Frewsburg Central School District held its first Civil War Day for seventh graders on Monday. The event was in association with the Carroll Rod and Gun Club, the Echoes Through Time Learning Cener, the Fenton History Center and the Carroll Historical Society. P-J photo by Jordan W. Patterson

CARROLL — Shots were fired in the town of Carroll around 10 a.m. Monday morning, though no one was in actual danger. The shots fired were actually in association with Frewsburg Central School District’s first ever Civil War Day.

While an educational day, Tom Place, of the Echoes Through Time Learning Center, wanted students to respect and understand the magnitude of the Civil War, and more specifically the sacrifices that were made.

“War is terrible,” Place said to a pavilion full of seventh-graders, “but never forget what they did.”

Place displayed an Enfield musket used in the Civil War and even showcased a live firing at the Carroll Rod and Gun Club. Also, at the school, Place made Civil War day artifacts available for the students to see.

The Frewsburg students began their day by enjoying various stations set up at the school to give them a taste of the Civil War era. Students were able to hold period artifacts and even some were able to wear Civil War uniforms.

Amy Thompson, history teacher, said Civil War Day was a huge success and that students were particularly excited to actually hold artifacts. The seventh-grade students recently finished the Civil War unit in their curriculum and Thompson wanted give the students a more hands-on experience.

The Fenton History Center and the Carroll Historical Society gave presentations regarding local Civil War soldiers from the town of Carroll. Frewsburg staff set up stations for Civil War medicine and another about cooking during wartime.

“Instead of going to the museum, we brought the museum to them,” Thompson said. “They got to touch artifacts and they got to handle (Civil War items) and see them up close instead of just watching videos or seeing in their textbook or reading about. It really brings it to life more for them.”

Place emphasized the severity of the Civil War to the students. He detailed the job of medical staff during the war and how gruesome battle actually was, specifically the Battle of Gettysburg. While there was only one musket being used during the live firing, Place asked to students to imagine just how loud the sound of a thousand muskets would be during an actual battle.

Following the live firing, the students were then treated to an “educationally edited” version of the movie “Glory.” The film details the experience of the first all-African-American regiment in the Civil War.

Thompson said the “hands-on” experience of Civil War Day really excited the students and was break from the traditional curriculum.

She said the school is looking at its options of bringing Civil War Day back next year but noted that nothing was official.