Grand Opening Civil War Garden, Monterey Pass Battlefield Museum.
Saturday May 21st, 2022 * 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Join us for a special celebration and Grand Opening of our new Civil War era designed garden!
Based on extensive research and planned and installed by master gardeners, this garden will be an educational tool for area school children and for visitors to Monterey Pass Battlefield Museum.
Brief remarks
Light refreshments
Garden tours
Hands-on garden activity for children
New Civil War Trail Sign Unveiled in Downtown Chambersburg
Franklin County joined the Civil War Trails with the unveiling of “Flashpoint of Invasion.” The sign, located outside the Franklin County 11/30 Visitors Center, is the newest Civil War Trails sign along the Pennsylvania segment of the trail, which came to life with a half-dozen story boards in 2021.
Franklin County’s location, access to rail, and an abundance of crops and livestock made the county a prime target during the Civil War. Even before war, Franklin County’s location played a role. The county held a network of secret passages and many operatives, who helped escaping enslaved move to safety. Again, location played a role in Franklin County’s history when John Brown and his men established a northern headquarters in Chambersburg. With access to the Cumberland Valley Railroad, Brown and his men stockpiled weapons throughout the spring and summer, leading up to the Raid on Harpers Ferry in October 1859.
“Flashpoint of Invasion” serves as a gateway to exploring Chambersburg and Franklin County. More than two dozen Franklin County sites are identified as Civil War Trail stories, as the Franklin County Visitors Bureau works to secure funding to install the signs. The Civil War Trails program is recognized by travelers, particularly those seeking authentic experiences and local history. History travelers are getting younger and these travelers, age 25-34, are the largest growing segment. Many travelers are pairing their interest in history with recreation and locally sourced food and beverages.
The Foundation For Enhancing Communities (TFEC) funded “Flashpoint of Invasion” as part of its 100-year celebration and is funding a second Civil War sign in 2022. TFEC focuses on building strong communities for a lasting impact.
Middleburg/Mason-Dixon Line Historical Society, Speaker Ross Hetrick
Thursday November 18th, 2021 * 7:00 PM
Ross Hetrick
His presentation ” Meet Thaddeus Stevens, a champion of freedom and equality “.
Thaddeus Stevens was the most powerful congressman during and after the Civil War.
Ross Hetrick was born in Waynesboro, VA and graduated from The University of Virginia in 1975.
His vocational quest saw him reporting for the Daily Press in Newport News, VA, The Baltimore Evening Sun and The Baltimore Sun.
In 1995, Hetrick moved to Gettysburg and operated Ross’s Coffeehouse and Eatery until 2018 when he dedicated himself to fulltime pursuit to the legacy of Thaddeus Stevens.
He writes a monthly column about Stevens called, The Thaddeus Stevens Chronicles.
Everyone Is Welcome, Refreshments will follow
Public is invited, free. Visit www.middleburgmasondixon.org or call 301-739-0357.
October 16 Is A Celebration at Franklin County Visitors Center
On October 16, join the Franklin County Visitors Bureau at the 11/30 Visitors Center to celebrate 100 Years of The Foundation for Enhancing Community (TFEC), a launch of the Civil War Trails in Franklin County PA, and the Chambersburg Quilt Guild’s Stitches in Time Quilt Show. Adding to the festivities is AppleFest—a celebration of the harvest season with craft and art vendors, food, and live music.
“October 16 is an extra-special day,” said Janet Pollard, executive director of the Franklin County Visitors Bureau. “because we are recognizing TFEC for more than 100 years of supporting and helping to build community. As part of TFEC’s 100th anniversary, it sponsored Civil War Trails signs in Chambersburg and by doing so, launches the trails in Franklin County.”
The Civil War Trails (CWT) are expected to mark between two and three dozen sites in Franklin County. Currently, CWT interprets more than 1200 locations in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee and produces 15 map-guides to distribute domestically, internationally, and online.
“The support of TFEC is like opening a door. It is the beginning to sharing Franklin County stories of Civil War heroines, John Brown, Frederick Douglass, Martin Delany, USCT, and the three invasions of Franklin County throughout the Civil War,” said Pollard.
At the outset of the Civil War, Franklin County was a farming community. Today, agriculture remains a leading industry. It is only appropriate to have the Stitches in Time Quilt Show as part of the celebration. Quilting is a tradition of farm families everywhere and especially Franklin County. The exhibit contains nearly 200 quilts and quilted items, includes patriotic quilts, breast cancer tribute quilts, holiday quilts, and more.
The public is invited to join the celebration with TFEC and launch of the Civil War Trails at 11 AM at the 11/30 Visitors Center, 15 South Main Street. AppleFest is a day-long event, beginning at 9 AM and concluding at 4 PM. The Stitches in Time Quilt Show is open until 4:30 PM on October 16, noon to 3 PM on October 17, and weekdays 8 AM to 4:30 PM through October 31.