The Battle of New Market and Cedar Creek, Virginia

During our summer vacation, June 2011, we visited several Civil War battlefields. Two of which were in Virginia. New Market Battlefield, Cedar Creek Battlefield and Gettysburg Battlefield. The New Market Battlefield is a sight to see; right off the main highway, and very convenient. There is a museum, and original farm buildings on the sight.

The battle was fought May 15, 1864 during Ulysses S. Grants "Grand Strategy" Shenandoah Valley Campaign to drive the confederate army into surrender. On the union side General Franz Sigel (same general from the Battle of Wilson's Creek), and on the confederate side General John C. Breckinridge converged here.

What makes this battle special is that freshman Virginia Military Institute, or VMI students were called upon to join General Breckinridge and his army of 4,500 to drive thee union army out of the Shenandoah Valley. The students marched 81 miles to join forces, and became a Confederate victory. A small battle with only 1,500 casualties total. The battlefield is known as "The field of Lost Shoes"


The battle of Cedar Creek was fought on October 19, 1864 between Lt. Gen Jubal Early of the Confederate, and Maj. gen. Phillip Sheridan of the Union during the height of The Valley Campaign of 1864. 32,000 Union soldiers and 11,000 Confederate soldiers. 8,000 casualties total. The battle was a Union victory.

Charles Ives Birthplace Home, Danbury, Connecticut

Tyler and I went to the Charles Ives birthplace home in Danbury today....It was a historical disappointment. All we did is walk around the home; I thought it was a museum. Well, any way...Charles Ives is an American Composer who was born at in this home in 1874. His father was a band leader during the American Civil War for the Union Army. However, this location is not the original spot of the home. Orginally, it was located on Main Street, but has been moved three times due to building and construction of those locations.

Charles is cedited to be thee first American composer to have international notoriety. He composed 114 songs; however, Ives' music was largely ignored during his life, and many of his works went unperformed for many years.

If in Danbury, and into musical history, check it out...

Deveaux School Historic District, Niagara Falls, New York

While home for Easter, I decided to check out this historical sight in Niagara Falls, New York. What brought my attention to this area was the local newspaper. The Niagara Gazette have had some articles running about a carriage house dated to the Civil War.

This property was deeded to Judge Samuel DeVeaux in the mid 1850's as the Deveau College for Orphans and Destitute Children. Samuel DeVeaux was a large contributor to the Lockport and Niagara Railroads, and was instrumental in the construction of the Whirlpool Bridge. His business dealings resulted in a vast land purchase along the Niagara River, that still beares his name. The judge died in 1852.
For nearly 80 years, the course work at this school included military like drills and students dressed in uniforms that resembled West Point. The last day of military influence on the campus was in 1950.
Buildings on the property at one time included Van Rensselaer Hall, Monro Hall, Schoellkopf Hall, Edgewood, the Walker Residence, the Buscaglia-Castellani Art Gallery, a carriage house, boiler house and three residential homes. The 51-acre site grew to encompass a campus of nearly a dozen buildings and residences.
DeVeaux College fell on hard times as the demand for prep-school education continued to decline in the 20th century and the Episcopal Diocese ceased operations at the school and, in 1971, looked to another organization to accept the burden of taking care of the historic structures. Subsequent property owners or lessees include Niagara County, Niagara Falls, Niagara University, Board of Cooperative Educational Services, Niagara County Community College and currently New York State Office of Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation who christened the property DeVeaux Woods State Park.

The property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

The Niagara Gazette has been publishing articles in relation to this area.
They are about an old Civil War Era Carriage House; the city would like to demolish this historic building. WHY? Its listed as a Historical Sight...




Please Read the following Link.







http://niagara-gazette.com/local/x7460654/State-delays-plans-to-demolish-Carriage-House

The "Old" Erie Canal, Lock 52, Port Byron, New York

While driving back to Connecticut today, I decided to stop at a historical sight along the interstate. This location is located near the Port Byron rest area going East on I-90. I have pasted this area several times, and never stopped...Shame on me! This location is dated 1851, and was an old lock in The Erie Canal.
The Erie Canal is a waterway that extends from Buffalo, New York at Lake Erie to Albany, New York at The Hudson River. Continuing, down the Hudson River to New York and out to the Atlantic. This waterway is 363 miles total, and has 36 locks in the waterway. Construction began on the canal in 1817 and completed in 1825. The canal opened on October 26, 1825. At that time, the canal was technological marvel. The canal fostered a population surge in western New York state, opened regions farther west to settlement, and helped New York City become the chief U.S. port. It was enlarged between 1834 and 1862. In 1918, the enlarged canal was replaced by the larger New York State Barge Canal.
Erie Canal Lock 52 Complex is a national historic district located at Port Byron and Mentz in Cayuga County, New York. The district includes two contributing buildings (the Erie House and the blacksmith shop / mule barn); three contributing engineering structures (Erie Canal Lock 52, culvert, and canal prism of the enlarged Erie Canal); and archaeological sites associated with the canal operations. Lock 52 was constructed 1849-1853 as part of the Enlarged Erie Canal program. It remained in operation until the rerouting of the canal under the New York State Barge Canal System in 1918.

Listed on the National Register of Historical Places in 1998

Please, read more at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erie_Canal


Check out this video that I stumpled upon on Youtube...it puts it into perspective on how Lock 52 looked like.

Happy New Year!!!!

Well, its been a very cold, and snowy New England New Year. I am looking forward to visiting new sights in New England, or even on the East Coast this year. Please, stay connected for historical updates, coin finds and great pictures.

Plumtrees School, Bethel, Connecticut

In 1866, this sight was donated by Eliza Benedict for the school. Construction was completed in 1867. At this time, Bethel had 5 school districts, grades first through eigth were taught in a one room schoolhouse. The school teacher would arrive very early to gather wood and warm the school before the children arrive.

In 1881, the Cupola and Bell were added. And, that same year an addition was made due to the lack of space for the overcrowded children.

In 1939, The Plumtrees School Association was formed to assist in maintance and supplies; they held lawn parties as social events, too.

In 1957, the school closed for renovations, for 90 years the students used the out-house and hand water pump, but now electricity and indoor plumbing was added. A new entramce that faces Tayler Road was also added.

In 1970, the school closed its doors, and relocated learning to the new school at the Educational Park. The school is named Anna H. Rockwell, so named after the teacher that taught at this school for 43 years.

2006, The Plumtrees Onroom Schoolhouse was placed on Connecticuts Registry of Historical Places.

Kent, Connecticut

Beautiful Kent, is located in Litchfield County, Connecticut. In Kent, there are several places to visit. Today, we chose to have a picnic at Kent Falls State Park. But, the admission was too high($15) to park, so we decided to go somewhere else. We ended up at Macedonia Brook State Park...and it was gorgious. The family had a great time, so did I. Macedonia State Park first opened in 1918 on 1,552 acres. Now, it has grown to a wopping 2,300 acres. This park is nestled after the Catskill and Taconic Mountains, and this area is the southern beginning of the Berkshire Plateau leading upto the Green Mountains of Vermont.

Then, we stopped at Bulls Bridge, one of three covered bridges in Connecticut, still in exsistence that were built in the 19th-century. Historically, George Washington crossed the Housitonic near Bulls Bridge in 1781. However, the bridge was built in 1842 out of timber. Covered bridges were covered because they were made out of wood, to slow down the rotting of the timber. Bulls Bridge was placed on the National Register of Historical Places in 1979.

Kent is an artists town, next visit to Kent will include: Kent Falls State Park, and a walk through Kent. But, please enjoy these pictures, as much as I enjoyed taking them.

Bethel, Connecticut

Bethel, Connecticut is located in Fairfield County, about 60 miles north of New York City. Bethel was first settled around 1700. The first homes were built around 1720, as part of the near by city Danbury. In 1855, Bethel seceded from Danbury to become its own incorporated town. Bethel means "House of El(God)".

Several homes and areas in Bethel have been placed on the National Register of Historical Places. Most notably Greenwood Avenue, PT Barnum Square(Pictured). Historical homes include, "The Greatest Showman on Earth", P.T. Barnums childhood home (Yellow Home Pictured). Other areas, include "The Old Burying Grounds" where revolutionary war soilders were laid to rest nearly 200 years ago (Pictured). During the revolutionary war in 1777, Bethel served as a resting area for revolutuionary war soilders,and American Continental Army Generals, such as Brigadier General Benedict Arnold, Major General David Wooster and Brigadier General Gold S. Silliman. They were on their way to stop the British in nearby Danbury from burning a patriot supply depot, to say the least, the British did burn the depot and other areas of Danbury. Located in the center of town, Captain Daniel Hicock, stayed at this home during this engagement. At that time, it was a tavern and hotel(Pictured).

Bethel, during the early 1900s served as one of the leading towns, besides Danbury, to manufacture hats. This area produced 25% of the nations hats, thus this area(Danbury/Bethel)is nicknamed "The Hat City" or "The Hatting Capitol of the World"

Bethel is home to notable lead singer, Thurston Moore, of Sonic Youth. And, movie star Meg Ryan. Cannondale bicycles are headquartered here, along with Duracell batteries.

New England

Well folks, we moved to Connecticut. The New England area is rich with history; please, stay connected for updates and new exciting places to see.