REHABILITATION OF OLD DORM TO BECOME FLAGSHIP OF BATTLE ANNIVERSARY
When Samuel Simon Schmucker oversaw the building of the “seminary edifice” atop Oak Ridge on the western edge of Gettysburg, PA, he could never have known that this building would one day be called “the most important Civil War structure not owned by a public entity.” Nor could he have anticipated the importance of his voice in the debates over slavery, or the strategic value of the cupola in the first day of battle, or the hospitalization of more than 600 soldiers, or the fact that it may have been a distinguishing marker of a nearby station on the underground railroad.
But these undeniable factors weighed heavily in the decision of the Seminary Board and its subsidiary Seminary Ridge Historic Preservation Foundation (SRHPF), and the Adams County Historical Society (ACHS) to move ahead on a $12 million project to rehabilitate and adaptively reuse the building.
The joint venture will create a state of the art museum that includes an interpretation of the under-told first day of the Battle of Gettysburg, July 1, 1863 from the pivotal site of the most intense fighting; the Civil War hospital in the building that was the largest fixed field hospital at Gettysburg; and the civic, moral, social and religious issues that not only divided but also inspired our nation in the 19th century. Also expected to be interpreted in the exhibit content is the African American experience in a border county, the early integration and activism of antislavery voices, and other lived history of the time.
What has enabled the joint venture, called Voices of History, to move forward is the alignment of critical funding support from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, including $4 million from the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) and a $1 million grant from the federal Scenic Byways program. Major support will also come to the project in the form of new market and historic tax credits (approximately $3.5 million). Funds raised from other sources will permit the museum, and the Seminary, to avoid the burden of long-term financing.
Em Cole, former Vice President for Seminary Advancement, now serving as Executive Director of “Voices of History,” has worked with both partners to develop the plans and design of the project. From the early phases of the project, Mr. Leroy Kline and the staff of Delta Development provided crucial assistance in the efforts to identify significant sources of support. Cole stated that “ACHS and the Seminary hopes to complete the project before July 1, 2013, which is the 150th anniversary of the battle and the projected grand opening of the museum. This project is viewed by local and national leaders as the jewel in the crown of the 150th anniversary observances.”
Architects, National Park Service superintendents, exhibit designers, public officials and historians alike have commented on the richness of the content of the planned museum exhibits, designed by PRD Group in Chantilly, VA. Bradley Hoch, ACHS representative to the project, remarked that “Gettysburg’s Seminary of 1863 presents a study in human conflict. It is a monument to our past and a lesson for our future. It is suffering and sacrifice; honor and heroism; remembrance and reconciliation. It is a cherished heirloom that we bequeath to our children and to all who come after.”
One of those notable stories is the fact that pre-war students from North and South lived and learned, discussed and debated side by side. From 1835 to 1837, they shared Old Dorm quarters with Daniel Alexander Payne, the earliest African-American to receive a post-graduate education in a Lutheran school. Nearby, behind Schmucker’s house, stood a small barn that served as a stop on the Underground Railroad for freedom seekers from the South.
The rehabilitation of Schmucker Hall is the last remaining project included in the 1999 Gettysburg “Interpretive Plan” outlining the priority projects for the Borough designed to provide enhanced historical experiences for visitors to the National Military Park and the town. Gettysburg’s Seminary Ridge Museum in a rehabilitated Schmucker Hall now becomes the flagship forplanning for the 150th commemoration of the famous battle taking place in 2013.
The Historical Society will be moving temporarily into Wolf House, a large Queen Anne style house on the corner of Middle Street and Seminary Ridge. Plans call for further joint venture fund raising to erect a building to house ACHS and also serve as expansion of seminary archival space. ACHS began its move on November 1st with the hope that Morgan Keller Construction Company and other contractors will have access to Old Dorm (Schmucker Hall) by mid-December.
Cole emphasized that fund raising continues for the project, with a goal to raise roughly $2.5 to $3million to enable the museum to open debt free. Readers who know of interested persons who might support the project should call 717.357.8613 or write
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.
Seminary President Michael Cooper-White said that “For a dozen years, the Seminary has aspired to utilize our unique campus environment more creatively as a tool for “public theology” and expanded national visibility. With nearly $8 million now available from state and federal government grants and tax credits, the governing boards have said ‘go for it,’ and construction work on this ambitious project will begin in the coming weeks.”
The Virginia Civil War 150 HistoryMobile is a traveling history museum designed by historians from the Virginia Historical Society and the
National Park Service and housed in a 53-foot expandable tractor-trailer. The HistoryMobile uses state-of-the-art technology
and immersive exhibit spaces to present individual stories of the Civil War from the perspectives of those who experienced it—young and
old, enslaved and free, soldier and civilian.
Inside the HistoryMobile, imagine the war from a soldier's perspective, hearing for a few moments the sounds of battle; listen to
the words written by a mortally wounded son to his father. Step into a fine house in Fredericksburg and read the letters of the child who
lives there. Wander into a slave cabin and listen to a conversation between enslaved people as they decide whether to run to freedom. Use
interactive displays to consider the real Civil War era decisions of real Virginians. Ponder how much was lost in the war—lives, homes, and
families—and how much was gained by the newly freed and reunited American people.
The Civil War made its mark on Virginia, more than any other place. The HistoryMobile carries this rich history to the counties, towns,
and cities, and to battlefields, fairs, parks, and schools across Virginia. In September 2012, the HistoryMobile will travel to Maryland
for the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Antietam. A project of the Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission, the
HistoryMobile is free and open to the public and has already received more than 20,000 visitors.
To learn more about the Civil War 150 HistoryMobile and to see where it's going next, visit www.HistoryMobile.org.
CORNER OF MAIN ST. & STATE ST.
Georgetown, Ohio
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Edwin Cole Bearss, a United States Marine Corps veteran of World War II, is a military historian and author known for his work on the American Civil War and World War II eras and is a popular tour guide of historic battlefields. He served as Chief Historian of the National Park Service from 1981 to 1994.
Mr. Bearss will be speaking on “THE EBBING TIDE” GETTYSBURG AND VICKSBURG Time: 1:00 PM - MUSIC • 1:30 PM - MR. BEARSS Date: SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2012 TICKETS: $10.00 available at the BAILEY HOUSE - 937-378-3087 AND PURDY & RING - 937-378-4119
Tours available by appointment of Grant's Home and School
Please call 937-378-3087 for tour reservations!
Commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the American Civil War
Newport News, Va. – Living history demonstrations, lectures and re-enactments will offer a glimpse into Civil War life, as Newport News, Va., commemorates the war’s sesquicentennial through 2015!
Experience the “Battle of Hampton Roads Weekend” at The Mariners’ Museum, held annually in March to mark the anniversary of the historic clash between the USS Monitor and CSS Virginia. It was March 8, 1862, when the CSS Virginia destroyed the USS Cumberland and the USS Congress in a battle that showed the supremacy of iron over wood. The following day, the Union ironclad Monitor met the CSS Virginia in a battle that – though fought to a draw – changed the very nature of naval warfare worldwide. The 2012 weekend observance, to be held March 9-11, will feature living history encampments and demonstrations, 19th century music and games, amateur radio station W4M, plus more! www.marinersmuseum.org.
While at The Mariners’ Museum, take time to tour the USS Monitor Center. One of the premier Civil War attractions in the country, it’s the perfect place to re-live the Battle of Hampton Roads. Walk the deck of a full-scale replica of the USS Monitor, try your hand at maneuvering a sailing frigate, and build your own virtual ironclad at the USS Monitor Center.
The Mariners’ Museum is also presenting a special lecture series throughout 2012 focusing on the Civil War. Topics include “Launching a Ship, Launching a Sanctuary” on Jan. 28; “African-American Sailors on the USS Monitor” on Feb. 18; “The Battle of Drewry’s Bluff” on May 19; “The Monitor and the Appomattox Raid” on June 23; “Heat, Mosquitoes, and a Gouty Captain: The Ironclad Life on the James” on Aug. 11; and “The Monitor at the Washington Navy Yard” on Oct. 20. www.marinersmuseum.org.
The 150th Anniversary Commemoration of the Peninsula Campaign will be held at Endview Plantation in Newport News the weekends of April 14-15 and April 21-22. The first weekend will feature a living history program, where soldiers will re-create the beginning of the Warwick-Yorktown Siege, preparing fortifications and showing what life was like in the trenches outside of Yorktown. The following weekend, see the sights and hear the sounds of a Civil War battle as hundreds of re-enactors converge on Endview to recreate battles fought 150 years ago. Enjoy talks, demonstrations, battles and camp life. www.endview.org.
Also being held at Endview Plantation in 2012 are “Children’s Civil War Camps,” which are planned for June 25-28 and July 23-26. Students 8 to 13 can learn about America’s rich military heritage, teamwork and leadership skills. Experiences include camp life, drills, battles and basic soldier’s equipment. www.endview.org.
Finally, don’t miss the Civil War van tours departing from Lee Hall Mansion. Topics include “Defending the Southside” on March 17; “In the Steps of Robert Sneden” on April 7; “Battle of Williamsburg” on May 19; “The Seven Days Battles” on June 16; and “Stuart’s Ride Around McClellan” on July 21. www.leehall.org.
Visit us in Newport News this year and experience firsthand the stories of the American Civil War. Call 888-493-7386 for details or visit us on the web at- www.newport-news.org
Discovering The Civil War Exhibition Now Open at the Houston Museum of Natural Science!
Layers of time and memory obscure the American Civil War in a smoky haze. The real human beings, military and civilian, who lived through these years of travail and sacrifice, are lost to us, but the records they left behind give us a pathway back to the past.
The National Archives holds millions of records, both Union and Confederate. Discovering the Civil War draws on these letters, diaries, photos, petitions, and patents to give visitors a chance to walk in the shoes of researchers in unlocking secrets, solving mysteries, and uncovering unexpected events from this pivotal point in our history.
The exhibit is divided into 12 thematic areas that combine great original treasures, engaging touch screen interactives and social media tools, selected to illustrate the breadth of the conflict and to ask, “How do we know what happened?”
Each area is anchored by an original document, and all the records become powerful tools that let visitors consider and ask questions about evidence; listen to a wide variety of voices; and make up their own minds about the struggle that tore apart these United States.
Exclusively at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the second portion of Discovering the Civil War is comprised of a special companion exhibit, Discovering the Front Line: Highlights from the Nau Civil War Collection.
Houstonian John L. Nau, III has amassed one of the largest private collections of Civil War historical artifacts in the country. For the first time ever, an array of these documents, letters, photos, weapons, military accoutrements, equipment and uniforms will be on display, giving visitors a vivid glimpse into the world of the courageous soldiers willing to sacrifice their lives. This section of the exhibition is organized by the Houston Museum of Natural Science and the Nau Civil War Collection.
The third portion of the exhibit is dedicated to the battle for control over the port of Galveston and, in particular, the role played by the USS Westfield. Scuttled in 1862, and dynamited in 1906, the ship was rediscovered in 2005 and excavated in the following years.
Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } Visitors will learn where the ship was built, the brief role it played in the West Gulf Blockading Squadron, and how it met its demise in the waters around Galveston. The Houston Museum of Natural Science is indebted to the Naval History and Heritage Command Underwater Archaeology Branch for permission to present some of the items recently retrieved from the wreck site with the help of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston District and ably restored by the Center for Maritime Archaeology and Conservation at Texas A&M University.
For more information about the Houston Museum of Natural Science and special exhibits, please visit-www.hmns.org
Discovering the Civil War was created by the National Archives and Records Administration and the Foundation for the National Archives. Local support is generously provided by United Airlines, HMW Entertainment, IBERIABANK and Vinson & Elkins LLP.
Houston Museum of Natural Science is indebted to the Naval History and Heritage Command Underwater Archaeology Branch for permission to present some of the items recently retrieved from the wreck site with the help of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston District and ably restored by the Center for Maritime Archaeology and Conservation at Texas A&M University.
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Also being held at Endview Plantation in 2012 are “Children’s Civil War Camps,” which are planned for June 25-28 and July 23-26. Students 8 to 13 can learn about America’s rich military heritage, teamwork and leadership skills. Experiences include camp life, drills, battles and basic soldier’s equipment. .jpg)
Layers of time and memory obscure the American Civil War in a smoky haze. The real human beings, military and civilian, who lived through these years of travail and sacrifice, are lost to us, but the records they left behind give us a pathway back to the past.
