Category: American History

Today is Holocaust Memorial Day, a day set aside for remembering the worst tragedy in human history. Survivor Dr. Susan Cernyak-Spatz says it best: forget the six million who died, and they die another death. Watch her here. Her words are powerful and are important to hear.

Susan was only 18 when she suffered the horrors of Auschwitz, probably the most horrible and well-known concentration camp that the Nazis used to carry an unthinkable extermination. Her mind-blowing story is well-told here, as she uses her experiences these many decades later to educate school children on the Holocaust.

Susan survived and made her way to America, where she achieved not only a college degree, but also a Ph.D., and has dedicated her life to educating the world on the Holocaust.

Why is it so important for her to educate children? Because there are still people who can’t — or don’t want to — believe that the Holocaust happened. Unthinkably, there are people who refuse to accept this as the atrocious reality that it is. If we just look at what, even after WW II had ended, happened to the Carpathian Germans in Slovakia, we even see that the atrocities continued and still, people refuse to accept the reality of it all? Well, to be honest, that is unthinkable!

When you think about the Holocaust, you can’t help but put yourself in the shoes of the American soldiers who were often some of the first to discover the horror of these camps, seeing with their own eyes the worst thing to have ever happened in humanity.

As you know, the point of this blog is to honor veterans.  In honoring their service, we must always remember it in the context of the atrocities they were fighting, unbeknownst even to them.

To honor these survivors, and the service of the men and women who fought in World War II, we can’t ever forget about the Holocaust. The six million people who were victims of the Nazis and the 16 million Americans who went to war to fight tyranny deserve it. Let’s choose to remember.

His Day in Court

On Saturday, a good friend of mine gets to take a very special veteran to court. Yes, to court.

He committed no crime; in fact, he is being honored by DFW-based volunteers of the Veterans History Project, a legislatively supported initiative of the U.S. Library of Congress to capture and preserve veterans’ stories for all generations. Their oral histories are being taken by professional court reporters (fun fact: many court reporters type almost 300 words per minute with amazing accuracy!), with testimonies being conducted by legal experts who are following a basic line of questioning.

The result will be an astounding volume of information from veterans of all wars, properly recorded and preserved for our children, grandchildren, great-great-great-great-grandchildren, and so on. Can you imagine being able to grow up listening to these stories?

It really makes me wonder what it would have been like to have heard stories like this when I was growing up. What kind of difference will it make for future generations? It’s hard to think that a project like this wouldn’t change the world. I’m anticipating that it will.

Grand Tour

During the seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth century, a “Grand Tour” was an extended tour of “The Continent” and was typically part of the education of every young British Gentleman. During the twenty-first century, you may take your own “Grand Tour” along Virginia’s historic thoroughfares and scenic byways to discover the great diversity of registered historic landmark plantation sites along the James River and its tributaries, as well as at its headwaters.

Explore and tour four centuries of American History at Historic Landmark Plantations located in the quiet countryside of rural counties and on the outskirts of bustling riverside cities. Regional Dining gives a taste of the James River Plantation Country in venues that include historic taverns, country inns, and unique restaurants.

Explore the James River Plantations and other historic sites between Williamsburg and Richmond on the Jamestown Discovery Trail – a heritage trail organized by the James River Plantations – Charles City County, Virginia

James River Facts

The first settlement along the James River was by the Indians.  In 1607 the English arrived and established Jamestown in the heart of the lands of the Powhatan Confederacy – a confederation of tribes first led by Chief Powhatan.  The James River was actually first known as “Powhatan Flu”.

Plantation Facts

The early colonization of Virginia was actually a corporate venture, initially undertaken by the Virginia Company.  Early seventeenth-century investor sponsored settlements, were known as “hundreds”.  Plantations, owned by individuals and passed-down to descendants, emerged as a pattern of settlement that continued in Virginia’s Tidewater and Piedmont until the Civil War.

Spotlight on Thomas Jefferson

The James River was Thomas Jefferson’s neighborhood.  As a child, he attended school at Tuckahoe.  He attended the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg and later represented Albemarle County in the House of Burgesses in Williamsburg.

Jefferson was married at the Forest in Charles City County.  Jefferson’s family relations owned Appomattox Manor, Eppington and Weston Manor, all situated along the Appomattox River, a tributary of the James.  He built Monticello and Poplar Forest along tributaries of the James, and he designed the Virginia Capitol in Richmond, which still majestically overlooks the James River.

Many of the James River Plantations are featured sites on”The Plantation Loop” of the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail.

 

“Every year Flowerdew Hundred changes and grows more beautiful as it matures.”David A. Harrison III. So let’s take a closer look at Flowerdew Hundred – one of the earliest original land grants in Virginia.

Flowerdew Hundred is one of the earliest original land grants in Virginia. The abundant natural resources at this strategic bend in the James River have attracted people from prehistoric times through the 20th Century.

Showcasing extensive material culture collections, museum exhibits and educational programs interpret a past at Flowerdew Hundred that is intricately woven into the history of Virginia. Browse through the artifact collections, view sample exhibits, listen to the stories.

History was never so beautiful! Chartered and founded by David A. Harrison, III, Flowerdew Hundred Plantation and Museum began as a dream and has grown into one of the most uniquely and beautifully landscaped properties in Virginia.

Continue reading Flowerdew Hundred – One of the earliest original land grants in Virginia

On this day in 1918, at 11 AM, World War One finally ended and the guns fell silent. One year later, President Woodrow Wilson came with the declaration that November 11th shall be named Armistice Day, to honor America’s World War I Veterans. In 1954, in the wake of the Korean War, it was renamed Veterans Day in honor of all of America’s war vets.

World War I was supposed to be “the war to end all wars,” yet America itself has been involved in six wars and countless military interventions since then. Regardless of how you feel about foreign policy and war in general, never forget that wars are fought by individuals like you and me. It’s fought by our neighbors, our schoolteachers, our classmates, and some of our closest friends and family. They’ve made a sacrifice that few of us will ever know and we owe them a debt that we’ll never be able to repay.

The Virginia Historical Preservation Society and Metal Detecting Club is a diverse group of men and women who are interested in saving and preserving the rich history of Virginia.

At the Society’s monthly meeting, club members and guests display their metal detecting recoveries, share metal detecting and relic hunting stories, and discuss Virginia history and the Civil War. The meetings are casual and educational, but most importantly they are fun and friendly. The growing club always welcomes guests and new members.

Highlighted Recoveries

Here are two great examples of Virginia Military buttons, remarkably found back-to-back by our club members.

Matt and Chris, two club members, gained permission from a landowner to metal detect construction topsoil from Centreville, VA that was being moved onto their property. Archeologists had come to the original site prior to construction and excavation and finding nothing of interest, the dirt was trucked away.

The two have been working the dirt and have found a decent number of relics and buttons—including a Mississippi button, a Virginia cuff, and a few Eagle Infantry buttons—scattered among the decades of beer cans and modern metal trash.

Chris was first to find a Virginia button—remarkably, his first Civil War button ever! The find was a “Canfield Bros. Baltimore” backmark. Matt found his earlier, Virginia, pre-war “Southern build-up” variety, by Horstmann & Allien NY, a week or so later in the same dirt pile.

Club member Dave dug a 1755 Silver Spanish Reale, a horse head and horseshoe rosette, and 8 fired assorted .58 cal three ringers. New member Isaac had some nice finds including a Gold and Platinum ring, Gold pocket watch with a gold chain, 1845 Large Cent, 1843 Half Dime, Several silver rings, a silver bracelet, a silver earring, and a 1918 Mercury Dime.

Member Matt found an artillery shell fuse marked “W” (possibly West Point?) and an assortment of bullets from 36 to 58 cal. and a cut Silver Spanish Reale.

Mick had a productive precious metal month with 11 Silver rings, a 1 white Gold ring, an 18K ring, 10 silver Roosevelt dimes, 5 Mercury dimes, 3 Gold tooth crowns, 1 Silver Kennedy half, a 1 Credit Swiss 2.5 Gram gold bar in a necklace bezel.

Ron dug a 1948 dog tag, two Wheat Pennies, and two dropped .58 cal Three Ringers.
Dave found a heavily ramrodded .58 cal 3-ringer into a .56 cal sized barrel, a .31 cal round ball, a .44 cal fired round ball, a .36 cal drop, two two-tine forks, a shoulder scale mount, a thimble, cannon shell frag, and a really nice rifle sling buckle.

Mick found two dollar coins, one half-dollar coin, and a Silver garnet ring. Cory dug a unique bullet carved into a ring with a dogs head, an Eagle “I” cuff button, a Williams Cleaner and 3-ringer bullet, and a 1909 Barber Quarter.

Marty & John found a nice US Sling Buckle with backmarks and a Spanish Silver Half Reale. They also found a unique political flat button with a backmark reading “Jackson Huzza”. This button commemorated Andrew Jackson’s victory at the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812.

Cory dug some Civil War artillery shell fragments, pieces of a powder flask, bullets, and a J hook. Mark had 17 bullets, a Civil War-era fountain pin nib, five Wheat pennies including two 1917s and one 1919, and four flat buttons. One of the flat buttons shows a Rampant Eagle and is believed to be from the War of 1812.

Mick dug a Silver ring, Silver Medallion, two US dollar coins, one Kennedy Half, and loads of clad coins. Matt found an 1895 V Nickel, a 1909 Wheat Penny, a “Dandy” button, and pocket watch internals.

Dave dug a 1923 Wheat Cent, a hand made ram rod end, a sword scabbard, an old padlock, a cufflink with Mother of Pearl, a Large Cent (1827), a USA dog tag, and a 1928 “Male Dog” dog tag.

Mark had an awesome month of recoveries that included some pretty rare finds. Mark dug two Confederate Civil War buttons, a Block “I” (Infantry) and a Mississippi State Seal. He also did great in the coin department digging a 1772 Spanish Silver ½ Real, three Large Cents (1817, 1820, & 1827), a 1935 Buffalo Nickel, and 30 Wheat Pennies including a fairly rare 1909 S penny. Mark’s collection of relics for the month also included a WW1 Officer button and at least 70 Civil War bullets.

Marty and John dug fast and furious this month with a variety of over 100 Civil War bullets on display. They dug a variety of Civil War buttons including a jacket sized Connecticut State Seal. Also included in the Civil War relics was a beautiful Carbine Sling buckle. The duo did well with coins as well and displayed their 1839 Half Dime, 1856 Half Dollar, and 1927 Quarter.

Newcomer to the hobby and our club, Laura had a great first month of detecting despite “digging 100’s of soda tabs”. We all dig them Laura…you are doing it right! She had on display some very unique finds including an: 1880’s trade token, part of a large old crotal bell, a WW1 era lead toy soldier, a large Hawaii token, a Buffalo Nickel, and two Wheat Pennies.

Dave dug a number of nice finds this month including three jacket-sized Civil War buttons: a US Eagle “I”, US General Services, and a Target Button. Dave’s coins for the month included an 1860 & 1865 Indian Head Penny, a 1928 S Mercury Dime, and a 1947 Maple Leaf Canadian Cent. He dug a nice variety of Civil War bullets including a .31 cal pistol bullet, a .69 cal three ringer, a type II Williams cleaner, and dropped and fired Burnsides and Enfields. Rounding out Dave’s finds for the month were some unique finds including a “Homemakers of America” pin, an old jaw harp, and a fragment from a Civil War cannonball.

Ron must have been surprised when he dug a beautiful 1850 Dutch coin our club has never seen recovered in our area. Ron also found a nice 1881 Indian Head Penny, a Sterling Silver Charm, and a flat button.

Matt had an awesome find for the month and it’s one our club doesn’t see very often (unbelievably we had two this month). Matt dug a fully intact jacket sized Confederate Civil War Mississippi State Seal button in a quite nice condition.

Cory dug had two nice Civil War relics for the month including a 1 ½ inch canister shot ball, and a pretty Rhode Island State Seal cuff button.

Chris dug a nice Civil War Union Eagle cuff “I” button and a very cool 1939 NY Worlds Fair charm that was featured on a 3 cent US postage stamp that he researched to display alongside his find.

Located a short ride from Cazenovia on Route 13 is a very special piece of New York State History, a piece that is historic and beautiful, Chittenango Falls. Once a curiosity to visitors 200 years ago, this area now a New York State Park dates back over 370 million years and its limestone rock base gives us a glimpse of marine life when Central New York was part of what park signs describe and a “tropical paradise” since the area was near the equator in these early years of formation.

Just take a look at the following interesting video made by someone who took a drone to New York and flew around and over Chittenango Falls, located near Syracuse in New York State:

The property which originally built in the 1800s, belonged to the Boardman family that ran mills on it, it was later sold to members of the famous Ledyard/Lincklean families of Cazenovia, to make into a public park, the intent was to prevent destruction of the site to preserve its beauty, part of which is a scenic 167 foot waterfall. The area opened at that point under the watchful eyes of the Chittenango Falls Park Association becoming a Central Region State Park in 1922.

Continue reading Chittenango Falls, NY, a geological wonder

“Tuko-see-mathla is one of nature’s noblemen. He is nearly six feet two inches in height; finely formed; his figure combining strength with gracefulness; or, I might say, perfect ease in all his attitudes and gestures. The expression of his fine open countenance is habitually mild; but as he grows earnest in conversation, you see arise within him that glow of fervid feeling warming into the determined energy which characterizes the man.” This is the Story of Chief John Hicks.

“In the morning, Tuko-see-mathla came to the Agent’s quarters dressed in the most sumptuous habiliments you can imagine. His frock, or coat, was of the finest quality, and adorned with a quantity of silver ornaments around his neck, arms, and wrists, with a gorgeous headdress of colored shawls. His bearing was that of a chief indeed.”

(Quotes by George A. McCall, 1826, from his book Letters from the Frontiers)

Before the 1820’s it is believed that Hicks’ town was at Hixtown Swamp in Madison County. In 1823 he had a town listed at Alachua Prairie by Nea-Mathla at the Treaty of Moultrie Creek.

Continue reading The Story of Chief John Hicks

Sometimes finding little tucked away places where history took place is like uncovering a secret hideaway. One such place is the New York State Memorial Site for Baron Frederick Wilhelm Von Steuben. So let’s check out one of America’s Historical Monuments – Von Steuben’s Cabin.

The state has partnered with the National Parks Commission to open a beautiful interpretive history site of General (Baron) von Steuben’s cabin near Remsen, New York.

The site, which has been open for many years as a public area used for picnics and outings by locals, has in a replica of the cabin Steuben lived in during his last years. On that site is also is the grave of the famous General who helped America win its independence from Great Britain.

Born in Magdeburg, Germany in 1730, Baron von Steuben had served in a number of conflicts including the Seven Years War; was convinced by the Comte Claude Louis de Saint-Germani, then the French Minister of War, to volunteer his military assistance to the fledgling American army.

Continue reading Historical Monuments – Von Steuben’s Cabin

Archaeology of Flowerdew Hundred – a Virginia Plantation, 1619-1864

Author: James Deetz, published by University Of Virginia Press in 1995

Flowerdew Hundred’s History starts in 1618 when the Virginia Company of London granted a 1000-acres plot of Land, situated on Virginia’s James River to George Yeardley, though written historical documents don’t provide a complete story.

The plantation is named for Temperance Flowerdew, Sir George Yeardley’s wife. Yearley (1587-1627) owned the plantation and he was the 3-time colonial Governor of Virginia, the British Colony. Flowerdew Hundred is a former Virginia plantation located in Prince George County, on the south shores of the James River.

Continue reading Archaeology of Flowerdew Hundred