SMETHPORT — Smethport will host the 15th annual Bucktail Reunion with a statewide encampment Friday through Sunday at Hamlin Lake Park.

Co. I, 42nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry re-enactors based in Smethport have organized the reunion. Sgt. Clarence Walker, a re-enactor for 32 years, is chairman and Sgt. Tom Nobles and Colleen Nobles are the contact people.

Other reunions have been held in Smethport in 1879, 1915 and 2001.

Col. Thomas Kane traveled from Philadelphia in April 1861, shortly after the bombardment of Fort Sumter in South Carolina to recruit the original Bucktails.

On the day of their departure, one of the new recruits, James Landregan of Eldred, cut a bucktail off a deer that was hanging at a butcher shop across the street from the courthouse and attached it to his hat. As soon as Kane saw this, he immediately realized the potential value of this symbol.

As part of Sunday’s schedule, following the church service in the park, the re-enactors will visit Landregan’s grave at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Sartwell for a memorial service.

A bus will be available for the re-enactors to ride to Sartwell, said Tom Nobles.

The Rev. John Wesley of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Smethport, chaplain for the Bucktail re-enactors, will conduct the field church in Hamlin Lake Park at 9 a.m., using the official 1861 Uniform Soldiers’ Prayerbook.

Friday will be devoted to the re-enactors from across the state to set up the encampment in the park.

The formation meeting will be held at 9 a.m. on Saturday, at which time the re-enactors are to receive their orders for the day.

Music is slated throughout the encampment. From 2 to 4 p.m., there will be an open jam and informal fiddle music and songs. Musicians who participate in the music and jam session are encouraged to wear period clothing, and will receive a free chicken barbecue dinner for sharing their music.

Demonstrations are to be held during the day. Walker said, “We will shoot the cannon several times and explain our uniforms and the camp equipment at this time.”

The McKean County Old Jail Museum will be open during the day.

At noon, re-enactors will place a wreath at the veterans’ monument on the courthouse lawn. The Portville (N.Y.) Bent Brass Band will provide the music for this ceremony.

The re-enactors will assemble at 4 p.m. for the group photo.

Supper is set for 5:30 p.m., with the re-enactors eating at camp, while the public is invited to the chicken barbecue at the firehall on Nelson Street.

The square and round dance on Saturday night begins at 8 p.m. at the Court of Angels on West Main Street and is open to the public. Music will be provided by the Crook Farm Country All-Stars, with calling by Keith Blackmon. Nineteenth century costumes are encouraged, but not required for the dance.

In a July 30th proclamation, Smethport Mayor Ross Porter, also a Co. I PA Volunteer re-enactor, has designated Saturday as “Smethport Bucktail Reunion Day” and encourages “all citizens to show their support for the reunion by displaying our national flag and patriotic bunting vividly and proudly throughout the borough.”

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