Wednesday, August 22, 2007
On August 21, 1863, Lawrence experienced the worst civilian massacre of the Civil War. The Watkins Community Museum of History is still remembering Lawrence’s historical role in the war. The museum held “The Civil War on the Western Frontier” events for the past 12 days. The events ended Tuesday with a special discussion with Ken Spurgeon who recently finished a documentary on William C. Quantrill’s raid on Lawrence 144 years ago.
“These Civil War events are the largest for the museum,” said Kerry Lippincott, curator, “But this final night with Ken’s documentary is a good way to go out with a bang.”
Spurgeon visited with the crowd about his upcoming documentary, “Bloody Dawn: The Lawrence Massacre.” The film tells the story of William C. Quantrill’s raid through Lawrence on Aug. 21, 1863. The raid by about 450 pro-slavery soldiers killed about 180 men in the bloodiest civilian attack of the Civil War according to historians.
Spurgeon has taught history at high school and college levels. He said as a teacher he was always shocked how many students came into his classroom and didn’t know anything about the Lawrence raid.
Film Maker Ken Spurgeon talks about Bloody Dawn: The Lawrence Massacre, a film he's working on about Quantrill's Raid during the Civil War, Tuesday night at Watkins Community Museum of History.
“I wanted to make these stories become known,” Spurgeon said.
Spurgeon said he called the film a “docudrama”. He said the film would begin with historians explaining the motivation and execution of Quantrill’s raid, and it would be followed with 20 to 30 minutes of scenes of the raid as it happened without commentary. The film will debut at Liberty Hall on Nov. 1 before it will travel around the state for 10 to 12 screenings. Spurgeon said he was excited to see all the hard work that went into the film.
“Filming is a huge task,” Spurgeon said. “Every detail is essential.”
Spurgeon said the documentary was filmed on a Butler County ranch. Buildings were reconstructed to resemble those in Lawrence at the time of the raid, including two floors of the Eldridge Hotel. The film’s narrator is Buck Taylor, actor from the television show “Gunsmoke” and movie “Tombstone”.
Spurgeon’s daughter, Lauren Spurgoeon, Andover sophomore enjoys helping her father when she can. She said she has played as extras in two of his films, and assisted at lectures. She said her family has always been interested in history, and the role of Lawrence in the Civil War.
“My dad has always been very passionate about history,” Spurgeon said. “I probably am not as interested as he is, but I do enjoy it and think it’s a neat story.”
Audience members watched a short teaser of the film before going to a candlelight vigil in South Park. At the vigil names of all the known victims in Quantrill’s raid were read as historical re-enactors portrayed the event. The Watkins Community Museum of History has done “The Civil War on the Western Frontier” events for the past 12 years.
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