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Saturday Events Page

Vancouver Barracks World War One 

National Centennial Conference

May 25 - 27, 2018

(Last Updated 3 March 2018)

Schedule for Conference Attendees

Schedule of Public Events

 

Saturday May 26th is the busiest day of the Conference.  Activities will last from 8 AM, until 5 PM, depending on attendee participation.  Part of the conference is open to the public, while other parts of the conference are open only to paid attendees.  The open parts of the conference are at the Providence Academy, at 400 East Evergreen Blvd, Vancouver, WA  98660.   

There is a $50 registration for conference attendance for the general public, and $25 for full-time students, tickets go on sale soon.  You can register at the door, on any day of the conference.  If you cannot attend the entire conference, we request a reduced fee.  For conference attendees, the day begins with educational talks on World War One at the Artillery Barracks,  638 Hatheway Road, Vancouver, WA, 98661.  This is in the western portion of the Vancouver Barracks.  The first talk will be given by Dr. Mitchell Yockelson, of the World War One Centennial Commission.  He will talk about the larger issues of the war.  The remaining talks range from technology, people and tactics of the war, as well as activities on the Home Front.  In the case of the Pacific Northwest, the Vancouver Barracks became home to the Spruce Production Division, which oversaw the harvesting and milling of spruce wood, to produce airplanes.  Unfortunately, this activity was connected to national and regional labor unrest, and resistance to America joining the war.  

Following the educational talks, conference attendees are invited to attend a guided tour of the remains of the Spruce Production Division, given by National Park Service archaeologist, Dr. Robert Cromwell.  Following that tour, we recommend attendees travel the short distance to the Academy to attend view historic displays, and attend a 30 minute concert of World War One popular songs by Ms. Cece Otto.

While we had originally planned a formal dinner for the conference, we had to cancel it due to unforeseen difficulties.

 

 

5:30 - 8:00 PM   Conference Dinner and Historic Talk

Sorry, this event has been cancelled.  We are trying to arrange an event mixer  in downtown Vancouver.  Please check back with us as we get closer to the conference.

 

 

Events open to the General Public

Saturday May 26, 2018

With the gracious permission of the Historic Trust, the World War I National Centennial Conference will have displays relating to World War I, inside the Providence Academy.  Because this event takes place over the weekend, not every entrance of the Academy is open.  Please look for the conference signs directing you to the proper entrance.  The displays will be in the first floor reception room.  This event is open to the public, and will remain through Sunday Afternoon, May 26.  The Edwardian Society of Oregon has graciously volunteered to staff the exhibit and organize many activities.  Many other organizations, such as the Historic Trust, the Clark County Historical Museum, and the Clark County Genealogical Society have donated or will loan exhibits for this event.  Some displays and activities include,

    · Family friendly activities such as cooking with rationing, stocking gift boxes to soldiers, and more

    · Reenactors in period clothing and uniforms

    · A replica World War I ambulance

    · Displays of historic household artifacts

    · Historic artwork and newspaper displays

    · Guided tours of the Academy, by Historic Trust volunteers

 

 

 

World War I Song Concert
4:15 - 4:45 PM at the Academy

 

From 4:15 - 4:45 PM on Saturday, there will be a half-hour musical performance by Cecelia Otto. Creator of An American Songline, Cecelia “Cece” Otto has performed all over the country, sharing America's history through song with audiences of all ages. Today she will perform several popular selections from her current program, "The Songs of World War I,” singing the original lyrics audiences enjoyed at the time. 

While the songs Cece perform include many patriotic favorites, Americans regarded the war from a variety of perspectives, all reflected in the songs of the day. Some songs poke fun at military life, while others capture the melancholy of people on the homefront separated from their fighting men overseas. Whatever the subject, Cece performs each song with the original verses intact, just as audiences at the time would have heard them.

From her website: "Cece continues An American Songline with an all-new program from an era of American history often overlooked: our country’s participation in the First World War. While the songs Cece selected for the program include many patriotic favorites — including “Yankee Doodle Boy” and “You’re a Grand Old Flag” — Americans regarded the war from a variety of perspectives, all reflected in the songs of the day. Some songs poke fun at military life, like “Oh! How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning” and “How Ya Gonna Keep ’em Down on the Farm.” Others capture the melancholy of people on the homefront separated from their fighting men overseas, including “Hello Central, Give Me No-Man’s Land” and “Till We Meet Again.” Even pacifism had a voice in pre-war America, and “I Didn’t Raise My Boy to Be a Soldier” sold 650,000 copies in 1915."

Here is a list of the songs she will sing.

  1) It’s a Long Way to Tipperary

2) Sister Susie’s Sewing Shirts for Soldiers

3) I Didn’t Raise My Boy to Be a Solider*

4) Over There*

5) K-K-K-Katy*

6) Hello Central!*

7) We Don’t Want the Bacon* (premiere)

8) Till We Meet Again*

9) How Ya Gonna Keep ‘Em Down on the Farm? (final song/“encore”)

 

 

 

Other Activities at the Vancouver Barracks over Memorial Day weekend

 

Clark County Genealogical Society Conference

Throughout the Vancouver and Vancouver Barracks area, the Clark County Genealogical Society is having a series of seminars on genealogy, including  one on researching World War I records.  Please follow the link in the graphic above to learn more!

 

Open Cockpit at the Pearson Field Education Center 

9:00 AM - 3:00 PM 
at 201 A East Reserve Street, Vancouver WA 98661

A popular event from 9:00am-3:00pm on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. Pilots and planes are available to provide free airplane rides to children 8-17 years old on a first come, first served basis (weather permitting). Visit with pilots, experience their airplanes, and explore the Pearson Field Education Center!

Parent(s) and or legal guardian must be present. Registration begins promptly at 9am, so you might want to get there early.  For children who do not get a ride on this day, there may be rain checks, for a later ride or event. In addition to airplane rides, the Pearson Field Education Center will be open.   A Hot dog vendor will be on-site selling lunch.