To say Terry Rickard is passionate about Civil War history is an understatement. Terry has been doing Civil War reenactments for 50+ years, visiting schools in St. Marys, Curwensville, Clearfield, and West Branch. Not only does he talk about the Civil War, but he also brings in real and authentic equipment from that time. All of his equipment is either from the period, like the weapons, or authentically recreated, like clothing, right down to the thread-count and custom boots with a heel plate. 

With these physical objects, he also brings in many different stories and lessons and tells them to the class. He provides many different lessons that were required to know for soldiers during the war. He shows students how to load and use a muzzleloader, the many different uses of a bayonet, the rules of marching, and everything that came with it, and teaches different lessons about camp life. 

Rickart also brings in food that the soldiers would have eaten. There was meat, hardtack, and some nuts. This was to show the limited diet of soldiers during these times. The students got a chance to experience this in real time, and they had many different reactions to it. The West Branch school district takes its academics very seriously, especially when it comes to history. Mrs. Brickley has upheld this tradition in her US History class for many years and plans to keep it up. Terry Rickard, who resides in Curwensville, has been reenacting The Civil War and its events for 50+ years. He has been doing it all of his life, and he doesn’t plan to turn back.

Mr. Rickard has been a huge help to the students for the purpose of learning about the Civil War. Student Maddex Bickel says, “I loved when he came in, he was a very beneficial part for us to learn about the Civil War. I think that him bringing in the authentic equipment was super cool and it gave me a better idea on what had actually went on during those times.”

Thanks so much to Terry, and we hope he returns for many years to come!

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