Thursday, May 28, 2009

Great Event!!

The Loudoun Museum presents

The” Bloody Eighth” Virginia Infantry-
Then and Now

Who: A Special Lecture by Dave Purschwitz,
Historian, 8th Virginia Vol. Inf.

When: Friday, June 5th at 7:00pm

Where: Loudoun Museum
16 Loudoun St SW, Leesburg

What: Mr. Purschwitz will share the riveting story of the history of the Eighth Virginia Infantry and the Battle of Balls Bluff. As a re-enactor in the role of Delegate Robert Eden Scott, he will provide first person insight into this Loudoun County Civil War battle fought on the shore of the Potomac River . Come learn about re-enacting, Civil War camp set-up, & skirmishes and view artifacts from the Eighth Virginia!

Cost: $5 General Admission; Museum Members FREE

Reservations: Seating Limited-Call 703-777-7427

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Check out these DVDs from Inecom Entertainment!

Inecom Entertainment has a wealth of fantastic Civil War DVDs to choose from--time to stock up!

Click on the graphic for information on these titles and MANY more!

Enjoy!

Battlefield Journal

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Lincoln's Final State of the Union Address

By Lincoln’s own Hand: 23 lines from his final State of the Union, at auction in Dallas

Original copy literally plucked from the trash by Superintendent of Public Printing J. D. Defrees in 1864, up for bid at Heritage, June 16-17

DALLAS, TX – A handwritten page from President Abraham Lincoln's December 1864 State of the Union message, an important document that was literally rescued from the trash 145 years ago, is being sold by a Midwestern historical society. Written four months before his assassination, the page with 23 lines written in Lincoln’s own longhand script will be offered to the public through Heritage Auction Galleries (http://www.ha.com/?type=PR-PRTE050809) as part of an auction of Historical Manuscripts, June 16 and 17.

In December 1864, just after he had won a closely contested second term in office and with the nation in the final throes of its bitter, bloody Civil War, Lincoln released his annual assessment of America’s health, and addressed the ongoing conflict.

“... We are not exhausted, nor in process of exhaustion,” he wrote. “... We are gaining strength, and may, if need be, maintain the contest indefinitely.”

Today, if a President even touches a piece of paper it is put under glass, documented and archived down to the minutest detail. When Lincoln wrote his 1864 message, however, the original manuscript was taken to a printer, typeset for printing, reading and distribution to the cabinet, congress and ultimately the national press, and then summarily tossed – literally – onto the dustbin of history. Fortunately for posterity – as documented in Carl Sandburg’s seminal 1949 book Lincoln Collector – “several manuscript sheets were given to various persons by the Superintendent of Public Printing, J. D. Defrees..." (page 190).

It was Defrees who was in charge of the office that typeset the address, and it was Defrees who thought the pages might make good gifts for friends of his. His quick thinking, and hands, saved an important piece of American history that day, a piece of which only 11 fragments survive.

“In this portion of his address we hear an unbending and hardened Lincoln,” said Sandra Palomino, Director of Rare Manuscripts at Heritage. “It was an important message for many reasons, not the least of which was this call for fortitude from Union supporters and Lincoln’s trumpeting of the large popular vote totals he received, especially from enlisted men.”

While the 13th Amendment is not mentioned in the 23 lines that Heritage is offering, it was a large component of Lincoln’s domestic segment of the speech, and played a critical role in his call to arms to the Northern United States to see the Civil War through to its conclusion. Lincoln takes special care to note that “thousands, white and black, join us, as the national arms press back the insurgent lines.”

Research shows that Lincoln began working on this important Annual Message just a week after the Nov. 8, 1864 election by writing telegrams to several governors asking them to "[p]lease send, as soon as practicable, exactly, or approximately, the aggregate of votes cast in your State at the late election. It is desired with reference to the forthcoming Message."

The manuscript comes to Heritage from a Midwestern Historical Society and is accompanied by a 1952-dated, notarized affidavit describing the chain of ownership for this manuscript, from its original owner William P. Doyle, who was Indian Affairs Commissioner under Lincoln, through to the current owner. The story detailed in the affidavit matches exactly the description given by Sandburg in his aforementioned 1949 book.

The most recent of these fragments to appear on the market was in the October 2002 auction of the Forbes Collection of American Historical Documents at Christie's, where the 11-line manuscript (ex. Philip D. Sang) sold for $251,500 (with Buyer’s Premium). That example was the top half of page 39. There is no way to predict when the next offering of one of these manuscripts will take place. It carries a pre-sale estimate of $90,000-$120,000.

“The phrase is, perhaps, overused,” said Palomino, “but this lot truly does represent a rare opportunity to own a piece of history, as well as an artifact from America’s most revered leader.”

For more information on the June Grand Format Rare Manuscripts Auction, to read a detailed description of this, or any other, lot, and to download full-color, enlargeable images, go online to http://historical.ha.com/common/auction/catalog.php?SaleNo=6026&type=PR-PRTE050809.

To reserve your copy of any Heritage auction catalog, please contact Client Services at 1-800-872-6467, ext. 1150, or visit http://www.ha.com/Catalog?type=PR-PRTE050809 to order by email.

Heritage Auction Galleries is the world’s third largest auction house, and by far the largest auctioneer of rare collectibles, with annual sales more than $700 million, and 425,000+ registered online bidder members. For more information about Heritage's auctions, and to join and gain access to a complete record of prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit http://www.ha.com/?type=PR-PRTE050809.



Sunday, May 3, 2009

Frederick County, Maryland is the place to visit!

I used to live in Frederick County and it has deep historic roots. Below is some great news!

Frederick, Maryland – With a past deeply rooted in history and a downtown renaissance underway, it’s no surprise that Middletown, Maryland was selected as one of five cities to receive the Main Street Maryland designation last year. But for those not keeping track, the bigger surprise might be that Frederick County is home to over 20% of the Main Street Maryland communities in the state.

May is National Preservation Month and Frederick County shines as an example of an area that promotes and protects historic resources. “Of all the counties in Maryland, Frederick is proud to have the largest number of Main Street Maryland communities within its boundaries,” says John Fieseler, Executive Director for Tourism Council of Frederick County. Five cities within the county - Brunswick, Frederick, Middletown, Mt. Airy (shared boundaries with Carroll County), and Thurmont - are designated Main Street Maryland communities for their historic significance and commitment to fostering a thriving downtown.

As a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Main Street Maryland encourages economic development within the context of historic preservation. “The program recognizes and assists communities that are committed to their heritage and strengthening their traditional downtown area,” explained Amy Seitz, the Director of Community Access & Partnership for the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. According to Seitz, “In Main Street communities, visitors can expect to find a pedestrian-friendly historic downtown with distinctive architecture, locally owned shops and restaurants, and a sense of community.”

“The number of cities holding the Main Street Maryland designation in Frederick County is a reminder of the incredibly rich historic resources in the area,” says Fieseler. Downtown Frederick received the top honor in this program and was honored as a Great American Main Street in 2005 by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

“Frederick County’s Main Street communities are not only committed to preserving their history and heritage, they provide visitors with a one-of-a-kind experience and showcase some of our best attractions,” says Fieseler. “Within these cities you can find unique shopping and antiquing opportunities, a vibrant arts community, distinctive architecture, and fine restaurants and cafes.” They are also hosts to the many community events and heritage celebrations in the county, including street festivals, music performances, special events, tours, and family activities.

The Main Street Maryland program offers technical assistance to designated communities and also access to grants and funding sources sometimes not available to other cities. By having so many Main Street communities within Frederick County, more of these resources are directed back into Frederick County and help augment the efforts of volunteers and local governments working to preserve and promote these cities.

Main Street communities don’t just offer attractions for visitors; they prove to be areas where residents can find local jobs, goods and services, and entertainment close to home. “Historic preservation within these communities doesn’t just preserve buildings, it preserves the excellent quality of life people in Frederick County have come to expect,” explains Fieseler.

“We see increased investment in Main Street communities,” says Seitz, who points to the economic statistics the state tracks to show the program’s success. “In Frederick County alone, 564 new jobs have been created within Main Street communities, private investment has topped $48,439,594 and over 24,217 volunteer hours have been accrued to help these communities thrive.” Additionally, a strong downtown helps stabilize home prices in surrounding residential neighborhoods, a clear benefit for residents and local governments in this economic downtown, says Seitz.

Another advantage of being a designated city is that Main Street communities have the opportunity to network with one another. According to Kara Norman, Executive Director of Frederick’s Main Street program, the Downtown Frederick Partnership, “It is a great way to learn new ideas, find out about new solutions and, sometimes more importantly, learn what not to do.” Collaboration is key to the success of these cities. “Best of all, the Main Street community is always willing to share information to help make all of the state’s downtowns better places to live, work, shop, and play.”

In Frederick County, Main Street communities are thriving downtowns that serve as anchoring destinations for residents and visitors alike. Visit one of Frederick County’s Main Street Maryland communities During National Preservation Month to discover the area’s rich heritage, architecture, and history.

To plan a visit to Frederick County, visit www.FrederickTourism.org or call (800) 999-3613. For more information about the Main Street Maryland program, visit http://www.neighborhoodrevitalization.org/Programs/MainStreet/MainStreet.aspx.

Main Street Maryland Communities in Frederick County
· Brunswick (Designated in 2004) - www.BrunswickMainStreet.org
· Frederick (Designated in 2001) - www.DowntownFrederick.org
· Middletown (Designated in 2008) - www.Middletown.md.us
· Mt. Airy (Designated in 2004) - www.MountAiryMD.org
· Thurmont (Designated in 2005) - www.ThurmontFirst.com/html/main_street.html

Special Events in Frederick County’s Main Street Communities During National Preservation Month in May

First Friday Night on the Town: Pet-A-Palooza
May 1, 5-9 pm
Downtown Brunswick, MD
Downtown Brunswick celebrates First Friday Night on the Town on the first Friday of each month from 5-9 p.m. with live entertainment, extended store hours, and more. Normally our First Friday’s are meant for the humans, but this time we’re all about man’s best friends. Not just dogs, but all pets. We will even have pet sitters available so you can still shop around downtown.
www.BrunswickMainStreet.org

Mayfest/May First Saturday
Saturday, May 2nd, 10am - 9pm
Downtown Frederick - Market, Patrick, Carroll, and Church Streets including Everedy Square & Shab Row
Enjoy free flowers, live music, children's activities and more throughout the day followed by exhibit openings, guest artists, and special activities in the evening.
www.downtownfrederick.org, 301-698-8118, mainstreet@downtownfrederick.org

Alive @ Five
Thursday, May 14th & 28th, 5 - 8pm
Downtown Frederick - Carroll Creek Amphitheatre
Outdoor happy hour featuring live music by regional-reggae favorite, Jah Works, on May 14 and indie rock music of Silent J on May 28! Enjoy beer, wine and food from downtown restaurants on the banks of beautiful Carroll Creek.
www.downtownfrederick.org, 301-698-8118, mainstreet@downtownfrederick.org