The Civil War and Me: The Dome-- Part 4

I also remember picking up a brochure from the Virginia Centennial Commission back then which had had a round, domed building built for the commemoration in Richmond.

It was called the Centennial Dome and also the Virginia Centennial Center. This building looked huge and, even better, it was devoted entirely to the war. This was a place I really wanted to visit, but unfortunately, never was able to.

I didn't even know if it was still standing.

According to Wikipedia, it was designed by Walter Dorwin Teague and one of the most modern buildings ever built in Richmond. Opening in 1961, it served as the visitors center for Richmond's Civil War attractions including the Richmond National Battlefield Park and the Museum of the Confederacy.

After the Centennial, it served as the Jonah L. Larrick Student Center of the Medical College of Virginia Campus of Virginia Commonwealth University until 2007. I remember having to look up where VCU was when they made it to the NCAA's Final Four earlier this month. At least I knew VCU stood for Virginia Commonwealth. I just didn't know where it was, though.

Unfortunately, it was torn down May 2, 2008, (I don't remember reading about it, though) and replaced by the new university dining and recreation facility. I'm glad to see that most of the exhibits are now at the New Market Battlefield State Historical Park in New Market, Virginia.

Guess I'll never get to the Dome. --Old B-R'er

The Civil War and Me: Trading Cards-- Part 3

While looking at the other peoples' memories of the Civil War Centennial, 1961-1965, I came across mention of Civil War Trading Cards. I had forgotten about these. I believe they were put out by the same folks who brought us baseball cards back them, Topps. And they came with a stick of brick-hard gum.

You got five cards for 5 cents. I collected all of them with lots of extras which I traded with pals. If I remember correctly, they were quite bloody with lots of gore. Just what a fifth grade boy would like.

I seem to remember one called "Massacre" with a Union soldier in the foreground, his mouth agape and with a musket and bayonet sticking in his chest.

I have no idea what happened to the collection. Perhaps my mom threw them out. Well. at least that's my story.

Broke Many a Tooth On That Gum. --Old B-Runner

The Civil War and Me-- Part 2--

Back to Jame Malanowski's "My Civil War Centennial."

What the Civil War Centennial organizers wanted, of course, was to promote tourism, commercial enterprise and a little history as well. I'd say they achieved that.

It did cause people across the country, especially those with little knowledge to learn some more about that long-ago conflict. Of course, with people like me, it just farther flamed our interest. However, back then, my finances were very limited, a 50 cent allowance, so I wasn't able to buy as much as I'd like.

However, come birthday and Christmas, I was an easy buy-for. "What do you want?" "Let me see? Maybe something to do with the Civil War."

One thing Mr. Malanowski mentioned that I'd have to agree on was that the black experience in the war was pushed way to the back. I have no memories of anything about them.

At least, this time around, there will definitely be a focus on their role, as it should be.

Plenty More to Write About. --Old B-R'er

The Civil War and Me-- Part 1

Over the next few weeks, I will be writing about the impact the Civil War had on my life.

I found this on the April 13th New York Times Opinion Page "My Civil War Centennial" by James Malanowski.

He said he was eight years old in 1961 at the time of the Centennial. I was almost ten. Like him, my parents took me to several Civil War battlefields during that time. Mr. Malanowski went to the Gettysburg and Antietam battlefields.

He mentioned that he had the Blue and Gray miniature soldiers, collected the Civil War trading cards and watched Johnny Shiloh and Johnny Yuma on TV. I had the soldiers (and think I ended up with two sets). I forgot about the trading cards which came in packs with gum like baseball cards. I know I had all of them at one time, but have no idea what happened to them.

I remember watching Johnny Yuma ("Johnny Yuma was a Rebel, he wandered alone"), but don't remember Johnny Shiloh.

Bringing Back Some Memories. --Old B-Runner

That Fort Sumter Firing Sure Had an Impact on Me-- Part 1

Even to today, the Confederate firing on Fort Sumter has had a profound impact on my life. That is why I became a history/social studies teacher for 33 years. This is why I joined Chicago's Civil War Round Table and why I am a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.

This is why I wanted to write a book on the Battles of Fort Fisher until others did so. I'd still like to write one on General Whiting or Colonel Lamb, the fort's commanders. This is why I majored in history in college and took every history class I could in high school.

While a student at Northern Illinois, I rarely went to the library, but after I graduated, I'd go back and spend hours on end researching Fort Fisher in the library's stacks.

This is why poor wife Liz was dragged to more battlefields than she ever wanted to visit. And, why, even without kids, I don't have as much dough as I might. And, let's not even get into the clutter in my study.

Way Too Much Influence on Me. --Old B-Runner

How I Got Bit by the Civil War Bug

I was born in North Carolina and still living there in 1958 when I was in second grade. We spent time every summer at Carolina Beach which is a short distance north of Fort Fisher.

At one time there were two big white columns near the Air Force Beach with the name Fort Fisher on them and a cannonball on top of each. I asked my dad what that was all about.

He explained that a war was fought a long time ago between the North and the South and this was a part of it.

I had studied the continents and knew about the states in school, so I told him that we must have been on the North's side because we lived in North Carolina and North America. He then had a really hard time explaining to me that we were on the South's side.

That got me to wanting to know more about it. One library book led to another, to another, to another, and so forth until I was totally hooked.

Probably a question I shouldn't have asked, but....

And Now You Know.... the Rest of the Story. --Blockade-Runner