Battle Lines
Official newsletter of the
GETTYSBURG BATTLEFIELD PRESERVATION
ASSOCIATION
Founded 1959
America’s oldest Civil War battlefield
preservation organization
------August 7, 2014------
AUGUST 16
GBPA MEMBERSHIP PICNIC!
On August 16, the historic DANIEL LADY
FARM will host the 1st Annual Gettysburg
Battlefield Preservation Association Members
Picnic & Meeting.
MEAL AND
MEMBERSHIP
DEAL!
$65 worth of
benefits for just $35!
For only $35, Picnic
attendees can get an individual
membership or renewal through
2015, plus the picnic, entrance to
the living history event, and a tour
of the house & barn.
A living history, Gettysburg – The Aftermath, will
be underway that weekend to provide you with a full day
of activities, should you wish.
The normal costs --The picnic day activities get underway at 9 a.m.
membership: $30, picnic: $15,
with the start of the “Gettysburg – The Aftermath” living
living history event: $10, and
history, which is going on Saturday and Sunday.
tour of the house and barn:
At 3 p.m., dedication of a granite marker honoring
the late John Fenstermacher will take place in the
$10 --- ALL YOURS FOR JUST
Memorial Garden west of the barn.
$35!
Beginning at 5 p.m., a full picnic menu will be
Attendees are asked to
catered by “Put on the Feedbag” of Orrtanna in a large
contact the GBPA prior to August 13
assembly tent, ensuring the feast is a “go,” rain or shine.
by e-mail at:
Cost of the meal is $15.
alhes1776@outlook.com, or by
Presentations during the picnic will include an
phone from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. daily at:
update on the American Living History Center at the Daniel
(717) 338-1776.
Lady Farm and announcement of individuals appointed to
the GBPA’s new National Advisory Board and the
presentation of a cannon and gun carriage to the Daniel
Lady Farm.
To give the caterer a head-count, attendees are asked to contact the GBPA prior to August 13 by email at: alhes1776@outlook.com, or by phone from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. daily at: (717) 338-1776.
NOTE: The picnic/membership meeting replaces the annual meeting formerly held as part of our
Remembrance Day Weekend dinner in November. The board of trustees has decided that there will be no
November dinner this year. With the GBPA becoming far more involved with historical events, it is
believed that the commitments will make it difficult for many members to attend a dinner the evening
before the annual Remembrance Day Parade and associated activities.
-2-
Remembering John Fenstermacher
At 3 p.m. August 16, prior to the start of the GBPA membership picnic at the
Daniel Lady Farm, a dedication service for a granite marker honoring the late John
Fenstermacher will be held in the Memorial Garden hillside west of the barn.
A noted Mechanicsburg attorney, John was a long-time member of the GBPA.
He served on the board of trustees and acted as our solicitor in 1999 for the
acquisition of the Daniel Lady Farm and its later designation as part of the Adams
County Land Conservancy preservation effort.
John passed away in 2010.
His dedication to the GBPA continues with his estate’s donation of artifacts and
furniture for permanent display in the Lady farmhouse.
Officiating at the dedication ceremony will be former GBPA President Craig
Caba, a long-time friend of John’s.
Ribbon-cutting for GBPA downtown Gettysburg HQ
The weather was sweltering, the speakers brief, and the fife and drum music inspiring on
Thursday, July 3, as GBPA President Barb Mowery and guests cut the ribbon to officially open our
headquarters in the heart of Gettysburg at 33 York Street.
Less than a block from the borough square and the Wills
House where Abraham Lincoln stayed the night before his historic
address, the storefront headquarters includes a mini-museum, GBPA
souvenirs and retail items from borough merchants.
The Licensed Town Historians of Gettysburg also use the GBPA
headquarters as their base
for tours of the borough that tell how the people of Gettysburg
reacted to the battle outside their doors and the to the aftermath
that left thousands of wounded and dying Union and Confederate
soldiers at dozens of locations in and around the community,
including the GBPA’s Daniel Lady Farm.
Speakers for the ceremony included Gettysburg National
Military Park Superintendent Ed Clark; actor and historian
Patrick Falci; James Getty, the nation’s foremost portrayer of
President Abraham Lincoln; Randy Phiel, Chairman of the
Adams County Board of Commissioners; and Licensed Town
Historian Gerald Eak.
Gettysburg Mayor William Troxell assisted GBPA President Barb Mowery in slicing through
the ceremonial ribbon.
-3-
The GBPA-sponsored Venture Crew 1861 Boy Scouts
provided lively fife and drum music.
The GBPA, formed in 1959, is the nation’s oldest Civil
War battlefield preservation organization, a fact saluted by
Commissioner Phiel.
“Never, never stop -- because you’ve done a
wonderful job,” said Phiel in his remarks.
It was an opinion seconded by GNMP Supt. Clark.
“The Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Association
has provided a greater appreciation for what happened at
Gettysburg and in the battle’s aftermath,” said Clark.
At the GBPA headquarters ribbon-cutting, GNMP Supt.
Ed Clark praises its long commitment to preservation.
Licensed Town Historians at home with GBPA at 33 York Street
The Gettysburg Licensed Town Historians have teamed with GBPA, and have begun operating out
of our storefront/headquarters at 33 York Street.
The historians offer 1 1/2 hour guided walking tours of downtown Gettysburg and illuminate
the experiences of its citizens in the Battle of
Gettysburg and its aftermath.
The historians are Gerry Eak, Jerry LaRussa,
Elaine Leslie, Jane Malone, John McTague, Linda Mixer,
Tom Rutherford, Kevin Serensits and Linda Seamon.
The move to the GBPA storefront was the
culmination of two years of negotiations spurred by
GBPA board member and former president Brendan
Synnamon.
Through the Licensed Town Historians, many
more
visitors
are made aware of the GBPA and our
Gettysburg Licensed Town Historians with GBPA trustee Jay
work.
Purdy, Administrative Vice-President Stephen Reed and
President Barb Mowery.
Historian Gerald Eak reports that they are
closing in on 100 tours for the year thus far. The group
is currently in negotiations with a local B&B to present weekly history talks.
“Several of us attended the Destination Gettysburg open house to promote the GBPA and the Town
Historians,” said Eaks. “Jerry LaRussa and I made a courtesy call on GNMP Superintendent Ed Clark to
promote the GBPA and our Historians. We also made a courtesy call on Gettysburg Borough Council member
Scott Pitzer and will be scheduling appointments with other council members.
Coming up on August 14, we will meet with Gettysburg Borough Manager Charles Gable to review
our programs, our affiliation with the GBPA and what we can do for the Borough by attracting visitors to
the Association headquarters on York Street.”
More information on the Gettysburg Licensed Town Historians and their tours is at their website:
www.gblth.com. You can call them at 717-253-5737 or reach them by email at tours@gblth.com.
-4-
Amos Lady
from Adams County to Andersonville
By Ray Davis, Board of Trustees
On April 20, 1864 the Union forces at Plymouth, North
Carolina surrendered after a three day fight against superior
Confederate forces. Most of the enlisted men were eventually sent
to the prison camp at Andersonville, GA. One of the “Plymouth
Pilgrims” making this journey was Amos J Lady of Company K,
101st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry.
Amos was born to John and Susan Lady of Adams County,
Pennsylvania in 1835. According to the Federal Census, in 1850,
Amos is listed as living on his grandfather’s farm in Straban
Township, now known as the Daniel Lady farm, named after
Amos’s uncle.
In an 1860 census,
he is living with his
parents in Menallen
Township and his
occupation is listed as a
nurseryman.
In the fall of 1861,
Amos enlisted in Company
K, of the 101st
Pennsylvania. The
regiment saw heavy
fighting at Seven Pines in
1862 and would
eventually be transferred
to coastal operations off of North Carolina. In January 1864 he
reenlisted with the 101st. But his part in the war would soon be
over.
In April of 1864, Amos with most of his regiment was
captured at Plymouth, NC. He would enter the Andersonville
prison that spring, but due to the deplorable conditions at the
camp, Amos did not survive the summer. He entered the hospital
at the camp, but two days later he expired of disease on August 6,
1864.
His family did not learn of his fate until around January of
1865. It was early January that year when his uncle, Daniel Linard,
filed Amos’s estate papers in Adams County. His occupation as a
nurseryman is evident as he had 5500 apple trees and 11 acres of
land valued at $220 in his estate.
One of the more interesting items listed in the estate papers
was a “Co. Map” that his father paid 65 cents for. This would have
been the 1858 Adams County Wall map, which shows his father’s
farm just north of Arendtsville in Menallen Township.
Message from the
President:
If you weren’t in Gettysburg for
Memorial Day weekend in June
or the first week in July, you
missed exciting events for the
GBPA!
Another important 2014
weekend is coming up August
16 &17 at the Daniel Lady
Farm. Our program includes a 3
p.m. memorial ceremony for
John Fenstermacher, our
solicitor during the early years
of the Pennsylvania Gettysburg
Monuments Project and when
the Daniel Lady Farm was
purchased.
At 5 p.m., we’ll have our first
membership picnic. It’s a
gathering of our members and
friends who support our
preservation efforts, and greet
new members who share that
commitment. We’ll also outline
exciting plans for the future.
Before the dedication
ceremony, starting at 10 a.m.,
and on Sunday, the ALHES will
host a living history living
history at the farm,
“Gettysburg, the Aftermath.”
Please plan on joining us for the
whole day on Saturday.
It is wonderful to see the new
vitality among the GBPA and
our renewed impact on the
Gettysburg community’s
preservation and interpretation
of the epic events of 1863.
I look forward to seeing you on
August 16th.
Barb
-5-
Amos is buried in grave # 4885 in the Andersonville National
Cemetery.
The Civil War affected the Lady family in many ways from sons
marching off to war to damages caused by the Battle of Gettysburg.
But quite the saddest story of all is that of Amos Lady,
One of Adams County’s brave boys who gave his life for his country.
The author would like to thank Kevin Frye, former park ranger
at Andersonville and administrator of the Descendants of
Andersonville Prisoners Facebook page, for his help in researching
Amos and the photo of his grave.
11th Annual Civil War Preservation Ball
Civil War Preservation Ball tradition of success continues! The sell-out event raised $9,000 for the
Gettysburg Monument Endowment Trust Fund, bringing the total for 11 years to $75,000. Over 200
people came to dance in the beautiful rotunda of the
Pennsylvania Capitol Building in March. Our guests
came from Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Maryland, New
Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia,
West Virginia, and the District of Columbia and ranged
from preteens to seniors.
Special guests included (left to right) Carol
Readshaw, Lori Moul, state Rep. Dan Moul, Gettysburg
National Military Park Superintendent Ed Clark and his
wife Heidi and son Reid, state Rep. Harry Readshaw,
and Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Association
President Barbara Mowery.
-6-
The Victorian Dance Ensemble (VDE), the performing troupe of the Civil War Dance Foundation,
led the dancing. Lawrence Keener-Farley and
Jeffrey Trace served as dance masters and called the dances. Members of the VDE demonstrated the
routines and served as floor managers, assisting guests.
Music was provided by the Philadelphia Brigade Band, dressed in Union Army uniforms. The
twenty member brass band, under the direction of Richard Cummines, played Civil War era music
ranging from lively reels to romantic waltzes.
Guests were greeted by the Boy Scout Venture Crew 1861, portraying the 1st Pennsylvania
Reserves Fifes and Drums, playing on the steps of the Capitol. The Red Mill Serenaders - Len
Entrabartolo and Wesley Stokes – played Civil War music during the reception and intermission.
The website of the Victorian Dance Ensemble is www.civilwardance.org.
And the result…
Gettysburg National Military Park Superintendent Ed
Clark, second from left, receives a ceremonial check
from state Rep. Harry Readshaw, D-Allegheny,
representing $9,000 placed into a perpetual
endowment trust to maintain the Pennsylvania
monuments on the Gettysburg Battlefield. Readshaw
is the founder of the Pennsylvania Gettysburg
Monuments Project. The two are flanked by Larry and
Annette Keener-Farley of the Victorian Dance
Ensemble, which raised the money through its 11th
annual Preservation Ball in the State Capitol Rotunda
in March.
th
The 12 annual Civil War Preservation Ball is set for March 21, 2015.
GBPA and American Living History Education Center
at the Daniel Lady Farm
2014 Schedule
August 16 – First Annual GBPA Members Picnic & Meeting
August 16, 17 – “Gettysburg, The Aftermath”
August 29, 30, September 1 – French & Indian War Event
September 27 – ABATE “Ride to Gettysburg” for the monuments
November 14 – Gettysburg Monuments Project dinner at the
Dobbin House
November 14, 15, 16 – Remembrance Weekend living history &
open house
November 15 – Dedication of flags and Memorial Garden
December 13 – Inns of Gettysburg Holiday Tour, Noon – 5 p.m.
Holiday Tours every weekend after Thanksgiving until the
end of December
The Daniel Lady Farm house and barn are open for tours
10 a.m. - 4 p.m. EVERY Saturday and Sunday.
-7-
OFFICERS
President
Barb Mowery
Administrative Vice-President
Stephen Reed
Operations Vice-President
Kirk Davis
Secretary
Diana Forgett
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Mike Cassidy
Raymond Davis
Robert E. Hanrahan, Jr.
Larry Keener-Farley
George Lomas
Jay Purdy
Bill Synnamon
Brendan Synnamon
HONORARY ADVISORY
BOARD
Hon. Harry A. Readshaw
Hon. Dan Moul
Ed Bearss
Jim Mundy
Mark Nesbit
Glen Hayes
--- 2015 --42nd Annual
Civil War
Collectors’ Show
June 27
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
June 28
9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Eisenhower Inn
Allstar Complex
---Gettysburg---
Boy Scouts Venture Crew 1861
Anniversary
It was 10 years ago that the Venture Crew 1861 was formed as
Boy Scout Troop 53 Fife & Drum Corps in Maytown, Pennsylvania.
Two years ago, the GBPA assumed sponsorship of the troop,
which portrays the Field Music of the 1st Pennsylvania Volunteer
Reserve Battalion, which was created in 1861. The Venture Crew is
part of Boy Scouts of America New Birth of Freedom Council and is a
member of PA Reserve Battalion and the United States Volunteers
(USV) reenactment organizations.
This spring, the corps performed for guests at the Civil War
Preservation Ball in the State Capitol Rotunda on March 29, benefiting
the Pennsylvania Gettysburg Monuments Project and at the 150th
Anniversary Battle of the Wilderness held in May in Spotsylvania,
Virginia. In July, the group fielded musicians for both the Union and
Confederate sides in “Pickets Charge” at the 151st Anniversary Battle
of Gettysburg.
The scouts also supplied rousing tunes at the Dedication of the
GBPA storefront
headquarters on York
Street in Gettysburg.
Young adults -boys and girls -- who
are completing eighth
grade or are 14 years of
age may join Venture
Crew 1861.
A tentative
schedule of events and
more information is
posted at
fieldmusic.org and on Facebook.
Anyone with musical aptitude and interest in history should
contact Mike Cassidy, Venture Crew Advisor at
fifeanddrum@comcast.net to find out how to participate.
Mike also can be reached by phone at 717-426-3941 or 717-368-1235.
The new GBPA
cannon
roars!
-8-
GBPA Membership Form
GBPA is an all-volunteer organization with a proud history extending over 53 years
Name(s):__________________________________________________________________________
Address: __________________________________________________________________________
City:_________________________________________ State:____________ Zip:________________
Email (print clearly):_________________________________________________________________
Telephone __________________________ Cell ___________________________________
Occupation:________________________________________________________________________
Please indicate the type of your tax deductable membership:
New_________ Renewal ___________
________Individual $30 _______Family $50 ______Student $10
_______Business $150 _________Lifetime Business $1,000
_______Scouting/Youth Group $50 ________Lifetime Individual $500
_______Re-enactment Group $100 __________Preservation Benefactor $2,500
FRIENDS OF AMERICAN LIVING HISTORY EDUCATION CENTER (ALHEC)
I want to support teaching America’s history with my added donation to the
following:
$_________ Unrestricted $_________Farm Maintanance
$________Educational Programs $________Scouting
SEND TO:
G.B.P.A.,
P.O. Box 4087,
Gettysburg, PA 17325
The Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Association is a 501c3 nonprofit organization under the Internal Revenue Code and is registered as a charitable
organization with the Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations. Contributions are tax deductible.
A happy dilemma
-9-
If we were to discuss the activities at the American Living History Center at the Daniel Lady Farm and
include the photographs, we’d have enough to fill another complete newsletter. The cooperation and enthusiasm of
the American Living History Education Society has turned the farm from a place one drives by over the weekend, to
a destination place.
These events will be prominently featured when the GBPA website at www.gbpa.org goes live later this
month. For now, here’s a slice of what’s been going on:
Gettysburg License Plate VICTORY!
-10-
After founding the Pennsylvania Gettysburg Monuments Project in 1997, state Rep. Harry Readshaw of
Allegheny County proposed a custom license plate to help preserve the state’s 146 monuments and markers on the
Gettysburg battlefield. The initial bill garnered considerable support but enactment proved elusive.
The hurdle led the Monuments Project to create and sell the Gettysburg 1863 unofficial license plate that
graces the fronts of many cars and trucks in Pennsylvania and elsewhere. The GBPA was among the early backers
of Readshaw’s preservation campaign and has sold the unofficial plate at
virtually all of its events.
This year, Readshaw amended the Monuments Preservation plate
language into a Senate bill and on July 2, Act 109 of 2014 was signed into law
The design by the Department of Transportation will feature a color
photograph of the Pennsylvania Memorial with the words “Gettysburg 1863.” The applications and plates will be
available October 30.
The cost of the license plate will be $54, not including annual registration. Of
that, $23 will go to a dedicated state fund to provide grants to nonprofit organizations.
The groups can use the funds to have the Gettysburg National Military Park clean,
repair and restore a specific monument proposed by the organization. The
Monuments Project and GBPA will continue fundraising for the perpetual endowment
Preliminary concept
trust for each Pennsylvania monument to ensure periodic cleaning even if there is no
sponsoring organization.
Celebratory Dinner: Rep. Readshaw and the Monuments Project will host a banquet November 14 at the
Dobbin House in Gettysburg to celebrate the license plate’s debut.
A social hour will begin at 6 p.m., and dinner at 7 p.m. Tickets are $35 each, or $60 for a couple.
Reservations: Barb Mowery at (717) 783-0411 or (717) 891-6369 or via e-mail at bmowery@pahouse.net.
GBPA
P.O. Box 4087
Gettysburg, PA 17325