Category: history

Posted on by

HISTORY’S MYSTERIES OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR AND COLONIAL ERA

THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC

CIVIL WAR MUSEUM

Presents a New Program via ZOOM

 

Sunday, November 1 at 1:00 p.m.

HISTORY’S MYSTERIES: OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR AND COLONIAL ERA – What they didn’t teach you in high school

by Historian & Educator – our own – Herb Kaufman

Many people love to read historical fiction, but this is historical reality.  Legends and lore have become a significant part of American history of the Revolutionary War and the colonial era.

 Among others, historical reality seeks to answer: “Who is Molly Pitcher and did she really fire a cannon at Monmouth” … “Did George Washington honestly have wooden teeth?” … “Where did Paul Revere actually ride?” …  “What really happened on the Fourth of July?” … “What is the true story of the Liberty Bell?”

The history of the American Revolution and the colonial era are full of lore, myths, half-truths and just plain inaccuracies that have become a part of American history.

Every day stories are repeated in schools, museums, and television programs because they are catchy, humorous or entertaining; but we are going to separate fact from fiction.

This program focuses on these mysterious, misrepresented and often imagined incidents and events.  You will learn the truth about the Revolutionary War and colonial myths, stories and events that they never taught you in high school.

Please send a request to reserve a virtual seat for this outstanding presentation by replying to this e-mail at

garmuslib1866@gmail.com

You will be sent a link with a password that will enable you to access the program within 24 hours of the start of the presentation.

As a lover of history, you know how critical it is to keep history alive, especially today!  We very much appreciate your continued support for the GAR Civil War Museum.

Posted on by

Greenwood Cemetery Tour

The Philly Captain is not always historically accurate but he is always interesting.  Here he starts out at the Knights of Pythias/Greenwood Cemetery on Adams Avenue.

Come Sail with The Captain as he shows you some graves from 3 different cemeteries in Philadelphia. See the grave of the parents of W.C. Fields and hear about the worst mother of all time. See a Blue Note, an American Hero and two baseball players.

 

Posted on by

The Story of Wistar Park

The Historical Society of Frankford live streamed Fred Prescott’s presentation of the Story of Wistar Park last night in place of their regular monthly in person meeting.

Fred is our former neighbor from Griscom Street and his roots go way back in Frankford history.  He packed a lot of history into this video.  Take a look.

 

Posted on by

The Historical Society of Frankford Livestream October 13th

Join us for the Historical Society of Frankford’s next live streaming event on Tuesday evening , October 13th, at 7:30 PM, when board member Fred Prescott will discuss the history of Wistar Park, the first official ballfield in this part of town.

Fred’s lecture will be drawn from our archival resources but will also be flavored by his own personal recollections of growing up in Frankford. The growth and development of amateur and semi-professional sports locally will be shown in the context of the rise of professional sports leagues throughout the United States in the years following the Civil War. And learn the story of the found, lost park.

Posted on by

Commodore Percival Drayton, Union Hero of the Civil War

THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC CIVIL WAR MUSEUM

Presents a New Program via ZOOM

Commodore Percival Drayton, Union Hero of the Civil War and Philadelphia

SUNDAY, October 4, at 1:00 pm

Presented by:  Captain Jack Lieberman (USN, retired)

Please send a request to reserve a virtual seat for this outstanding presentation by replying to this e-mail at  garmuslib1866@gmail.com

Percival Drayton was the son of a wealthy South Carolina Congressman William Drayton. He entered the United States Navy as a midshipman in 1827, and served continuously up to the Civil War, being posted to stations that included the Mediterranean, the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Brazil, Paraguay and at the Naval Observatory, Washington, DC.   His older brother, Thomas Fenwick Drayton, was a West Point Graduate and a United States Army officer who remained loyal to the South and became a Confederate Brigadier General.  When the Civil War began Percival was stationed at the Philadelphia Naval Yard, but was soon given command of the warship “USS Pocahontas.”  He commanded the vessel in the successful Union Naval assault on Port Royal, South Carolina in November 1861.  In that action, he fired upon troops and positions commanded by his brother Thomas who was commanding Confederate troops on shore in a literal, classic instance of the   “BROTHER AGAINST BROTHER” phrase often used to describe the American Civil War.

He was promoted to Captain, US Navy in July 1862, and was assigned to Admiral David Farragut’s West Gulf Squadron and commanded Farragut’s flagship USS Hartford in the celebrated Naval assault and capture of Mobile Bay, Alabama in August 1864. The bay was heavily mined (tethered  mines at that time were called TORPEDOES).   Farragut ordered his fleet to charge the bay. When one of the Union Monitors struck a mine and sank, the other Union ships began to retreat.  Farragut could see the ships pulling back from his high perch, where he was lashed to the rigging of his flagship.   “What’s the trouble?” he shouted through his megaphone to the forward lookout.  “Torpedoes!” was shouted back.   “DAMN THE TORPEDOES” said Farragut, “FOUR BELLS – CAPTAIN DRAYTON, FULL SPEED AHEAD”   The bulk of the fleet then succeeded in entering the bay. Captain Drayton died August 4, 1865 and was buried in St John’s Church in Washington, DC, however his remains were exhumed three months later and he was re-buried at Laurel Hill Cemetery, in Philadelphia, on November 18, 1865, next to his father, William Drayton.

You will be sent a link with a password that will enable you to access the program within 24 hours of the start of the presentation.

As a lover of history, you know how critical it is to keep history alive, especially today!  We very much appreciate your continued support for the GAR Civil War Museum