th anniversary: a Civil War re-enactment encampment on the grounds of Cheshire School.

 

Sandra Sloane, a member of the 225th Anniversary Celebration Committee, said she hopes the added events this year will take residents back in time. 

 

"They are going to be firing muskets, they are going to be working with the kids doing drills," she said. "It is going to be pretty authentic."

 

Since 1992, Cruz Nite has brought hot rods and antique cars to the town for residents to admire. 

 

Sloane said the encampment, the 22nd Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry's Company D, will be on the grounds from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and she has also collected information on Cheshire veterans and plans to have this available at the event.

 

"I am going back and collecting all of the names and this information and pictures ... so I will have all of that," she said.

 

Sloane said re-enactors taking on the role of the U.S. Sanitary Commission, a precursor to the American Red Cross, will also be there to conduct hospital cooking and soldier's aid demonstrations.

 

There will also be a vintage baseball demonstration at 1 p.m. by members of the Pittsfield Elms, based on the city's Old Elms team established in 1872. 

 

"They will be using the rules from1886 and most of the guys were on the Pittsfield Elms," Sloane said. "They are all Cheshire boys."

 

There will also be food vendors and activities for children, a 50/50 raffle and a raffle for children's bicycle helmets by the Cheshire Police Association.

 

Gates open at 4 p.m. for Cruz Nite and at 5 and 7:30 there will be a BMX freestyle bike demonstration.

 

The band Shut Up N Dance will take the stage from 7 until 9, when the Chief Choice Awards for the car entrants will be given out.

 

Fireworks follow at 9:30.

 

Sloane urged all residents to attend and said it will be a fun event.

 

"We just thought this would be good and this really goes back to the closing of the school," she said, referring to the elementary school's closure a year ago. "We really needed a lift. We have been doing that all summer and it has been great."

 

For information on upcoming anniversary events: cheshireproud.com.