“Crossroads of War: The Civil War and the Homefront in the Mid-Atlantic Border Region”

“Crossroads of War: The Civil War and the Homefront 

in the Mid-Atlantic Border Region”

National Endowment for the Humanities 

Implementation Grant for Special Projects Application 

(for the America’s Historic Places Program)

Catoctin Center for Regional Studies, 

Frederick Community College, Frederick, Maryland

February 2005

Narrative

The Request 

The Catoctin Center for Regional Studies is applying to the National Endowment for the Humanities for an America’s Historic Places Grant to use a regional approach to encourage the public to learn more about the historic Civil War sites in the interior Mid-Atlantic region. The Mid-Atlantic region of central Maryland and the adjacent area in neighboring states, encompassing south central Pennsylvania, northern Virginia, and northeastern West Virginia, became a crossroads of Civil War activities between 1861 and 1865.  The goal of “Crossroads of War: The Civil War and the Homefront in the Mid-Atlantic Border Region” is to employ a regional approach and a comprehensive look at the totality of the Civil War experience to give visitors to historic Civil War sites in this region the appropriate tools to learn about these nationally-significant places and events in American history, and to help them explore more thoroughly the broader humanities themes encompassed in the story of the Civil War era in this border region.  The region selected for this project includes some of the most significant battlefields of the Civil War (Antietam, Gettysburg); prominent sites connected to the origins of the war (John Brown and Roger Brooke Taney sites, for example); and historic places that convey both the agonizing divisiveness of war on the homefront in this border region, as well as the difficult healing process after the war.  The “Crossroads of War” region encompasses within a day’s drive a microcosm of the intense feelings and allegiances spawned across the country by the war, including, for example, areas that were predominantly Union in allegiance, others that were predominantly Confederate, and still others that were torn by split loyalties.  This region is arguably the best place in the country to tell such a comprehensive story of the Civil War, through the well-preserved historic places found throughout the region.  Although many of these historic sites are well-known, there is no comprehensive program that weaves this regional story into a coherent narrative, and especially a narrative that emphasizes the significant themes of American history embodied by this broad collection of historic places.  By helping the public traverse and interpret this historic region, and by examining homefront as well as military stories, the “Crossroads of War” project hopes to convey both the importance of this particular region as well as an appreciation for the broader national humanities themes embedded in the region’s historic places.

  The “Crossroads of War” project will accomplish this goal through a series of public programs, most notably a compelling and extensive website.  The website will include the latest scholarship on the history of the Civil War in this region, delivered in interesting ways and in various layers and formats, making the most use of the potential of the web to give viewers choices in how, when, and at what level they see new information.  But the “Crossroads of War” website will go beyond conveying new scholarly information, and will use guided itineraries, historic site information, interactive maps, and collaborations with regional tourism bureaus and historical organizations to both encourage visitors to see those historic places in the region connected to the Civil War and to give them extensive interpretive resources to better understand the sites’ historical significance.  In addition to the website, the “Crossroads of War” project will include a lecture series, co-sponsored by area historical societies; a regional history conference and related publication devoted to the theme of the project; articles in a regional history magazine; guided tours, and educational materials for regional school teachers and students.  The Catoctin Center is requesting $151,749 from the NEH to help support this project.

There are a number of public history projects related to the Civil War in the region, and the Catoctin Center for Regional Studies will work with local National Park Service battlefields, the new Maryland Civil War Heritage Area, local historical societies, regional tourism bureaus, and other organizations to ensure that this project is collaborative in nature and designed to have the most effective impact possible on visitors to the region.  The Catoctin Center for Regional Studies was created in 1998 to help foster the study of the history and culture of the region bounded by this project, and to serve as a clearinghouse of historical information to assist local historical societies, NPS units, tourism bureaus, and other entities interested in the region’s rich history and culture.  Projects such as “Crossroads of War: The Civil War and the Homefront in the Mid-Atlantic Border Region” – collaborative in nature; educational; focused on historic places; and designed to interpret broader themes to the public – are central to the mission of the Catoctin Center.

ANTIETAM NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD

ANTIETAM NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD

1. SAVE HISTORIC ANTIETAM FOUNDATION 

P.O. BOX 550 

SHARPSBURG, MD 21782

PRES. MR. TOM CLEMENS

ESTABLISHED: 1981 

MISSION: To preserve historic property, structures and land within the Antietam Valley. 

MEMBERSHIP: 300+

Save Historic Antietam Foundations (SHAF) is a grass roots preservation group that works to preserve property and structures located across the Antietam Valley and the total field of battle.  They have concentrated their work outside of the Battlefield boundary and been quite successful.

DONATIONS TO BATTLEFIELD: As of Fy01 donations to the Battlefield itself have totaled $35,000+. These funds were directed toward trail construction and structure preservation.  On preservation of lands outside the battlefield boundary they have saved approximately 89 acres from development through purchase. 

TYPICAL DONORS: Mostly individuals, no corporate involvement. 

1. WESTERN MARYLAND INTERPRETIVE ASSOCIATION 

PO. BOX 158

SHARPSBURG, MD 21782

EXEC. DIR. BOB CASEY

ESTABLISHED: 2000

MISSION: To further interpretation of Antietam & Monocacy National Battlefield through operation of not for profit bookstores. 

MEMBERSHIP: N/A

WMIA is the independent non-profit organization that manages and runs the bookstores/museum stores at Antietam and Monocacy. In their first 7 months of operation total sales was $440,000. All donations to the battlefield will be held in escrow until FY02. Anticipated donations to be $65-75,000 annually, and directed toward interpretation and education.  

DONATIONS TO BATTLEFIELD: $0.00

Antietam Partners-Western Maryland Interpretive Assoc.

Electronic Memorandum 

August 6, 2003

To: Regional Director

Deputy Regional Director

From: Superintendent, Antietam 

Subject: Antietam Partners-Western Maryland Interpretive Assoc.

As Antietam and Monocacy National Battlefields continue to move forward in our successful partnership with the Western Maryland Interpretive Association we continue to look for new and innovative methods to support preservation and education oriented programs. Several months ago, I along with several other Superintendents received an e-mail from Julia Washburn of the National Park Foundation recommending a person who was being laid off from NPF and have served as a fundraiser for them. I passed the resume on to Bob Casey, Executive Director of WMIA. 

Several days later he came to see me and we discussed the resume of Kurt Redenbo, Kurt has worked in the fundraising arena for NPF, Sierra Club, and National Wildlife Federation and had grown tired of the commute to DC. As luck would have it he lives in Hagerstown. A decision was reached that WMIA would interview Mr. Redenbo for a position with WMIA as an Outreach/Fundraising Coordinator. The interview was successful and Kurt started working for WMIA in late May, 2003. 

Since then he has developed a campaign through WMIA known as “Antietam Partners” which has several formats: 

1. Marketing of National Park Pass through WMIA. Purchasers of the National 

Park Pass at Antietam NB will become an “Antietam Partner”; they will receive a membership in WMIA, a 10% discount in the museum store, and newsletters of battlefield information and updates. The goal of this portion of the program is to increase 70% Fee Demonstration Receipts for Antietam. 

1. Enhancement of the Adopt A Monument: Since 1997 Antietam has 

Had a Adopt A Monument Program through the Cultural Resource Division. Since then we   have raised approximately $32,000 dollars from individual donations. This portion of the program calls for more active donor recognition, and information distribution through WMIA concerning projects completed or undertaken through the program. In addition several local corporations/banks/commercial endeavors have contacted WMIA concerning funding projects. 

1. Enhancement of Adopt a Cannon: Since 1998, Antietam has had an Adopt a Cannon program managed through the CRM division, $17,000 dollars have been raised through individual, group donations and one grant. The idea here is similar to #2, but will concentrate more on Civil War Roundtables and other organized groups. 
2. Cooperative Efforts with Washington County Travel and Tourism groups, economic development councils, local businesses to promote the National Battlefield & surrounding Federal and State sites and to increase the benefits of Heritage Tourism in Central and Western Maryland. This portion of the program has shown limited success with an area soft drink distributor and the local Holiday Inn Express. Each group is exploring options with WMIA to provide donations to the National Battlefield in support of the Education and Interpretive Programs. 
3. Also in development is a “Education Program Wish list”, obviously this is not he final name but it will provide visitors to the Antietam Partners/WMIA web site the opportunity to support small projects for the Education Program. 

(Example: 1000 copies of the Flags that Talk Program-$50.00) This will become a part of the enhanced WMIA-Antietam Partner’s Web Site.

1. Volunteer in the Park recruitment. Using the Golden Gate Model, WMIA will 

work with local companies to create volunteer work teams to take on specific projects at the Battlefield. (Trail Maintenance or Construction, Exotic Vegetation Removal, Fence Construction, Painting, etc…) 

1. Finally the development of the above mentioned “Antietam Partners” Home 

Page and Web Site with links from WMIA and the National Battlefield.

Although the “Antietam Partners” program is in its infancy we feel quite strongly that it will provide additional revenue and in kind services for the continued preservation and interpretation of Antietam. Sometime this fall I would like to offer to provide a detailed briefing on the entire program and hopefully some of its initial success. 

J.W. Howard

Superintendent 

BRIEFING (#3): NATIONAL MUSEUM OF CIVIL WAR MEDICINE-ESTABLISHMENT OF INTERPRETIVE AND EDUCATIONAL SITE ON ANTIETAM NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD.

February 9, 2005

Antietam National Battlefield

6^th Congressional District (MD)

BRIEFING (#3): NATIONAL MUSEUM OF CIVIL WAR MEDICINE-ESTABLISHMENT OF INTERPRETIVE AND EDUCATIONAL SITE ON ANTIETAM NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD.

Background: The National Museum of Civil War Medicine is a non-profit museum and educational facility located in Frederick, Maryland. The museum is highly respected among the medical community and civil war enthusiasts. It contains the largest collection of period and medical implements and is an affiliated with the Smithsonian.  Over the past four years staff at Antietam has worked successfully with the staff of the NMCWM on a variety of interpretive, educational and heritage tourism programs. Annual visitation to the National Museum site in Frederick is 75,000 visitors, but due to its urban location they lack space to conduct living history interpretive programs and on site education programs.  Over 13 years ago the National Museum approached the NPS to base its entire museum and collection at Antietam, but at that time the effort failed. 

SUMMARY:  On 6/21/2004, the Superintendent of Antietam NB met with Mr. George Wunderlich, Executive Director of the National Museum of Civil War Medicine to discuss the establishment of an education and interpretive facility near Antietam. 

Mr. Wunderlich and his staff have been in discussions with a local landowner concerning the rental of a historic property for this facility. The discussions had reached an impasse due in part of financial issues and expectations on both sides. During this meeting, I suggested we tour the Joseph Pry House as a potential site for the annex museum. The Pry House and Farm is a large three story brick house, located just off of Maryland Route 34, east of Sharpsburg. The house served as Union General George McClellan’s Headquarters on the day of the battle, but it also served as a hospital site for many weeks/months after the battle. The house was partially destroyed by fire in the 1970’s and has been restored by the National Park Service. Its last administrative use was as quarters for park employees in the early 1990’s.

The adaptive use of the house and barn would allow space for site specific Antietam interpretive exhibits, room for living history displays (exterior), and use of the barn as an educational/group facility. All interpretive exhibits/displays will be approved by the NPS but funded by the National Museum. The NMCWM will also assume costs of utilities, and routine maintenance. The NMCWM is addressing their donor base for funds for overall maintenance of the structure. The National Park Service will continue with scheduled repair/rehab and cyclic maintenance projects for major upkeep of the structure.

Both organizations will benefit from exposure to increased visitation and interpretive/educational opportunities. Savings to Antietam from transfer of utility costs alone is estimated (using 2003 figures) to be $12,000. 

Working with staff of the NMCWM, Mr. Tom McConnell, and Maria Lurie of the Solicitors Office, a 5 year Cooperative Agreement has been developed and within two weeks will be finalized.  With signature of the final agreement the National Museum anticipates opening the Pry House Medical Museum on April 28, 2005. 

Letters of project support have been received in this office by:

Senator Barbara Mikulski (MD)

Senator Paul Sarbanes (MD)

Congressman Roscoe Bartlett (6th District-MD)

Gregory Snook, Chair-Washington County Commissioners

Thomas Riford, Executive Director, Washington County Convention/Visitors Bureau

Brien Poffenberger, Executive Director-Washington County Chamber of Commerce

Senator Donald Munson (Washington Co-MD)

Delegate Chris Shank (Washington Co.-MD)

J.W. Howard

National Museum of Civil War Medicine- Establishment of Interpretive and Educational Satellite Site on Antietam National Battlefield.

June 23, 2004

Antietam National Battlefield

6^th Congressional District (MD)

BRIEFING: National Museum of Civil War Medicine- Establishment of Interpretive and Educational Satellite Site on Antietam National Battlefield.

Background: The National Museum of Civil War Medicine is a non-profit museum and educational facility located in downtown Frederick, MD.  The Museum is highly respected in the medical community and among Civil War History enthusiasts. It contains the largest collection of period medical implements and is affiliated with the Smithsonian.  Over the last four years Antietam National Battlefield has worked with the staff of the National Museum to cooperate on interpretive, educational and heritage tourism programs. The Museum has conducted educational programs on the National Battlefield in the past. Annual visitation to the National Museum site in Frederick is 75,000 visitors, but due to the urban location they lack space to do living history interpretive programs and on site education programs.  Over 12 years ago the National Museum approached the NPS to base the entire museum and its collection at Antietam, but at that time it did not work out. 

Summary:  On June 21, 2004 the Superintendent of Antietam National Battlefield met with Mr. George Wunderlich, Executive Director of the National Museum of Civil War Medicine, Frederick Maryland to discuss the establishment of a satellite education and interpretive facility near or on Antietam National Battlefield. 

Mr. Wunderlich and his staff have been in discussions with a local landowner concerning rental and use of a historic house for this facility, the house is located within the legislated boundary of the National Battlefield. There discussions had reached an impasse due in part to financial negotiations and expectations on both sides. Mr. Wunderlich had requested the meeting to provide a briefing to the Superintendent on ongoing negotiations and to address a potential long-term partnership to place the facility on the battlefield.  

During the meeting I took Mr. Wunderlich and his staff to tour the Pry House and Barn, which is located off Maryland Route 34 northeast of the core Battlefield. The Pry House is a large brick, two-story house that served as Union General McClellan’s headquarters on the day of the Battle. It also served as a hospital site after the battle. The house was partially destroyed by fire in the 1970’s and then restored. It currently is used for the housing of interns when necessary. 

The adaptive use of the house and barn site would allow them space for site specific (Antietam) interpretive exhibits, room for living history displays (exterior) and use of the main room in the Barn as a inclement weather education site. I believe such a partnership would be of benefit to the battlefield visitor, provide preservation of this structure and enhance heritage tourism efforts in Western Maryland. 

They will continue there negotiations with the local landowner over the next 10 days, if they are not successful Mr. Wunderlich will again contact this office to set additional meetings to continue discussions. 

National Museum of Civil War Medicine

Mr. George Wunderlich, Executive Director 

Ms. Kari Turner, Education Director

Mr. Ryan Rokicki, Curator

National Park Service

J.W. Howard, Superintendent 

Antietam National Battlefield 

PO Box 158

Sharpsburg, MD 21782

301-432-7648

  

Support for Fort Ward Park

June 20, 2008

Dear Congressman Moran,

Earlier I wrote to you and asked that you support a request for funding in the 2009 Farm Bill.  The funding would be used by the America the Beautiful Fund to make free vegetable seeds, stored at Ft. Belvoir, available to residents and communities in the 8th District of VA, as well as in other communities.   It is exciting to know that District 8 is the home for this national service center at Ft. Belvoir to help people help themselves to eat healthier and save money.

I received your reply about two months ago and wanted to know where the bill stands now?

I appreciate your support for this funding and think that these services are more important than ever given increased food costs and the need for people to eat vegetables that are healthy.

I also wanted to know where your request for funding for Fort Ward Park in Alexandria stands.  From earlier correspondence I understand that you requested funds for Fort Ward Park in the 2009 DOI-EPA Appropriations bill.  Could you let me know where that funding request is?

Many of us live adjacent to Fort Ward Park and the City needs federal funds to help local interest protect, conserve and manage this important area.

Thanks for you leadership and initiative.  I appreciate the work you and your staff do.

Sincerely,

Glenn Eugster

Marlboro Estates, Alexandria, VA., Safety & Crime Update April 5, 2008

Marlboro Estates Safety & Crime Update

April 5, 2008

Prepared by Glenn Eugster (glenn_eugster@comncast.net)

4022 Ellicott Street, Alexandria, VA. 

703-845-8947

The following is a summary of recent activities and discussions underway in the Marlboro Estates neighborhood to address safety and crime issues that were raised by many of you last year and this year.  If you have questions, comments or concerns please let me know by responding to this e-mail at: glenn_eugster@comcast.net

Coffee with Cops Meeting to Discuss Crime Prevention: In response to concerns about attempted burglaries, car thefts, and burglaries in our area the Alexandria Police Department has assigned Captain Hassan Aden to work with us to prevent crime in Marlboro Estates.  A number of residents met with Captain Aden and Chief Baker in January to discuss concerns we raised in the petition we sent to the Mayor and City Council last year.

Since our meeting the Police Department has increased patrols in our neighborhood and Ft. Ward Park.  They have also made us more aware of services that the Department offers to advise residents on how to make their homes secure.  Captain Aden has offered to meet with us to discuss what they have done and will do to make Marlboro Estates safer.  He and his officers would also like to talk with us about what we can and should do to keep our homes and streets safe.  If you would like to attend the meeting with the Police Department please let me know.

Neighborhood Watch Group:  In an earlier note I asked you if you wanted to participate in a Neighborhood Watch.  Some of you expressed interest.  However, very few residents indicate a willingness to participate in such an effort.  Until there is more interest in forming a neighborhood watch group we won’t be able to such an effort.  If you are interested in participating in a neighborhood watch group, and haven’t let me know, please send me a note.

Ft. Ward Park Expanding Solid Waste Disposal & Maintenance Area:  Despite the concerns of our residents and adjacent homeowners the Alexandria Parks Department has expanded its solid waste collection and maintenance vehicle storage activities in Ft. Ward Park adjacent to the properties along Ellicott Street and the Oakland Baptist Church Cemetery. FT. Ward Park is now collecting garbage and brush from five other parks, the City Library and elementary schools.  Brush and garbage are left in open containers near our residences and homeowners have continued to complain about increasing problems with rats, city and contract workers (some of who are work release prisoners) looking into people’s homes, noise from maintenance vehicles and solid waste trucks, unsightly views, terrible odors, and impact to the historic Oakland Baptist Church Cemetery.

Residents have continued to express written and verbal concerns to the Parks Department and City Council about these continuing problems and a number of residents met with Parks Department and Seminary Valley Association officials to request that the dumpsters be removed and the maintenance yard be screened and cleaned.  

In response to neighborhood concerns about the city-wide collection of solid waste at the park a complaint was filed with the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Solid Waste Enforcement Office.  The Commonwealth is continuing to discuss the concerns with city officials.

Discussions are also underway with Councilman Wilson’s office, Councilman Krupicka’s office, and the Seminary Valley Association to urge the City to take responsive action to address homeowners concerns about these problems.  The Parks Department leaders have taken some steps to clean up the maintenance yard and Roger Blakely, Deputy Park Director, has committed to creating a buffer between the maintenance yard and the homes along Ellicott Street. 

If you would like more information on the Ft. Ward Park maintenance yard issues please contact me.

Fort Ward Museum’s Annual Civil War Camp Day that will take place on Saturday, June 13, 2015 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Fort Ward Museum’s Annual Civil War Camp Day that will take place on Saturday, June 13, 2015 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.


May 9, 2015


Dear Residents:

I am writing to notify you about Fort Ward Museum’s annual Civil War Camp Day that will take place on Saturday, June 13, 2015 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  This living history event has been staged at Fort Ward for many years, and this year will be promoted as part of the City’s concluding anniversary events for the Civil War 150th commemoration.

As in past years, the program will feature Union and Confederate interpretations of camp life, drill demonstrations, fort tours, and a variety of other military and civilian living history presentations and activities.  The day’s schedule will also include rifle and cannon firing demonstrations at several specified times.   As in other living history events at Fort Ward when firing demonstrations are staged, reenactors have been instructed to reduce powder charges to minimize noise levels.  Reenactors from outside of the immediate area will be camping overnight in Fort Ward Park on Friday and Saturday nights in designated areas near the historic fort, and will be instructed by City staff about observing Park rules and regulations.

Also, please note that to ensure the safety of our visitors and smooth event logistics, the Park will be closed to public vehicles and other recreational activities on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Arrangements will be made for street parking on West Braddock Road, with additional parking for reenactors and the public at St. Stephens/St. Agnes School.  Event parking will not impact residential side streets in the area.

If you have any questions about the event, please contact me at 703-746-4848, or email me at susan.cumbey@alexandriava.gov.

We hope to see you and your neighbors at this annual Civil War living history event!

Best regards,
Susan G. Cumbey
Museum Director