Supporting the History Groups

While I was at the McHenry County Historical Society Museum in June, I joined this esteemed group.  I am a big supporter of all kinds of historical groups.  They need the membership and the money even worse in these days of the virus because if you ever noticed, most history people are also old, including myself.

I also belong to quite a few history groups myself:

ILLINOIS

McHenry County Civil War Round Table

The McHenry Area Historical Society (The City of McHenry)

The Fox Lake/Grant Township Historical Society

Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp Douglas Camp #516  (Chicagoland area)

NORTH CAROLINA

Wayne County Historical Society

Old Waynesboro Park (Goldsboro, Wayne County)

Friends of Fort Fisher  (Kure Beach)

Federal Point  Historic Preservation Society (Carolina Beach)

NATIONAL

National Trust for Historic Preservation

American Battlefield Trust

So, as you can see a put my money where my mouth is and support these worthy organizations.

--Old Secesh

Friends of Fort Fisher Attend Elmira (NY) Prison Dedication

From the July 2, 2017, Star Gazette  "Letters: Out of Town Praise for Elmira Civil War Camp" by Tom Fagart.

July 23-24, 2017, the Friends of Elmira Civil War Prison Camp in Elmira, New York, dedicated a restored original prison camp building and also held a memorial service in the Woodlawn National Cemetery, where many of the Confederate prisoners who died there are buried.

It was attended by a number of people from North Carolina and other Southern states, including eight members of the Friends of Fort Fisher.

Mr. Fagart is a member of the Friends of Elmira Prison Camp.

Elmira Prison existed from July 6, 1864, to July 11, 1865 and was dubbed "Hellmira" by the Confederate prisoners held there.  In just over 12 months, 2.970 of the 12,100 held there died of malnutrition, exposure to harsh weather, sanitary conditions, lack of medicine and disease.

Many of the dead were captured at Fort Fisher January 15, 1865.

--Old B-Runner

It's a Holiday Open House at Fort Fisher

This Tuesday, December 6th from 10 to 5.

Seasonal refreshments and entertainment will be provided and the museum will be decorated.

The Leland Christian Academy elementary school band will perform at 11 am. At noon, songs and stories of blockade-runners (Hey, that's me!) by noted historian and singer John Golden (AKA Captain Roberts) will follow at noon.

Then actor/interpreter Joyce Grear (AKA Harriet "Moses" Tubman will tell stories of the black experience in the Cape Fear area associated with Christmas.

The Murray Middle School Jazz Band will perform holiday selections at 1:30.

Special discounts are available at the Fort Fisher Museum store. The event is sponsored jointly by the Friends of Fort Fisher (to which I belong) and the Fort Fisher Chapter No. 2325 of the United Daughters of the Confederacy.

I'd sure like to be there, but alas, live too far away. And, I really should not go near that museum store.

A Good Time at the Fort. --Old B-Runner

Friends of Fort Fisher Annual Meeting This Saturday

I just joined this group this past summer. As a big Fort Fisher fan, how could I not join.

From the Wilmington Gives Back,Org.

This Saturday, Nov. 12th the Friends of Fort Fisher (FoFF) organization will hold their annual meeting.

Lunch will be served and accomplishments over this past year will be celebrated as well as plans for the future discussed. It is open to members (Hey, That's Me) and guests. The FoFF is a non-profit support group.

North Carolina Deputy State Archaeologist Mark Wild-Ramsing will give a speech about the upcoming 50th anniversary of the NC Underwater Archaeology department and the project that started it, the discovery of and recovery of thousands of objects from the blockade-runner Modern Greece in 1962.

A new Modern Greece exhibit is slated to open at the Fort Fisher Museum ay the Jan. 12th battle observance on the 147th anniversary of the Second Battle of Fort Fisher at which it was captured.


Wish I Was There. Maybe Next Year. --Old B-R'er

Joined FOFF: Friends of Fort Fisher

Friday, I drove from Topsail Beach to Fort Fisher, around 45 miles.  I hadn't been to the fort for quite a few years since we've been going to Topsail Beach because that is where Mom has her townhouse.

Part of the distance is that we are seven miles down Topsail Island from Surf City.  And the Wilmington area has horrendous traffic.

I took a walk around the museum and looked at the store which has a lot of great books on Fort Fisher, blockade-running and the Wilmington area during the war.I had already intended to join the group before I even came down after reading about the things they do for Fort Fisher.

I took the guided walking tour of the fort with a very knowledgeable man, but found out that even though he volunteered his time for the tours, he was not a member of FOFF.

It cost $25 to join, and one immediate benefit was being able to buy items from the museum store for 25% off.  I bought the new Chris Fonveille book on the photographs of T.H. O'Sullivan of Fort Fisher taken after it fell.

As a Fort Fisher Fan, I Sure Had to Join This Great Organization.  --Old B-Runner

Friends of Fort Fisher Thank Rep. Justice

From June 11th WECT, Wilmington, NC.

Cannon fire and applause greeted State Representative Carolyn Justice (R-New Hanover County) at Fort Fisher on June 11th. The Friends of Fort Fisher group thanked her efforts in stopping a proposed budget cut of 15% to the NC Department of Cultural Resources which oversees sites around the state, including Fort Fisher.

Had it gone through, eight sites would have closed and six others operations would have been seriously curtailed.

Justice said that it was important to keep history alive.

Thanks Rep. Justice. --Old B-Runner

Fort Fisher Looking for Park Day Volunteers

From the March 9th Wilmington (NC) Star-News.

From 8:30 to 1 pm Saturday, April 2nd, volunteers are needed to help beautify and preserve Fort Fisher.

Park Day is in its 15th year and created by the Civil War Preservation Trust organization. Costs are funded by History (former History Channel) and endorsed by the Take Pride in America, a division of the US Department of the Interior. (Park Day also takes place at Civil War sites all over the country.)

Volunteers, age 10 and up participate and it is appropriate for scouts, service clubs and church groups.

At noon, volunteers will be treated to lunch provided by the Friends of Fort Fisher, a non-profit group.

Maybe they will get Britt's Donuts!!!

Let's Go Clean Up That Fort. --Old B-Runner

Friends of Fort Fisher Elect Directors and Officers

From the Dec. 28th Wilmington (NC) Star-News.

This is an organization I definitely have to look into joining.

The friends of Fort Fisher, a nonprofit support group for the fort, held their first membership meeting recently.

Site improvements over this last year were highlighted.

Retiring Board members Gehrig Spencer and Henry Payne were recognized.

Two new directors were elected:

James Carper, a retired engineer of the US Army Corps of Engineers and retired NC National Guard brigadier general.

Kemp Burpeau, deputy New Hanover County attorney and former member of the NC Historical Commission.


Retiring Board Chairman Peter D'Onofrio was recognized for his many years of board and site volunteer service.

Gehrig Spencer, former Fort Fisher site manager (whom I met on several occasions), in recognition for his many years of service, was awarded the first-ever Honorary Life Membership.

Officers elected for 2011:

R. James MacLaren, chairman, Wilmington
Earl Lauz, secretary, Kure Beach
John Coble, treasurer, Wilmington

A Great Organization. --Old B-Runner