Sunday, August 30, 2009

One of Only Two Military Installations Built Upon a Battlefield

By Jo Adail Stephenson and Kevin Bennett

Blue Grass Army Depot Preserves Civil War Battle Site for Future Generations

Two historical markers now commemorate the area on Blue Grass Army Depot where the critical phase of the Civil War Battle of Richmond, Kentucky took place on August 30, 1862. An engagement resulting in more than 2,100 battle casualties, it was the scene of the most complete Confederate victory of the war. The crushing defeat of the Union Army opened up Kentucky and the Ohio River to the invading Confederates.

Laying fallow for over 60 years, a significant part of the battlefield lay within the bounds of the Depot, which was built in 1941-1942. One of only two military installations built upon a battlefield, it was not until recently that research and archeological surveys fully revealed the extent of what occurred on the property. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994, the battlefield has yielded a wealth of artifacts associated with the battle which has contributed greatly to determining the movements and positions of the various units. Many of these artifacts are on loan to The Battle of Richmond Visitors Center/Museum, formerly Old Quarters 29 (the Depot commander's house), said Nathan White, the Depot archaelogist and cultural research manager. This building, which is listed on the National Register, had fallen into disrepair and was donated several years ago by the Department of the Army to Madison County as part of their effort to restore the battlefield.

More than 100 attendees participated in the recent dedication, which was the result of cooperative efforts of the U.S. Army, Madison County officials and a local group of historically-minded local citizens organized as the Battle of Richmond Association. "The Depot is very much a part of the local community and it was important for us to partner with local government and historical organizations to preserve this battlefield area," said Blue Grass Army Depot Commander Col. Joseph Tirone. "While this site represents a significant landmark of local and state history, it is more than that--the story of what happened here in August 1862 is also the Army's story," Tirone said.

"It is a story that began with the birth of our nation and continues to this day, a story of Americans, both men and women, who put on their country's uniform, follow its flag, perform countless tasks of selfless service and who are called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice in defense of their nation. It is only fitting and proper that the Army play a role in preserving this special piece of history and in helping ours and future generations remember what happened here," he said.

Funds used to pay for the markers and the restoration work were generated by recycling scrap metal at the Depot through the Qualified Recycling Program (QRP) managed by the installation's Morale, Welfare and Recreation Office.


"It's a success story of properly disposing of waste, benefiting the community and saving taxpayers dollars by being good environmental stewards of Depot land and resources," Tirone said. Plans are also underway to construct a recreation pavilion and interpretive walking trail near the battlefield.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Liberia House Tours

Three Manassas Historic Treasures Open For Tours
Liberia Mansion Opens Her Doors, September 12, 10 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Manassas Industrial School/Jennie Dean Memorial/Lucasville School Tour,
September 13, 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.

Three historic sites which played a major role in the area’s Civil War and African-American history will be featured in tours sponsored by The Manassas Museum on September 12 and 13.

On Saturday, September 12, Liberia Mansion, one of the area’s most significant structures during the Civil War, will offer a first-ever free open house from 10 a.m. to
1 p.m. The grand old house, built in 1825 and a now a part of the Manassas Museum System, is currently in the midst of renovations to restore the property to its former glory when it served as headquarters for both Confederate and Union officers.

The first floor of the house and the surrounding grounds will be open to visitors. Docents will be on hand to answer questions about the home’s extensive history. New exhibits about the restoration and Liberia’s architecture will be shown for the first time. Liberia collectibles will be available for purchase.

This historic home, built in 1825 by William J. Weir, served as the headquarters for Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard before the Battle of First Manassas. Beauregard abandoned the house in the winter of 1861, but it quickly became the headquarters for Union General Irvin McDowell prior to the Battle of Second Manassas. President Abraham Lincoln was said to have eaten ice cream on the back porch of Liberia while visiting with McDowell.

After the Civil War, some of the Weir family returned to Liberia, but were not able to restore the plantation to its former glory. In later years the Weirs sold the property to prominent Alexandria brewer Robert Portner, who developed Liberia into a successful dairy farm. I. J. and Hilda Breeden, who bought Liberia in 1947, donated the property to the Manassas Museum System in 1986.

Although there is no admission fee, visitors are asked to obtain a ticket. The free tickets are available at the Museum, by emailing jriley@ci.manassas.va.us or by calling 703-368-1873.

On Sunday, September 13 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., visitors will learn about Jennie Dean, the former slave who established a ground-breaking school for African-Americans. The presentation will be at the Manassas Industrial School/Jennie Dean Memorial, (9601 Wellington Road, Manassas, VA 20110).

The Museum and the Prince William County Historic Preservation Division have added a new tour this year at the restored historic African-American Lucasville one room school house, (10516 Godwin Drive, Manassas, VA 20112).

After almost a decade of fundraising by Dean, the Manassas Industrial School for Colored Youth was chartered on October 7, 1893. With funds solicited from the Manassas area and from philanthropists in Boston, New York, Baltimore, and Washington D.C., Jennie Dean was able to purchase 100 acres and establish a private residential institution providing both academic and vocational training within a Christian setting.

The school’s first building, Howland Hall, was completed in time for the dedication ceremonies led by Frederick Douglass on September 3, 1894. Over the next four decades, despite numerous setbacks from catastrophic fires, the school grew. By the turn of the century, over 150 students studied academic subjects as well as vocational skills such as carpentry and sewing. The school became a regional high school for African-Americans in 1937. The present-day Jennie Dean Elementary School and the Jennie Dean Memorial are on the site of the Manassas Industrial School.

Former Manassas City Council Member Col. Ulysses White will speak about Jennie Dean, life at the Industrial School, and the preservation efforts that turned the site into a memorial. Tickets for the tour and presentation are $5 per family or $3 per person and can be purchased in advance or on the day of the event.

After the tour at the Manassas Industrial School/Jennie Dean Memorial, the nearby Lucasville School will be open for free tours.

Lucasville School is a reconstructed one-room school dedicated to interpreting post-Civil War African-American education in Prince William County, Virginia. Lucasville School is Prince William County's only extant one-room school built for African-American children. Some Lucasville School teachers may have trained at Manassas Industrial School.

In 1870, Virginia's Legislature established a statewide system of free public schools for all citizens. The Manassas District School Board authorized an elementary school for the Lucasville neighborhood in November 1883, and the school was finished by March 1885. Lucasville School closed in 1926. The building was moved in the1930s and remained intact until it was dismantled in 2005. By then, the structure had deteriorated.

Between December 2005 and February 2008, Lucasville School was dismantled and reconstructed through the efforts of citizens, County officials and Pulte Homes, Inc. The Prince William County Historic Preservation Division opens the school for special tours and events.

Tickets for the Jennie Dean tour are available at the Manassas Museum, 9101 Prince William Street, online at www.manassasmuseum.org or by calling 703-368-1873. No ticket is needed for the Lucasville School tour.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Brentsville featured on GhostHunters!

This is exciting news!



Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre will be featured on the nationally televised TV show, Ghost Hunters. The show is scheduled to air on the SyFy Channel, on Wednesday, August 19, 2009 at 9:00pm. The show will be a two part episode, with Brentsville featured in the second half of the show. Ghost Hunters follows Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson of the Trans Atlantic Paranormal Society (T.A.P.S.) team as they investigate paranormal activity in locations across the United States.

Purportedly haunted, the Brentsville site was chosen because of all the reported activity around the historic area by the local community and visitors to the site. The T.A.P.S. team visited in the spring to conduct their investigation of the site and for filming of the Brentsville episode.

Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre consists of nearly 30 acres of park land, five historic structures that interpret the cultural and natural history of Brentsville and Prince William County. Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre is located at 12229 Bristow Rd., Bristow, VA 20136.

Monday, August 10, 2009

FREE MUSEUM DAY!



What a great offer!

On Saturday, September 26, 2009, the National Museum of Civil War Medicine will participate in the fifth annual Museum Day, presented by Smithsonian magazine. A celebration of culture, learning and the dissemination of knowledge, Smithsonian’s Museum Day reflects the spirit of the magazine, and emulates the free-admission policy of the Smithsonian Institution’s Washington, DC-based properties. Doors will be open free of charge to Smithsonian magazine readers and Smithsonian.com visitors at museums and cultural institutions nationwide.

Last year, upwards of 200,000 people attended Museum Day, with all 50 states plus Puerto Rico represented by over 900 participating museums, including 84 Smithsonian affiliate museums. This year, the magazine expects to attract over 1,000 museums.

“It is always important to work together with other Museums in the surrounding area and it is great that the Smithsonian steps up and creates events like this to promote that needed comradery between institutions. We are honored to participate in this year’s event.” said Robert Burton, Director of Education.

Visit www.smithsonian.com/museumday to download your Museum Day Admission Card. Attendees must present the Museum Day Admission Card to gain free entry to participating institutions. Each card provides museum access for two people, and one admission card is permitted per household. Listings and links to participating museums’ can also be found at www.smithsonian.com/museumday.

About Smithsonian Media
Founded in 1970 with the launch of Smithsonian magazine, Smithsonian Media—comprising Smithsonian magazine, Air & Space, goSmithsonian, Smithsonian Publishing Digital Network, Smithsonian Books and advertising for Smithsonian Channel—allows the intellectually curious to indulge and engage their passions for history, the arts, science, the natural world, culture and travel. Smithsonian Media’s flagship publication, Smithsonian magazine, has a circulation of more than two million. This multimedia network is also affiliated with the world’s most visited museum and research complexes at the Smithsonian Institution. For more information, visit http://www.smithsonian.com/, http://www.airandspacemag.com/, and http://www.gosmithsonian.com/.

Monday, August 3, 2009

Letter from David Smith, President of the Civil War Round Tables of Massachusetts

It was finally a warm spring Sunday evening on April 26, 2009. There were 160 people gathering at The National Archives-Boston facility at 380 Trapelo Rd. in Waltham to honor Professor James M. McPherson with the 12th Captain Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. award for his entire body of work education and preserving our American History. They were led into the building with the music of Amoskeag Music, who also performed a few more times before and during the dinner.
Sadly, Professor McPherson became seriously ill with atrial fibrillations and heart arrhythmias five days before the dinner as he returned from one of his many trips around the country lecturing and promoting the 200th birthday of our 16th President, and had to cancel his personal appearance. His doctors forced him to cancel all of his other scheduled events for the foreseeable future, including the Harvard Symposium that weekend at the Boston Public Library. Despite knowing this, as a result of many emails and telephone calls, no one cancelled out or demanded a refund. This is a great tribute to the historians in this area.
The evening was still a magnificent success and everyone enjoyed themselves and all of the speakers and ceremonies. This organization is still receiving accolades from the attendees. A recent email from Professor McPherson again expressed his regrets and how he was (in his words) "blown away by the beauty and impressive good taste of the award," and "the honor that the Civil War Round Tables have done me." This Holmes Award was specifically designed for Professor McPherson to celebrate the Bicentennial of Lincoln's birth.

(Photo of the Holmes Award courtesy of David Smith)

The evening began with the Posting of the Colors by the 54th Mass. Regiment Volunteer Infantry, the Mass. Sons of Union Volunteers of the Civil War, and the Salem Zouaves. The Master of Ceremonies was Jack Williams who has been with Channel 4 TV in Boston as their main newsman for over 30 years. Jack is also a lover of history himself and creator of his "Wednesday's Child Foundation." One of the Archives employees, Jamimie Flanagan, a young lady with a beautiful voice, sang several times for us which thrilled the audience.

Professor Thomas Turner of Bridgewater State College and associated with the Mass. Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission which also co-sponsored the evening, stepped in at the last minute to give a wonderful 30-minute presentation on "Lincoln in New England." Also speaking was Mr. Thomas Mills, the Assistant Archivist at the Washington DC National Archives. Historian Jay Hoar did a short presentation on Captain Oliver Wendall Holmes, Jr. Diane LeBlanc, the Regional Administrator of this facility, served as our official host.
As President of The CWRTs of Mass., I gave the official welcome, followed by our Mayor Jeanette McCarthy, who also gave us her welcome. Before we ended, our Vice-President Al Smith led us in a moment of silence for two of the Greater Boston members who passed away recently, Denis Griffin and Frank Tucker, both long time members who each left their footprints on our history. Al then gave Frank Tucker's son Kevin, the present State Commander of the Mass SUVCW, a flag to honor him. Denis Griffin's flag was sent to his widow; no one from his family being able to attend.
The Captain Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. Award began in 1987, and is a product of the combined Executive Boards of The Civil War Round Table of Greater Boston and the Civil War Round Table of Central Mass. Shortly after this, the CWRT of Greater Boston began adding Round Tables at their request to become the Current Civil War Round Tables of Massachusetts and will soon have more additions. This award has become nationally known with past recipients being Jerry Russell, Edwin Cole Bearss, Annie Snyder, James Fahey, Ken Burns, John Hennessey, Dennis Frye, Robert E. "Ted" Turner, James I. "Bud" Robertston, Dr. Robert Pamplin, Jr., The Civil War Preservation Trust (James Lighthizer accepting), and this year to Dr. James M. McPherson.
Named for one of the most favorite of Massachusetts sons and brilliant Jurists here in the Bay State, on the United States Supreme Court, it is now one of the most prestigious of awards.
This year's award was given in abstentia by Robert Hall, who has given all of the awards to date. Bob is a lifetime member of the CWRT of Greater Boston and currently the President of the Olde Colony Civil War Round Table in Dedham, MA, as well as a member of the Lincoln Commission in Massachusetts.
This awards dinner had attendees from every CWRT in Massachusetts represented along with The Chamberlain CWRT, The Capital District CWRT of New York, the Hartford CWRT and many historical societies, genealogical societies, museum and veterans' organizations. We also had several guests from other honored organizations.
Respectfully Submitted,


David L. Smith, President,
The Civil War Round Tables of Massachusetts (est. 1957)