The old, the young and history
Devyn Campbell stands next to a glass case filled with Civil War artifacts he helped identify at the Boothbay Region Historical Society’s Civil War exhibit. KATRINA CLARK/Boothbay Register
Devyn Campbell shows visitors one of the Civil War coats on display. KATRINA CLARK/Boothbay Register
Leonard Webster (1837-1867), Civil War solider from Maine and an ancestor of Devyn Campbell. KATRINA CLARK/Boothbay Register
Barbara Rumsey, right, talks to researcher Devyn Campbell while his mom looks on. KATRINA CLARK/Boothbay Register
Visitors to the Boothbay Region Historical Society open house study the map of Boothbay Harbor from the early 1800s. KATRINA CLARK/Boothbay Register
Medals awarded to Maine native Charles A. Seavey during the Civil War, on display at Boothbay Region Historical Society. KATRINA CLARK/Boothbay Register
Devyn Campbell stands next to a glass case filled with Civil War artifacts he helped identify at the Boothbay Region Historical Society’s Civil War exhibit. KATRINA CLARK/Boothbay Register
Devyn Campbell shows visitors one of the Civil War coats on display. KATRINA CLARK/Boothbay Register
Leonard Webster (1837-1867), Civil War solider from Maine and an ancestor of Devyn Campbell. KATRINA CLARK/Boothbay Register
Barbara Rumsey, right, talks to researcher Devyn Campbell while his mom looks on. KATRINA CLARK/Boothbay Register
Visitors to the Boothbay Region Historical Society open house study the map of Boothbay Harbor from the early 1800s. KATRINA CLARK/Boothbay Register
Medals awarded to Maine native Charles A. Seavey during the Civil War, on display at Boothbay Region Historical Society. KATRINA CLARK/Boothbay Register
On Saturday, Dec. 7 during the Harbor Lights Festival, eighth grader Devyn Campbell of Boothbay Harbor spent his afternoon at the Boothbay Region Historical Society.
He was there to meet with visitors to the Historical Society's exhibit, “Boothbay Goes to War, 1861-1865,” who wanted to learn more about their Civil War ancestors from Maine.
The exhibit featured members of the Boothbay area who took part in the Civil War, such as Campbell's ancestor, Leonard Webster. The exhibit featured exhibits of artifacts from the war, including a bullet taken from the foot of Sergeant Alden Winslow, who was wounded at Petersburg and was a member of the 1st Maine Sharpshooters.
“They were able to remove the bullet so he didn't have to lose his foot,” Campbell said.
Campbell has spent many hours at the Historical Society going through the Maine Adjutant General’s Reports, which were printed during the war. They contain data on the soldiers, their companies, town they hailed from, rank and regiments.
“He's a very skilled researcher,” said Barbara Rumsey, historian and curator at BRHS. “He has an almost photographic memory, which is very handy for such a project. He is a little sloppy, but I think it's the artist in him.”
Campbell is the son of Nathan Campbell and grandson of June Campbell Rose, both noted local artists.
His mother, Crystal Campbell, stopped by during the open house to watch her son work.
“I'm very proud of him,” she said.
The exhibit was a joint effort of many researchers, who, according to Rumsey, spent over 200 hours compiling information and creating the exhibits. Campbell was able to track down jackets from the Civil War era with help from his grandfather, Rob Clark of Waldoboro.
Campbell spoke to many visitors who were interested in learning about their ancestors.
“I've got plenty of names to keep me busy now,” he said.
“It's nice to get some young blood involved in history,” said Sarah Giles, a trustee of BRHS.
For more information on the exhibit, visit the BRHS website at www.boothbayhistorical.org.
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