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NEOCWRT Constitution Amendment Passes — All adults are now eligible for membership!
I am pleased to report that our members have voted to open membership to all adults, subject to the provisions of the NEOCWRT constitution. Specifically, this opens the club to women and, in fact, we have our first woman member: Arlan Byrne’s daughter Becky. Becky had already done important work for the club. She was instrumental in arranging the spring field trip to Kent State University in 2012 and she has shared the podium with Arlan for several presentations, including our club’s portion of the symposium at James A Garfield National Historic Site. Welcome, Becky.
Next Meeting: February 10, 2015
Topic: Women in the Civil War
Presenter: Mary Louise Daly
- Canteen at 6:00 PM — Dinner at 6:45 PM (Note earlier time for dinner)
- Pine Ridge Country Club, 30601 Ridge Road (Ohio 84), Wickliffe, OH (1/2 mile west of Ohio 91)
- Cost $25.00 for an excellent family-style dinner and speaker. Cash bar.
- Reservations are required. Contact Mike Sears at 440-257-3956 or email mikeanddonnas@roadrunner.com.
Last Meeting:
Topic: George Washington, the Present, the Past, and the Future
Presenter: Dale Fellows
This presentation was unusual in that there were two question and answer periods. Charter member Dale Fellows, presented a short speech as George Washington (in period military costume). President Washington then answered questions. In keeping with General Washington’s personality, the answers were usually short and sometimes evasive.
With other presenters, this has also occurred and was indicative of a lack of a suitable depth of knowledge. Not so in this instance. At the end of the first question and answer period, Dale stepped out of character and began the second Q & A session, now addressing questions (sometimes the same questions) with a depth of knowledge that comes from extensive study of the subject.
His performance in character was true, and his knowledge of our first president detailed and extensive. He was both informative and entertaining — an excellent presentation.
2014 Spring Outing
On May 31, a large number of NEOCWRT members and their guests convened at the State Theater for a tour of Playhouse Square, the second largest theater district in the U.S.. We got a behind-the-scenes look at three of the four theaters that comprise this thriving and active cultural center. These refurbished theaters are fascinating and historic. We also got a great view of the new twenty-foot chandelier and entry arches that grace the area.
After an excellent lunch at the historic Inn of the Barristers on West 3rd Street, we took the short walk to the Cleveland Police Museum in the Justice Center. Cleveland has had its share of notorious events and interesting characters, from the unsolved Kingsbury Run murders, also known as the “Torso Killings”, to Eliot Ness, the Prohibition Era, and much more. This small museum was surprisingly interesting, and it was made even more interesting by our guide, a retired police sergeant whose wit, insight, and selective reverence for “the brass” made for a very enjoyable visit. He even provided an insider’s understanding and solution to the technically unsolved Torso murders.
It was a very popular and successful spring outing.
Civil War Symposium – 2014
This marks our third year co-operating with the folks at James A. Garfield National Historic Site to present a Civil War symposium to lead into their Civil War encampment. This year, the lead speaker was one of their reenactors, General Ulysses S. Grant. After a brief break for refreshments, provided by our organization, our own Arlan Byrne and his daughter Becky presented Cavalry in the Civil War. This is not the first talk they have done together, nor is this the first time they have given this talk (see below). As usual, they did an excellent job providing information with humor. Arlan also manages to provide an advertisement for local historical societies.
This has proven to be an excellent opportunity to showcase some of our speakers and we hope the program continues next year.
Arlan Byrne presents The Battle of Nashville as part of the Great Battles of the Civil War series
Latest Courier
We have, in my opinion, one of the best round table newsletters around – thanks to the many contributors and, especially, to the editors. John Sandy set the bar when he took over. Carl Dodero, with John’s assistance, carried the level of excellence forward. Now, our newest member, Becky Byrne has taken over as editor and, judging by the first edition, is maintaining the level of excellence and improvement we have come to expect. Click below to read the latest issue.
The presentations are held the second Wednesday of each month at noon in the James A. Garfield Community Room of the Mentor Public Library. The next presentation is The Fall of Petersburg. It will be held on Wednesday, March 11, 2015 at noon.
Themocracy
I came across your Civil War Round Table and thought you might be interested in a true story about an 82nd Ohio soldier told in the first person in dramatic form. The ebook is written with a discussion guide for Civil War Round Tables and you may want to check it out.
Hiram’s Honor: Reliving
Private Terman’s Civil War, ISBN 978-0615-27812-4.
Hiram’s Honor can be examined at http://www.amazon.com/Hirams-Honor-Reliving-Private-Termans/dp/0615278124/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1239221935&sr=8-1
Ebook
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/50674
The unique thing about this book is that I assume the identity of my ancestor in all of his battles and prison misery. It was quite a challenge to match every detail that actually happened (dairies, letters, first-hand accounts) with a first person dramatized and riveting story of how I would have reacted in his situation. Best wishes in your work.
Greetings from Delafield, Wisconsin, Birthplace of Lt. Alonzo Cushing. Just a quick update on the Medal of Honor. Although it was widely reported that the Secretary of the Army had approved the nomination, the process is still ongoing. The Secretary of Defense has not yet made his recommendation. Additionally, the President would still have to sign off. I would be happy to keep you updated if the situation changes.
Best Regards
Dave Krueger
Delafield, WI
I’m very interested in your group. May non-members attend meetings?
Many thanks,
George Richards
George — yes, non-members may attend. Because we take the summer off, our next meeting is not until Sepetember 11. Closer to the meeting date, make a reservation (see above) and look me, Tom Horvath, up at the meeting. I’ll be glad to introduce you to some of our members. Meanwhile, you may be interested in the symposium being held at Lawnfield on July 13, also described above.
Hello NEOCWRT. My name is Jonathan Hennessey. I am author of a new Civil War nonfiction graphic novel from HarperCollins. I would like to let members of your group know I will be doing a reading from my book at 6 pm Thursday, August 8 at the Barnes & Noble bookstore on Medina Road in Akron.
THE GETTYSBURG ADDRESS: A GRAPHIC ADAPTATION (www.graphicgettysburg.com) is a bold and innovative use of the comics medium. It uses the words from Lincoln’s iconic speech to tell the “whole story of the Civil War, 1776 – The Present.” I will be presenting a chapter of the book mostly examining the Confederacy’s legal case for secession, Lincoln’s counterargument, and how both the language of both the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence informed those two different positions. I will be projecting still and animated segments of the book on a movie screen.
Kirkus Reviews called the book, “Engaging, provocative and deftly nuanced. … This second collaboration by Hennessey and McConnell again finds them probing the implications of history through incisive analysis and compelling art.”
Library Journal hailed it as, “An excellent work. … Not a simplification but a detailed and nuanced analysis of Lincoln’s famous speech.”
Thank you for your consideration!
All best,
Jonathan Hennessey
Thanks for the invitation to speak at the CWRT again. My topic this year will be Confederate General William “Extra Billy” Smith: From Virginia’s Statehouse to Gettysburg Scapegoat.