BATH – Sixteen area children came to enjoy a “Pastimes” program at the Bath Visitor’s Center Thursday.

Bea Latham, assistant manager at the Historic Bath State Historic Site, explained some of the background of the event.

“Each year we have a different theme,” she said. “This year the theme was about the Civil War since this is the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. There was not a whole lot of Civil War activity in Bath itself. Most of that was in Plymouth and Washington. So we don’t really have a lot to tell them when it comes to the Civil War in Bath. But we are talking about the causes of the war and how it affected people. We are also trying different related foods to the war.”

“Why would you have bacon on your plate for lunch today?” Latham asked the children at one point.

“Because that’s how the people actually found food,” said one enthusiastic child.

“It looks like it looks because we cooked it on the grill this morning. The people then had to cook it by a campfire, so that is why it was different,” said Latham.

Area kids were able to see Civil War outfits on display. They also sang a variety of Civil War songs such as “John Brown’s Body” and “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” with local resident Jimmy Edwards. They were also hard at work making their own drums to help understand the role that drummer boys played in the Civil War.

The program runs today and is open to children ages 5-10.