SBPA President Dr. Mike Nickerson hosted a distinguished visitor to the Shepherdstown Battlefield on Friday afternoon, October 27, namely the acting Superintendent of the Harper’s Ferry National Park.
Superintendent Tanya Gossett enjoyed the tour, viewed battle artifacts and information, and discussed the future options for establishing a new National Battlefield associated with both Harper’s Ferry and Antietam.
She praised the 19 years of preservation efforts by the SBPA, Jeff Co Historic Landmarks Commission, the WV Farmland Protection Board and the Land Trust of the Eastern Panhandle. Thanks for your support Tanya!
The SBPA was pleased to host a group from the Potomac Valley Audubon Society this week at the Osbourn Farm and Riverside Park. The visit builds on a partnership to improve habitat in the battlefield as part of the SBPA’s Birds in the Battlefield project.
Dr. Nickerson presented the battle and battlefield, while the PVAS group tabulated quite a list of birds! Thanks Nancy, et al. What great weather for our outing!
See below for more details, the bird count and pix!
This week, Battlefield Volunteers Steve and Mike Nickerson installed 2 owl boxes that Steve built on the Osbourn Farm! Find both boxes and win a prize! This is part of the Birds in the Battlefield project with the Potomac Valley Audubon Society to improve battlefield habitat.
We also looked at an unsecured barn door. Thanks Steve!
Dr. Mike Nickerson, President, SBPA and Grant Smith, President, Land Trust of the Eastern Panhandle gave a luncheon presentation to the Shepherdstown Area Independent Living (SAIL) group about the past, present and future of the Shepherdstown Battlefield, and an update on our valued partners’ efforts to preserve the Battlefield.
The meeting occurred at the Trinity Church at their September meeting at noon on Friday, September 22. About 25 attendees enjoyed lunch, history and mechanisms for land preservation and conservation including land trust and farmland easements.
Pictured are Dr. Nickerson, SBPA (left) and Grant Smith, LTEP.
Questions followed about local history, battlefield artifacts, prospects for a new National Battlefield and about local families such as the Botelers (Cement Mill owners), Blackfords (Ferry operators and MD farms) and the Folks-Myers-Lowes.
The SBPA had an information table with books, maps, merchandise, pamphlets and battlefield artifacts. Of great interest, a participant was able to identify an artifact from the Battlefield found by Dr. Nickerson that was unknown for many years. It is a saddle horn ‘tree’ that was part of a ‘McClellan’ saddle that was in standard use by the Union Calvary during the Civil War. How great is that?
A Battlefield Picnic on the Osbourn Farm was hosted by the SBPA on August 26 from 4 – 6 pm. It was a highlight of the 2023 summer! The SBPA received the 2023 Conservation Award from the Two Rivers Giving Circle.
The picnic was ‘sold out’ at 65 people and the SBPA took the lead on renting a tent, tables and chairs. Live music was provided by a local band from Packhorse Ford, “Paul the Resonator and the Potomac Valley Dustbusters”.
In addition to the presentation of the award, Dr. Nickerson, SBPA President, thanked the SBPA Officers and Board of Directors, our Donors and Supporters, our Preservation Partners, the many Volunteers and Battlefield neighbors, and our County, State and Federal representatives for their long term and continued support.
The sound system was provided by Bill Unger and catered appetizers were from Grazeful, LLC., from Martinsburg. Thank you to the Two Rivers Giving Circle, volunteers who helped set up and clean up, and all who attended. Thanks for mowing the lawn Julie!
Sunday, September 17, 2023: Jim Surkamp is doing a 40 minute walking tour then showing a 30 minute video about the impact of the Antietam Battle on Shepherdstown. Jim advises that:
“The walking tour will address the care of the wounded in Shepherdstown during that September using many unpublished diary accounts of young women and townspeople. Any of your members who wish to join the tour need to email ME at [email protected] . . . Telling me that they “DEFINITELY WILL ATTEND”, “MIGHT ATTEND” OR “WILL NOT ATTEND” the walking tour before the showing at the Opera House. It is limited to twenty people and we prefer members of the sponsoring organizations.”
The video, “Shepherdstown Remembers Antietam”will be shown at the Opera House.
Please read this announcement from Harriet Pearson of the Opera House for more information.
It’s been a busy summer! Just a month ago or so I was touring the James Osbourne Farm with local descendants of the Folk family, who purchased and owned Mountain View Farm in 1883 – 1943. That was an interesting tour.
Moving into new business:
Battlefield Tour
Two weeks ago Dr. Tom Clemens led a battlefield tour of (who knew?) Civil War enthusiasts from the U.K. I think a European market for our tour is a great idea! Way to go, Tom.
Protection of Carvings
Last week, SBPA member Jerry Moore and I installed UV-blocking plexiglass over the carved signatures in the corn crib. This was done to physically protect them, and the installation actually improved the visual on the individual signatures – which include James Osbourn 1861; C M + S M (1883); and D. H. F. (Daniel H. Folk).
Betty Snyder Lowe helped identify Daniel in her book “The Folks of Swan Pond”. The Folks purchased Mountain View Farm as a wedding present for their daughter. At the time the Folk Family owned the Lord Fairfax Northern Neck Estate House off Route 45 west of Shepherdstown. Thanks for initiating this JT!
Sign Installation at the Osbourn Farm
This week, Martin Burke installed the first of two signposts at the entrance to the Osbourn Farm.
Then on Saturday, SBPA VP Steve Alemar and Martin installed the second one which includes the SBPA sign!
Stop by and see how good they look! Great job, Martin and Steve!
Battlefield Updates for the Shepherdstown Museum
Dr. Nickerson has been working with Museum staff to update their info on the Battle of Shepherdstown, successful preservation efforts and the activities of the SBPA. The info they had on hand was quite old, some was inaccurate, and they had nothing about the efforts to preserve properties in the battlefield. They now have accurate text, maps, place names, preserved properties, and SBPA info.
SBPA Info Table at a Local Festival
Next up, my daughter convinced me to set up a Battlefield booth at a music festival just out of town on Flowing Springs Road. As I have everything ready to go, I agreed.
So, on Saturday, August 19 from 3 – 8 pm we will have books, maps, artifacts, pamphlets and MORE at the Tomato Jam Festival off Flowing Springs Road between Witmer and French Roads. Anyone who wants to take a shift at the booth contact me. Otherwise, Rosemary and I will set it up and take it down. It should be a fun event with local music, crafts, etc. For more info: https://www.facebook.com/sistermoonfarm.wv/
Picnic on the Osbourn Farm
That brings us to the Battlefield Picnic on the Osbourn Farm coming up on August 26 from 4 – 6 pm. A highlight of the 2023 summer! The picnic is ‘sold out’ at a maximum of 55 people for the event. The SBPA took the lead on renting a tent, tables and chairs, which will be delivered and set up on Friday, August 25. We have arranged a local bank from Packhorse Ford to play at the event, they are “Paul the Resonator and the Potomac Valley Dustbusters”. There will be catered appetizes from Grazefull, LLC.,. from Martinsburg.
The event will be a greet and graze session with music from 4 – 4:45 pm. Then talking, awards, Farm history, etc. from 4:45 – 5:45 pm. Then a return to mingling and music till 6:30. I will bring everything I have for a SBPA table. Including our banner. I’ll be there from Saturday at 2 pm on thru cleanup. RM and Hannah have also agreed to help.
Afterwards, whoever wants to can stay at the Farm to enjoy beers, wine, etc. for us! The fireflies are still pretty amazing!
SBPA to co-sponsor ‘Shepherdstown during Antietam’ video at the Opera House
This is an event happening on September 17th and co-sponsored by the Shepherdstown Museum, Opera House, George Tyler Moore Centre, and the SBPA. Jim Surkamp is leading a tour before the video premiere of buildings used as hospitals during and after Antietam. Then the video will be shown at the Opera House. Owners Harriet and Steve Pearson will be attending the August 26 picnic so say hello. The Surkamp effort seems to be mostly a rehashing of Kevin Pawlak‘s excellent book. The Opera House seems to be leading the advertising for this effort. I don’t know if tickets are needed, etc but info will be posted on the Opera House website.
MN talk to SAIL
The SAIL organization (Shepherdstown Area Independent Living) requested a speaker about the Battle and efforts to preserve the Battlefield at their September meeting at noon on Friday, September 22. I have not been given the location but it may be in the clubhouse of the new development across the road and up the hill from the Shepherdstown Daycare Center.
That’s enough for now! Hope to see you all soon or on August 26 which promises to be a very nice event.
I can’t resist showing another great picture from the Streetfest and our ‘Kids with the Musket’ photo shoot:
