QUABBIN CIVIL WAR REMEMBRANCE STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING - MAY 29 AT 7

General Hooker from Enfield, MA

QUABBIN CIVIL WAR REMEMBRANCE STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING - MAY 29 AT 7 PM

The Quabbin Civil War steering committee will meet Tuesday, May 29 at the Swift River Valley Historical Society's Prescott Church Museum in New Salem at 7 pm.

Plans call for the July 4th Civil War Remembrance activities to start at 9:30 am at the Orange Gun Club with a Black Powder Shoot and Civil War cook-out.  At 2 pm events continue at the Orange Town Hall and Historical Society with music plus readings of letters and diaries and presentations that tell the story of how people survived during the Civil War era.  Civil War Quilt contest winners will also be announced on July 4, and the quilts will be on display.  A "Living Heritage" Farmer and Artisan Market will be part of the day's activities.  

For further information or to sign up for the quilt contest or farmer and artisan market, please contact Genevieve Fraser at 978-544-1872.

Public Invited to Quabbin Civil War Steering Committee Meeting Monday April 30

The Quabbin Civil War Steering Committee will meet Monday, April 30 at 7 p.m. to review plans for the upcoming July 4 series of events in Orange, MA.  The meeting will take place at the Prescott Church Museum at the Swift River Valley Historical Society in North New Salem.  The public is invited to participate and refreshments will be served.


Activities planned for July 4 include an early morning 5K run to benefit the Blacksmith Shop, followed by a Black Powder Shoot and discussion on antique firearms at the Orange Gun Club.  Butterfield and Riverside Park will be the site for activities at noon with a muster, cook-out and children's games.  Events will continue with with a Quabbin Civil War Remembrance at the Orange Town Hall starting at 2 p.m. with readings from diaries and letters and historical facts concerning those who fought in the Civil War, their fate and their families back home.  Other activities include a Civil War Quilt Contest and Living Heritage Farmer and Artisan Market.  In addition, the Orange Historical Society is planning a light supper and Civil War "Tin-Type Show and Tell."


Quabbin towns throughout the region have been invited to participate by sharing stories of their local heroes from the Civil War era.  For further information or to assist, contact Genevieve Fraser, the Civil War activities coordinator and artistic director of the Drama Circle at Telephone (978) 544-1872, Email: FraserGenevieve@gmail.com, or visit http://quabbincivilwar.blogspot.com/

Quabbin Civil War Steering Committee Meeting Update

Quabbin Civil War Steering Committee Meeting Update

David Bramhall of Phillipston (left) and Paul Robichaud of Orange discuss plans for the July 4th Quabbin Civil War Remembrance Day and "Lincoln: The Musical" at the February steering committee meeting.  The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 26 at 7 PM at the Prescott Church Museum at the Swift River Valley Historical Society in North New Salem.The public is invited and refreshments will be served.

For further information, contact Genevieve Fraser, the Civil War activities coordinator and artistic director of the Drama Circle at Telephone (978) 544-1872, Email: FraserGenevieve@gmail.com, or visit http://quabbincivilwar.blogspot.com/

Civil War Quilt Contest Invites Quilters to Quilt

Kirby Lecy, project co-ordinator, North Quabbin Woods

Civil War Quilt Contest Invites Quilters to Quilt

It is said that Civil War stories are often told through quilt patterns. Individual quilters and quilting groups are invited to participate in celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the American Civil War by submitting quilts up to 60 inches by 60 inches as part of the Quabbin Civil War Day of Remembrance which will be celebrated on July 4th in Orange Massachusetts.  The contest is open to quilters throughout the region, state and nation.  However, all quilts must be picked up following judging and display, or other arrangements must be made.

Nancy Blackmer (left) and Ingrid Whitten of Ames Trophy

According to Kirby Lecy, project coordinator of North Quabbin Woods, and Nancy Blackmer, co-chairs of the contest, the quilts will be judged in two broad categories: hand made and machine made quilts.  Additional categories will include individual quilters and those made by groups.  All patterns must be representations from the Civil War era.

The contest is sponsored by the Drama Circle, the performing arts division of the non-profit Art for Life, which is also sponsoring “Lincoln: The Musical” on the weekends following the July 4th Civil War commemoration.  Quilts will be on display during the celebration, and a variety of awards will be presented at that time with trophies and plaques donated by Ames Trophy and Screen Printing in Orange.  

The 2012 Civil War Quilt Contest Rules include:

1.   *  Quilts may be made by either an individual or by a group of quilters. Manufactured quilts will not be accepted.

2.    *  Quilts must use patterns and blocks that are representations from the civil war era. Examples of these can be found online at http://civilwarquilts.blogspot.com/

3.    *  Quilts size - must be a minimum of 18” x 18” and a maximum size of 60” x 60”.

4.    *  All quilt fabrics must not be more than 50% synthetic fiber, including backing. Pre-Printed Quilt cloth [cheater cloth] may not be used.

5.   *  Quilts may be MACHINE or HAND sewn. Quilting is defined as a running stitch that passes through top, batting, and backing. Tied quilts are not eligible for the contest. Machine and Hand quilts will be judged in two separate categories.

6.   *   All entries must have a sleeve or tabs attached to the top of the quilt for easy display. Any quilt received without these will be automatically disqualified.

7.    *  A label must be sewn on the back of the quilt. The label must include the name of the quilt and the quilt owner’s name.

8.    *  All Quilts submitted must be enclosed in a sturdy, large, clear appropriately sized blanket bag with a working zipper.

9.    *  All Quilts must be submitted by June 22 to North Quabbin Woods, 1 East Main Street Orange, MA for submission in the display.  (For further information Telephone (978) 544-3223, Email:www.northquabbinwoods.org)

Genevieve Fraser

Other activities planned for July 4th include a "Living Heritage Farmers and Artisan Market," a Black Powder Shoot, a Civil War Muster and Cook-out, children's games and a Civil War family costume contest, along with a Day of Remembrance at the Orange Town Hall with readings from Civil War era diaries and letters from cities and towns throughout the region.  

Organizations, businesses or individuals wishing to help sponsor the play or other 150th Anniversary Civil War commemorative activities should make tax deductible donations to "CF Pals - Drama Circle," 1 South Main Street, Orange,MA o1364.  In-kind donations are also gratefully accepted. “Lincoln: The Musical” is funded in part by a grant from the Massachusetts  Cultural Council.

The next Quabbin Civil War Day of Remembrance steering committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 28 at 6:30 pm at the Prescott Church Museum at the Swift River Valley Historical Society in North New Salem, Massachusetts.  All are welcome to attend and refreshments will be served.  For further information, contact Genevieve Fraser, the Civil War activities coordinator and artistic director of the Drama Circle at Telephone (978) 544-1872, Email: FraserGenevieve@gmail.com, or visit http://quabbincivilwar.blogspot.com/

Civil War Volunteers Needed for Quabbin Region Day of Remembrance

***CIVIL WAR VOLUNTEERS NEEDED***

QUABBIN REGION CIVIL WAR DAY OF REMEMBRANCE

JULY 4, 2012 ORANGE, MASSACHUSETTS

JULY 4^TH BLACK POWDER SHOOT

ORANGE ROD AND GUN CLUB

MUSTER AND MESS (DOWNTOWN ORANGE)

DAY LONG TRIBUTES – DIARIES – LETTERS - STORIES

ALSO

CIVIL WAR SOLDIERS NEEDED FOR “LINCOLN: THE MUSICAL”

ORANGE TOWN HALL, 2^ND AND 3^RD WEEKENDS IN JULY

CONTACT: GENEVIEVE FRASER

TEL. (978) 544-1872 – EMAIL: FraserGenevieve@gmail.com

WEBSITE: http://quabbincivilwar.blogspot.com/

Civil War Quilt Contest and Black Powder Shoot Planned for Quabbin Region Civil War Day of Remembrance

Jim Rich, past president,
Orange Rod and Gun Club

Civil War Quilt Contest and Black Powder Shoot Planned for Quabbin Region Civil War Day of Remembrance  

According to Jim Rich, the past president of the Orange Rod and Gun Club, the club has approved the use of the club grounds for a Black Powder Shoot in honor of the 150th Civil War Anniversary activities planned for Orange on July 4th.  The day's activities will begin with the shoot followed by a lecture on antique fire arms in the clubhouse. The Orange Rod and Gun Club holds the oldest gun club charter in the state and was active during the Civil War.  

Nancy Blackmer (left) Elizabeth Peirce (center)
Ingrid Whitten

Additional activities include a Civil War Quilt Contest for 60 inch square Civil War replica quilts, both hand made and machine made.  Civil War children's games, a Living Heritage  Artisan and Farmer's Market and readings from Civil War diaries and letters as well as music and theatrical 
performances will be part of the celebration.  For further information, contact the organizer, Genevieve Fraser at telephone (978) 544-1872, or write FraserGenevieve@gmail.com  Additional information and tributes are posted at Website: www.Quabbincivilwar.blogspot.com


Photo Credit: Genevieve Fraser

Civil War Company H 25th Mass Infantry Soldier, Eli Thompson, Saw His Unit Torn to Shreds

Eli Thomson

Civil War Company H 25th Mass Infantry Soldier, Eli Thompson, Saw His Unit Torn to Shreds

By Tyler Thomson

Eli D Thompson was born on May 6th 1825 in Sutton Massachusetts. His parents were Laban C Thompson of Bellingham Massachussetts and Jerusha Gould of Douglas Massachusetts. Eli had nine brothers and sisters, born in a number of different towns according to records.

Eli went to school to around the age of 14 and then went to learn a the trade of shoe making. He was a skilled shoe maker from 1840 to 1860, and then he ended up closing his own shop and becoming a carpenter to make more money. Eli was in love with whom would be his future wife, Marie Bryant of Douglas, Massachusetts. They ended up getting married in 1862, and soon after my great great grandfather was born....Frank Ellsworth Thompson and soon after he had a sister Agusta Almyra Thompson. They moved to Uxbridge, Mass during that year. The Civil War was at its peak, and Eli like his brothers felt that they should serve and do there duty.

Uxbridge, MA around 1850

Eli and his brothers and cousins of the local towns all joined the Union Army. Eli enlisted on January 1st 1864 and was put into Company H 25th Mass Infantry. He had not a clue for what he was in for. Eli served at the following places in heavy combat. Portsmouth Va, Yorktown, New Berne Nc, Petersburg, Richmond, City Point, Bermuda Hundred, Port Walthal, Chester Station, Swift Creek, Port Darling, Drury's Bluff, Bermuda Hundred Front and then Cold Harbor happened.

Cold Harbor

Eli was wounded a few other times during his battle, barbed wire, knife, bullet grazing on his skin but nothing compared to one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War and moments in his life. Three Hundred men in the 25th Mass Infantry before the battle of Cold Harbor, and after there was 53 Killed, 139 Wounded, 28 Captured for a total loss of 220 men out of 300.

Tyler Thompson

From stories handed down by father and son this is what I have heard. Eli's unit was being torn to shreds and they were losing all their commanding officers and were unorganized and had to keep on fighting to hold their ground and fight for each other and fight to live. Eli's best friends were killed next to him, one being shot in the head, and the other was shot a few times. Eli was shooting out rounds and was worried he would not see his family again.  He thought about running but thought it would be wrong and he wanted to fight for his country like his grandfather did during the Revolutionary War. He moved around trees and ran through ditches and trenches, and he took out a few confederates by himself and then he was shot in the leg. He kept on running and limping, then he was struck by shrapnel to his arms.  Minutes later as he crawled away bullets and cannon fire was coming in all around he was struck with more shrapnel to the hands and to his face. He was so wounded he just crawled and then finally laid still and just yelled out for help, and before he knew it he woke up with nurses and doctors bandaging him.

Uxbridge Civil War Monument

He stayed in the hospital for a while and then went on to fight in some more battles even though he should of been discharged for being wounded so badly. He served in North Carolina for the most of the war at the end before being discharged on May 27th 1865. He returned home and applied for Veteran Benefits and was approved immediately, and the town held a parade and honored Eli before he moved to Oxford, Massachusetts. He took a huge part in the GAR, a group for Civil War veterans. His wife Marie died in 1867 from an illness, and he remarried a Ellen Hesterbrooks and had no more children. Eli lived to the age of 73 and died on January 15th 1899 from an infection in Oxford Massachusetts. He is buried in North Cemetery in Oxford Mass.

Eli Thompson's grave

I am only 21 and obviously never got to meet Eli, but I feel very proud of him. I would of loved to meet him and heard his stories and experiences. Every year I make it a point to go out there where he is buried and clean things up and put out a new flag and thank him. My family is extremely proud of Eli and what he did for this nation, to help free man and fight for the rights of those who couldn't, to make sure that in America everyone is equal and has a fair chance.

- Tyler Thompson
To contact Tyler, email:  ty thompson <tatekt06@yahoo.com> 


Photo credits:  Family records, Tyler Thompson and the Library of Congress Print Division