Our Guiding Principles
INext Presentation
Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Subject: Irish in the Civil War
Presenter: Dr. W. Dennis Keating
Dr. Keating is an Emeritus Professor of Urban Studies at Cleveland State University. He has had a longstanding interest in the Civil War. Two of his ancestors served with the 168th and the 206th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. Dennis is a past president of the Cleveland Civil War Roundtable. His book Cleveland and the Civil War was published by The History Press in 2022. His article on Ohio’s Civil War Presidents was published in the Essential Civil War Curriculum of the Virginia Center for Civil War Studies at Virginia Tech, and his article on the Grand March of the Union Armies on May 23-24, 1865 is in press.
His articles Irish in the Civil War and Irish in the Civil War: Three Leading Irish-American Heroes were publish in the Charger, the Cleveland Civil War Roundtable’s newsletter.
- Canteen at 6:00 PM — Dinner at 6:30 PM
- Pine Ridge Country Club, 30601 Ridge Road (Ohio 84), Wickliffe, OH (1/2 mile west of Ohio 91)
- Cost $30.00 for an excellent family-style dinner and speaker. Cash bar.
- Reservations are required. Email Franco Sperrazzo at francomichael2414@yahoo.com.
Last Meeting
Subject: Francis Scott Key: The Star Spangled Banner “Then and Now”
Presenter: Alan Gephardt
This two part presentation began with Mr. Gephardt presenting himself in period costume as Francis Scott Key. He explained the circumstances that brought him to be on a British Ship in Baltimore harbor duing the bombardment of Fort McHenry and how the smoke and fog of the following morning inspired him to write the poem that became the lyrics of our national anthem
Then, after a short break, Mr. Gephardt returned as himself to address an issue that I did not know existed: the negative reference to slaves in the third verse of our anthem. He gave a stout defense of Francis Scott Key and the slave reference. He showed a number of instances where the phrase was used to refer to white men who, though free, made themselves slave to their monarch or other people in authority.
I, for one, learned a great deal more about the battle for Fort McHenry and Baltimore and how Francis Scott Key came to view the bombardment on a British ship. It was an enjoyable and enlightening presentation.
2023 Summer Activities
Memorial Day Ceremony
On Monday, May 29, 2023 at the Willoughby Cemetery on Sharpe Street, members of our organization placed a wreath on the memorial marker honoring the Civil War veterans, both Union and Confederate, who are buried there. This marked the twentieth anniversary of the dedication of the memorial marker — designed, researched, executed, and funded by our organization. (See the full story of the project on the Legacy Project tab.)
Members of our organization, as is our tradition, gathered afterwards at nearby Fiona’s Coffe Bar and Bakery on Erie Street.
2nd Annual Sip and Relax
Our initial gathering at Debonne Winery in 2022 was so successful that we met for a second evening of wine and relaxation, once again at Debonne Winery. Members and their guests gathered for an enjoyable evening of food, drink, and conversation.
Schedule of Speakers for 2024 and 2025
2024
- January 9, 2024
- They Fought, Too
- Presenters: Louise Watson-Mills and Pam Fraser
- February 13, 2024
- Leadership
- Presenter: Dr. Christopher Eddy, Author & Brigadier General, ret.
- March 12, 2024
- Voices from the Attic
- Presenter: Carleton Young, Author
- April 9, 2024
- Mark Twain and General Grant
- Presenter: Mark Dawidziak
- May 14, 2024
- Armistead and Hancock
- Presenter: Tom McMillan
- June 11, 2024
- Special Meeting Honoring Charter Member
- Presenter
- September 10, 2024
- Francis Scott Key – The Star Spangled Banner “Then and Now”
- Presenter: Alan Gephardt
- October 8, 2024
- Irish in the Civil War
- Presenter: Dr. W. Dennis Keating
- November 12, 2024
- Vicksburg: The Turning Point in the Civil War
- Presenter: Dr. Tom Harvey, Member and Author
- December 10, 2024
- Teddy and Edith Roosevelt
- Portrayers: Larry and Julia Marple
Lunchtime Series: Leaders and Legacies of the Civil War
These talks normally take place on the second Wednesday of the month. The October program will take place on Wednesday, October 9, at 12 noon in the Village Room of the Main Mentor Library building and is titled Life After President Garfield.
The terrible tragedy of President Garfield’s assassination in 1881 shattered his wife Lucretia’s world. First Lady for only four months, she was suddenly thrust into the spotlight during his suffering after the shooting, staying constantly by his side. She was admired and respected by her fellow Americans and people abroad as she publicly exhibited strength and courage. However, her shy and private nature resumed after her husband’s death when she returned to Mentor, Ohio.
Through her own words, learn more about Lucretia Garfield’s dedication to her husband’s memory and discover how she occupied her remaining 36-1/2 years. The Widow Garfield at the turn of the 20th Century will explain how her children achieved their own destinies and why James had said that Lucretia “rose up to every occasion.”
SPEAKER: Debbie Weinkamer, Lead Volunteer, James A. Garfield NHS.
Other Web Sites of Interest
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.