Civil War Christmas events

Ohio reenactors! Looking for family Civil War period activities this holiday? Don't forget these locations and dates!

Hale Farm and Village - Bath, Ohio
Holiday Lantern Tours
December 1, 7, 8, 14-16, 19-23
Reservations: http://www.wrhs.org/Properties/Holiday_Lantern_Tours

Farnam Museum - Richfield, Ohio
The Spirit of Christmas Past - A Farnam Family Holiday
December 7, 8, 14, 15, 22, 28, 29
Reservations: http://www.olhs.org/2012/11/the-spirit-of-christmas-past-farnam.html

Birney's Division 2013 Event Schedule

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Birney's Division Annual Meeting, in person or on the conference call, last Friday in Gettysburg. So many of you have been giving feedback throughout the year about events for 2013 and we are happy to have boiled it down.

You can review the 2013 event calendar for the organization at http://www.birneysdivision.org/schedule. Not all websites for next year's events have been updated so please keep checking back. For LARGE events such as the 150th Gettysburg (July 4-7), take a moment to review the registration deadlines as listed on their website.

If anyone has questions regarding events on the schedule, please contact your Battalion Commander or staff member.

A note from Colonel Smith, 2d Battalion HQ:

You will also notice that the schedule is broken down into events where the Division is participating as a whole, and regional events where our two infantry battalions are involved individually. Last year, 2nd Battalion's schedule including an inordinately large number of events. In many cases, we were unable to attend Division activities because of scheduling conflicts. After feedback from various units, the 2d Battalion staff fleshed out a schedule with an equal focus on Division and regional events. The staff felt that this, as well as concentrating on a smaller number of events, would enable stronger participation by member units.

As you will also note, 1st Battalion has a Spring Muster planned for April. At this time, the 2d Battalion staff is discussing the best approach for this season's early training. Participation in Spring drills has been poor over the last few years and the staff wants to provide the best instructional solution. More to follow.

Prelude Events To Offer Unique and Special Opportunities

From the 150th Gettysburg Anniversary Committee:

In the process of attempting to facilitate additional and unique opportunities for Reenactors as part of the 150th National Reenactment, Command Staff and the Gettysburg Anniversary Committee have been working to secure a few special venues for skirmishes on historically significant property. These skirmishes will occur the weekend prior to the event. This is the same group of individuals that were able to set up skirmishes on Baltimore St. and the Seminary property last year as an opening to the 150th Anniversary in Pennsylvania.

We are proud and honored to announce at this time there will be a two skirmishes at the Seminary on Saturday morning June 29th and Sunday afternoon June 30th associated with the 150th Gettysburg National Civil War Reenactment. Also, on Monday morning July 1st at 8:00 a.m. we will be providing troops and artillery for a First Shot Commemoration on Seminary Ridge; and at 10:00 a.m. for the Official Opening Ceremonies of the Gettysburg Seminary Ridge Museum. There will also be some limited camping and living history opportunities on Seminary Ridge. Schmucker Hall -- deemed by many as the most historic building in Gettysburg, with its iconic cupola and the historic exchange between Generals Buford & Reynolds -- has undergone a meticulous historic $15 million renovation to become The Gettysburg Seminary Ridge Museum. Besides being utilized as an observation post the Old Dorm housed approximately six-hundred dying and wounded from both armies with over seventy succumbing to their wounds in the building. The museum will feature three floors of exhibits that include interpreting the First Day Battle that swirled around the building, Civil War Medicine as the largest Field Hospital in Gettysburg during the battle and Civil War Religion that both inspired and divided our nation in the 19th century. Tours of the cupola, four major video productions, twelve original commissioned murals, sixteen audio programs and interactive children's stations. There are also plans for some exterior interpretative opportunities such as the Barricade to the west of the museum.

We are also working with the Hunterstown Historical Society and landowners to provide a "Battle of Hunterstown" cavalry opportunity in Hunterstown. "Springing the Trap" will be Saturday afternoon/evening June 19 or Sunday morning June 30.

GAC Is Highly Respected For Eighteen Year History Of Community Event Responsibility, Planning and Execution

The Gettysburg Anniversary Committee (GAC) is known in this historic community for unsurpassed event planning and execution. They have been routinely permitted by Freedom, Cumberland and Straban Townships, 18 years in a row. Each year, planning details become more improved and effective. This year is no exception. In fact this year planning has voluntarily reached even higher levels due to the scope of this 150th National Event. Besides the normal coordination of inter-agency planning with other local/state agencies and entities, GAC is also coordinating their planning with the Department of Homeland Security, the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Pennsylvania Emergency Health Federation.

Working with these agencies, in addition to all the other agencies GAC normally works with, takes a significant amount of extra commitment and time. Even with that elevated level of planning - the entire process is almost complete. As a result, both Cumberland & Straban Townships have already issued Letters Of Intent to GAC for the July 4,5, 6, and 7 150th National Event. Included below are excerpts of those letters from both townships Code Enforcement Officers expressing their intent to issue the permits and their utmost respect for the level of planning, permitting and execution performance that has been obtained over the previous eighteen years.

Straban Township

Our office is familiar with the event and the event management as well as the planning involved, coordination and local support. We have reviewed similar events in the past for your organization and have found the planning and execution of those events to be exemplary. Please consider this letter as our indication of Straban Township's intent to issue the necessary permits and approvals providing that you have completed a successful review of all necessary submittals. 

We appreciate your attention to the necessary planning and execution detail and look forward to working with you and your staff on this historically significant and culturally important anniversary. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.

Cumberland Township

Please consider this as your Special Event Permit Letter of Intent in regard to the 150th Gettysburg Anniversary National Civil War Re-enactment scheduled for July 4 thru 7, 2013. Your past performance over many years of re-enactments in Cumberland Township has shown excellent compliance regarding our requirements and for the safety of the participants and the general public. Upon formal review of your 2013 application you will receive the final permit at that time. We look forward to working with you on this and any other future endeavors.

Remembrance Day Commanding Generals Events

150th National Reenactment Commanding Generals Allen Baldwin (USA) and Brian Gesuero (CSA) welcome all military senior staff and unit command, for a post Remembrance Day Parade social and information gathering event at the Reliance Mine Saloon in the Quality Inn on Steinwehr Avenue across from the Wax Museum. Please join the Generals for a beverage and conversation from 2:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. or immediately following the parade. 

On Sunday afternoon Generals Baldwin and Gesuero will be hosting a site tour at the site of the 150th Gettysburg Anniversary National Civil War Reenactment.

From the Federal Commander 

Brothers in Arms,

General Gesuero and I are personally very excited about these skirmishes. More details will be released on Remembrance Day. These skirmishes are a reality based on the commitment and reputation of GAC in the community and the relationship that the staff has with the community as a whole. Several of us live here and will be here when the event is over. We will not only see community members but Reenactors who visit the area.

These skirmishes are for Reenactors by Reenactors.

On Saturday, both General Gesuero and I will be located at Reliance Mine Saloon during the hours of 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. to welcome troops or senior staff, and answer any questions you may have. We invite you to stop in, have a beverage, say hello and discuss the event. 

 

Your Obedient Servant,  

General Allen Baldwin

Teleconference into the Birney's Annual Meeting

Not able to make it to the Birney's Division Annual meeting this Friday (November 16th, 8 pm EST)? You can now conference in on your phone and listen to the discussions.

To access the conference, call (605) 475-3200, then enter code 490991#. Depending on your phone service, long distance or cell minute charges may apply.

This call is open to all members of Birney's Division units only. 

How to get news and information from Birney's Division HQ

As we get ready to hold our annual meeting, this is a reminder to everyone that receiving news from the organization is very important. Throughout the year, we distribute a variety of detailed information. Some of it on specific events, but other information is for ALL members.

We have a number of streams where you can receive information and updates. We HIGHLY suggest that every member subscribes to the Yahoo Group email. This distributes emails from the staff to all members who subscribe. This is for EVERYONE and not just company commanders. To Subscribe, click on this link and carefully read the instructions. You DON”T have to have a Yahoo user name to receive the emails. http://groups.yahoo.com/subscribe/BirneysDivision

Here are several other places to find Birney’s Division updates:

http://www.birneysdivision.org (Schedule and News pages)
http://twitter.com/birneysdivision
http://www.facebook.com/groups/BirneysDivision

2013 is going to be an important year with the 150th Gettysburg. Don’t get left in the dark! Please pass this on to other members of your unit who may not be on the Yahoo Group Email.

December Lantern Tours at Hale Farm

Holiday Lantern Tours at Hale Farm and Village
Dec 1, 7, 8, 14-16, 19-23
Beginning at 6:00pm (by reservation)
2686 Oak Hill Road, Bath, OH
http://www.wrhs.org/calendar/Holiday_Lantern_Tours

BATH, OHIO — The annual holiday Lantern Tours return to Hale Farm and Village December 1 through December 23, 2012. This lantern-lit journey takes guests on a holiday history tour of Northeast Ohio during the Civil War.

A lively blend of history and theatre, Lantern Tour vignettes are presented in the village houses based on research of newspaper accounts, advertisements, diaries, and classic holiday literature from the era.

“Lantern Tours have become a tradition for northeast Ohio families,” says Kelly Falcone, Vice President of Hale Farm and Village. "If you haven’t visited Hale Farm and Village during the holidays, we invite you to join us this year. We are always delighted when our guests leave with a historical view of the Christmas traditions."

Visitors are invited to the Jonathan Hale House for a Victorian-era holiday treat after the tours. The Museum Store, located in the Gatehouse, Visitor Center is open throughout the tours and features unique holiday gifts including toys and games, lanterns, books, photographs, and the ever popular halemade early American products such as pottery, glass, ironware, textiles, baskets, brooms and candles.

Lantern Tours depart every 20 minutes beginning at 6:00 pm and reservations are required. Lantern Tours are an indoor/outdoor activity. Guests are asked to dress for the weather. Reservations are required. For ticket availability and reservations call 330-666-3711. Admission is: $15 for WRHS Members, $20 for non-members. Discount rates are available for groups of 15 people or more.

Birney's Division 2012 Annual Meeting

The yearly meeting for all members and units of Birney's Division will be held on November 16th, 2012 at 8 pm in Gettysburg. PA during Remembrance Day weekend. The location will be the Gettysburg Volunteer Fire Hall, 35 N. Stratton St., one block from the circle in town going east on Rt. 30E. Make a left on Stratton St. and parking is in the rear.

Items on the agenda will be the 2013 event schedule and the planning of the 150th Gettysburg event. ALL members are encouraged to attend!!

There will also be details on where and when the Division will form for the Remembrance Day Parade on Saturday. If you have any questions, please email Chief of Staff Mike Maffei at general_maffei@verizon.net