History

Abolitionists Battle Down a Door in Syracuse to Free a Fugitive 160 Years Ago

September 24, 2011 By margo Leave a Comment

Pictured is the monument in Clinton Square, Syracuse, to honor the Jerry Rescue of Oct. 1, 1851. John M. Rudy, National Park Service, will share his research on the freeing of a fugitive in a program at the Gerrit Smith Estate National Historic Landmark in Peterboro Saturday, Oct. 1, at 2 p.m.

Jermain Wesley Loguen of Syracuse was one of the primaries in the rescue of Jerry McHenry from a jail in Syracuse Oct. 1, 1851.

(Peterboro, Syracuse, NY – Oct. 2011) On Oct. 1, 160 years ago, a captured fugitive slave named Jerry was freed by a mob of Syracuse citizens. For seven years after that date, Central New York abolitionists celebrated the Jerry Rescue with an event that commemorated its importance.

In 1859 Gerrit Smith refused requests by the Jerry Rescue Committee to speak because people had not maintained the high level of commitment to abolition that the Jerry Rescue had demonstrated.

On Oct. 1, exactly 160 years after the Jerry Rescue, John M. Rudy of the National Park Service will present “The Jerry Level: Gerrit Smith and the Memory of the Jerry Rescue” at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at the Gerrit Smith Estate National Historic Landmark, 4543 Peterboro Road, Peterboro.

Oct. 1, 1851, events in downtown Syracuse drastically altered the course of the lives of countless Central New Yorkers. As abolitionists battered down the door to a Syracuse police station and freed the fugitive slave Jerry Henry, they embarked on a journey which would span the course of the next decade.

The Jerry Rescue was a catalyst for Upstate’s abolition activity from 1851 until the dawn of the Civil War.

Among those who turned the freeing of one man on Clinton Square in Syracuse into mass action were Gerrit Smith and Jermain Loguen. Smith advocated living life to the “Jerry Level” regarding the need for radical action. Loguen took the Jerry Rescue as inspiration to become more active in the Underground Railroad in Central New York.

Throughout the 1850s, the two men grew more radical every year until, by 1859, civil war seemed inevitable.

Rudy will share some of the history he unearthed during research for his thesis. Daniel Webster, in his May 1851 speech in Syracuse which challenged the abolition community, leads off the study. The next chapter centers on Loguen, Syracuse’s “King” of the Underground Railroad.

Third is a discussion of Smith’s disillusionment with the Upstate abolition community over the course of the 1850s and his eventual alliance with John Brown. The final chapter discusses Samuel May and the “death” of the Jerry Rescue spirit in Syracuse at the coming of the war.

It seems that the abolition world for about 10 years revolved around Syracuse and its personalities – Smith being key among that community of thinkers.

A native of Pompey, Rudy has been studying the history of Upstate New York’s abolition community since 2005. He holds a master’s in applied history from Shippensburg University and a bachelors in history with a minor in Civil War Era studies from Gettysburg College.

Rudy currently lives in Gettysburg and works with the National Park Service’s Interpretive Development Program in Harpers Ferry, W.V., creating training materials for park rangers across the entire park system.

The Gerrit Smith Estate National Historic Landmark and the National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum are open from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays from May 14 to Oct. 23. Admission to each site is $2. Stewards and students are free.

For more information, call (315) 684-3262 or visit gerritsmith.org or abolitionhof.org.

Filed Under: Calendar of Events, Downtown Syracuse, History, Syracuse Tagged With: Clinton Square, Syracuse NY news

New Great Lakes Seaway Trail VolksWalk Debuts Sept. 24 with AVA Regional Director, 1812 Period Interpreters

September 12, 2011 By margo Leave a Comment

(Sackets Harbor, NY – Sept. 2011) American Volkssport Association (AVA) Northeast Regional Director Doug Reynolds will help inaugurate the first-ever non-competitive Great Lakes Seaway Trail VolksWalk Saturday, Sept. 24 in Sackets Harbor.

Reynolds will be at the registration and welcome booth at the Great Lakes Seaway Trail Discovery Center, 401 W. Main Street, from 8:30am-1:30pm.

Walkers for the Sept. 24 Great Lakes Seaway Trail VolksWalk are expected from Albany, Buffalo, the Finger Lakes and Canada. Great Lakes Seaway Trail VolksWalkers in 1812 period costume will also be on hand.

This first of different theme walks honors the New York-Pennsylvania National Scenic Byway region’s War of 1812 history.

For more information, contact Great Lakes Seaway Trail Volkssport Association Trailmaster Daryl Giles at 315-646-1000 x200, daryl@seawaytrail.com or www.seawaytrail.com/volkssport.

Filed Under: Calendar of Events, Fun and recreation, History, Sackets Harbor

Canal Splash! Activities Begin Today

August 12, 2011 By margo Leave a Comment

(Albany, NY – Aug. 10, 2011) Canal Splash! kicks off Friday, Aug. 12, with a weekend-long celebration of attractions, events and activities available along the 524-mile-long New York State Canal system.

The 6th Annual Canal Splash! Aug. 12-13-14 at multiple locations will include nature walks, bike rides, educational exhibits, boating events, musical performances and tours.

The three-day event is co-sponsored by the Canal Corporation, Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, and Parks & Trails New York.

Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton said, “The Erie Canal is a not only a historic site that should be maintained for commerce and economic development, but also a source of pride for New Yorkers who enjoy its miles of parks, trails and boating.”

“Canal Splash! offers activities for New Yorkers of all ages including numerous fun and educational opportunities while also encouraging physical activity,” Stratton said. “The Canal Corporation is pleased to continue its partnership with the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and Parks and Trails New York to build upon the success of this annual event.”

Beth Sciumeca, executive director of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, said, “We invite New Yorkers to come out and enjoy our world renown canal system and hometown hospitality during Canal Splash! After nearly two centuries, the canal is still a magnet for travelers and summer activity and our canal towns are still welcoming visitors whether they come by boat, bicycle or car.”

Robin Dropkin, executive director of Parks and Trails New York, said, “Canal Splash! highlights all the interesting and fun things there are to do along the Canal System, and it’s just the tip of the iceberg. Between the museums, historic sites, cultural activities, and the Canalway Trail, there is something for all ages and interests.”

A complete program of events is available on-line at www.canals.ny.gov/specialevents. An informational brochure is also available at various locations along the canal, including many visitor centers, canal locks and harbors.

Highlights of Canal Splash! events taking place statewide throughout the state this weekend include:

Champlain Canal

7th Annual Cardboard Boat Race – Schuylerville

Join the fun as a spectator or enter the race. Build a human-powered boat made of corrugated cardboard or 100 percent recycled materials that will hold one crewmember and is seaworthy on the Hudson River in Schuylerville.

The Hyde Collection — Glens Falls

“New York, New York! The 20th Century Exhibition.” More than 60 paintings, photographs, sculptures, and works on paper that capture New York City, centered on some of the most notable and beloved features of the city and date from 1889 to 2009.

Erie Canal

Canal Heritage Day – Medina

This annual event will feature live music, demonstrations, games, local booths and art. New this year will be the Taste of Medina. Using a popular ingredient common in canal travel, local restaurants will create a dish showcasing their talents.

Erie Canal and Genesee Riverway Trails Ride – Brighton, Rochester

A 16-mile guided cycling tour on the paved Erie Canal and Genesee Riverway Trails with a rest stop in Downtown Rochester.

An Evening on the Canal – Greece

Enjoy a guided 90-minute tour of the historic Erie Canal from Henpeck Park to Junction Lock, followed by a buffet dinner.

Grand Opening of Erie Canal Museum — Palmyra

Located in the old tenant house on Market Street steps away from the Erie Canal, the museum is filled with original Palmyra items that were used to ship on the Erie Canal. Original ramps for the mules (which were housed in the basement), hand hewn beams, an old train ticket counter from the Ontario Railroad, benches, maps, a barge whistle, and artwork.

Towpath Day – Camillus

“Step Back” into the canal era, celebrating canal circus boats and more. A 5K Mule Skinner walk/ run will open the festivities followed by a day of demonstrations, crafts, music, kids stuff, steam engine exhibit, boat and wagon rides. Activities for all ages.

Futile Thunder at Fort Stanwix National Monument – Rome

The siege continues, because of the miscalculation of the Americans’ abilities and their determination to defend the fort, the British besieged it with undersized artillery. Discover how the British adapted to this problem and still attempted to conduct a successful siege during this one-hour demonstration led by the Oneida Indian Nation First Allies group and park staff. Cannon firings occur throughout this demonstration.

Erie Canal cruise through a 100-year-old lock — Herkimer

Ninety-minute narrated lock-through cruise on the Historic Erie Canal aboard Lil’ Diamond II. Specialty shopping and waterfront dining are also available at the Gems Along the Mohawk Complex.

Bike & Kayak Tours at Schoharie Crossing Site – Fort Hunter

See the remains of the old Erie Canal, the Schoharie Aqueduct, Empire Lock, Yankee Hill, and Port Jackson by bike. Learn about the history of the Mohawk River by kayak.

Exploring the Canals of Cohoes

Travel old canal towpaths where mules pulling barges once trod; see 170-year-old limestone locks built by hand; learn about this 19th century technological marvel; discover the different routes the canal took through Cohoes over time, and hear stories of life in a lively canal town.

Oswego Canal

Magic In Minetto

Live music, children’s crafts and face painting, ice cream social, antique cars, family canoe/kayak race, fire trucks, craft vendors, commemorative stamp cancellation and great food.

Cayuga-Seneca Canal

Wesleyan Chapel Ranger Program – Seneca Falls

A National Park Service Ranger will present a program on the 1848 Women’s Rights Convention in the Wesleyan Chapel, site of the convention.

The New York State Canal System is comprised of four historic waterways, the Erie, the Champlain, the Oswego and the Cayuga-Seneca Canals. Spanning 524 miles across New York state, the waterway links the Hudson River, Lake Champlain, Lake Ontario, the Finger Lakes and the Niagara River with communities rich in history and culture.

For more information regarding events, recreation and vacation opportunities along the Canal system, please visit www.canals.ny.gov or call 1-800-4CANAL4.

Filed Under: Annoucements, Announcements, Calendar of Events, Camillus, Fun and recreation, Herkimer, History, Oswego

Civil War Round Table Presents Documentary Manassas 1861

July 7, 2011 By margo Leave a Comment

(East Syracuse, NY – July 2011) On July 21, 1861 the First Battle of Manassas, also known as the First Battle of Bull Run (after a small stream located near the City of Manassas), was fought in Prince William County, Virginia. This battle, the first major army battle of the Civil War, resulted in a resounding Confederate victory as Union soldiers panicked and retreated in disarray to Washington, D.C.

But Confederate forces also lacked effective organization, and thus were unsuccessful in pursuing the fleeing Union troops. The defeat was a true wake-up call to President Lincoln, who mistakenly had viewed the war as one which would be quickly won.

On Thursday, July 21 the sesquicentennial anniversary of this important battle, at 7 p.m., at the Town of DeWitt Community Room, 148 Sanders Creek Pkwy, E. Syr. (off NYS Thruway Exit 35 at Carrier Circle), the Onondaga County Civil War Round Table program will present the 2002 Telly Award – winning documentary film Manassas 1861, directed by the Chitwood Brothers for Wide Wake Films.

The film viewing is free, along with popcorn and other refreshments.

For additional information, visit occwrt.blogspot.com, or call Bill Goodwin at 437-3887.

Filed Under: Calendar of Events, Dewitt, East Syracuse, History, Onondaga County Agencies and Organizations Tagged With: Bill Goodwin, East Syracuse NY news, Onondaga County Civil War Round Table, town of dewitt community room

The ‘Herkimer Regiment’ Goes to War on July 3, 1861

July 2, 2011 By margo Leave a Comment

News from New York State Division of Military & Naval Affairs

(Saratoga Springs, NY – July 1, 2011)(readMedia) On Wednesday, July 3, 1861 most Herkimer County residents were getting ready to celebrate Independence Day.

But the 733 men of the 34th New York Infantry, known as “The Herkimer Regiment” because that’s where most of them came from, were heading off to what was then called “the seat of war.”

Although it was nicknamed in honor of Herkimer County, only half of the regiment’s 10 companies had been recruited there.

Company B , commanded by Capt. Wells Sponable had been raised in Little Falls; Company C had been recruited by Capt. James Suiter in Norway; Company F had been recruited in Herkimer by Capt. Byron Laflin and Capt. Suiter had also raised Company G in the county’s biggest town. Finally Capt. John Beverly had recruited Company K in Salisbury.

But A Company came from Albany County, while Companies I and E were recruited in Steuben County, Company D came from Clinton County and Company H hailed from Essex County. But because the unit commander, Col. William LaDue, was a Herkimer County militia officer and most of the men were recruited there, it became known as the Herkimer Regiment.

The five companies from Herkimer County were accepted into State Service on May 1, 1861, while the other companies were accepted later as they arrived at the Albany training site. The entire regiment was accepted into New York’s service on May 24, 1861.

During the Civil War each state was responsible for enlisting Soldiers into units and providing those Soldiers with their first issue of equipment. These “volunteer” regiments-which were supposed to be composed of 10 companies of 100 Soldiers each– were then accepted into service by the United State Army.

The state of New York, for example, spent $44,679.81 equipping the men of the 34th New York Volunteer Infantry.

This was the pattern the American Military had followed from Revolutionary War until the Spanish American War. The states raised units and named them, either –the 2nd Massachusetts or the 5th New York-and each unit had a strong state flavor.

This system of recruiting units by state lasted until World War I when state designations disappeared from unit names.

Thus the 69th New York Infantry, a National Guard unit from New York City that fought in the Civil War as the 69th New York Volunteer Infantry, went to that war as the 165th Infantry Regiment, United States Army.

These volunteer infantry units enlisted for two or three years, depending on who was doing the recruiting.

On June 15, 1861 the Herkimer Regiment was accepted into the United States Army and on July 3 the men got on railroad cars and headed for Washington D.C. where the Union’s main Army was gathering.

Over the next two years the Soldiers of the 34th New York would distinguish themselves.

They fought at the Battles of Fair Oaks and Seven Pines and the Battle of Malvern Hill during General George B. McClellan’s Peninsular Campaign in June and July of 1862 . At the Battle of Antietam in September 1862 the unit took heavy losses.

Forty-five men were killed or mortally wounded, Lieutenant Armineas Rounds, 1 other officer and 96 enlisted men were wounded and Lieutenant John Kirk and 9 enlisted men missing or captured out of 311 men engaged.

The unit’s performance at Antietam, one of the key battles of the Civil War is marked by a monument on the battlefield erected in 1902 by survivors of the regiment and Herkimer County.

But, as in any organization, there were problems

On Saturday, October 12, 1861 two members of Company G took to drinking. Soon Lawrence Rooney and Hiram Bush were in an argument. According to a newspaper item at the time:

“High words passed; the quarrel has subsided, and Bush retired a short space from the scene; when he was heard to say, “He has said enough,” and suddenly Rooney exclaimed, “He has stuck me!”

He had stabbed Rooney fearfully with a large dirk knife, tearing open his stomach, and letting out his bowels. This occurred at about 10 P. M., and about 8 A. M. the next day Rooney died. Bush, by direction ofour Brigadier General, was turned over to the civil authority.

Yesterday, we escorted him to Rochville, shire town of Montgomery County, Md., where his case was brought before a magistrate, and he was committed to jail to await his trial, which is to come off next November. Bush and Rooney were both good soldiers, and it is needless

to add that bad whisky was the cause of the tragedy, which was a fatal to one and put the other on trial for murder.

Our commanders have been very decided against the “ardent,” but it was smuggled in from a shanty on the canal, and we have seen its accustomed fruits.”

The different dates on which Soldiers were recruited and then the unit was accepted by into state and then federal service also caused problems later.

When April 30 , 1863 rolled around , 60 Soldiers who had enlisted on May 1 argued that their two years of service were up and they wanted to go home. They would fight, the Soldier told their commanders, but they would not do duty otherwise. But the War Department had decided their 2 years of service ended on June 15, 1863.

The mutinous Soldiers were placed under guard by the brigade commander and separated from the other soldiers. The commander Gen Sully decided that the best way to end this rebellion was to threaten to shoot a few of the ringleaders. Another regiment was brought in with loaded muskets and the 60 Soldiers who wanted to go home right away decided it was better to wait a few months than be shot outright.

So in June 1863 the Soldiers of the Herkimer Regiment returned home, first to Albany where they were greeted with a free lunch and thanks at the Delancy House, a local restaurant and then to their homes.

Over the course of their military service the Herkimer Regiment lost 101 Soldiers Killed in Action, 30 Soldiers died of wounds, 100 who died of sickness and six who died of accidental wounds. Another 119 Soldiers were mustered out because of their injuries and 73 deserted. Of the 1016 Soldiers who eventually served in the Herkimer Regiment, only 536 came home with the unit.

More than 500,000 New Yorkers enlisted in the Army and Navy during the four years of the Civil War and 53,114 New Yorkers died. Throughout the period of the Civil War Sesquicentennial observance, the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs will produce short articles about New York’s Civil War experience researched by the New York State Military Museum in Saratoga Springs.

For more information, go the NewYork State Military Museum Civil War Timeline Website at http://dmna.state.ny.us/civilwar

Filed Under: Herkimer, History, Little Falls, Salisbury, Veteran's Corner

Lacrosse is Focus of July Programs at Great Lakes Seaway Trail Center

June 22, 2011 By margo Leave a Comment

(Sackets Harbor, NY – June 21, 2011) The game of lacrosse, its history and its life applications are the focus of a new exhibit and two programs by two of the game’s notable proponents at the Great Lakes Seaway Trail Discovery Center in Sackets Harbor in July.

The “Tewa’a:raton lakwa’tswa:tha: Lacrosse, Our Game” exhibit created by Mohawk youth working with the Akwesasne Cultural Center Museum at Hogansburg, NY, will be at the Discovery Center July 9-17. The development of the exhibit was made possible with support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

“Lacrosse is hugely popular in the US, Canada and in many countries across the world, but many fans are unaware of the Native origins of the game. This traveling exhibit, co-curated by Mohawk youth, explores the origins of lacrosse and carries the Mohawk cultural message of ‘Think about how you play the game and how you live your life,’” says Akwesasne Museum Curator Sue Ellen Herne.

The Wall Street Journal recently reported that the number of boys and girls in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut has grown to more than 91,000, according to the US Lacrosse governing body. There has been a 40 percent increase in the number of children playing the game in the New York City area since 2006.

On July 9, at 6:30pm at the Great Lakes Seaway Trail Discovery Center, US Lacrosse Hall of Fame Coach Kirk Ventiquattro will present “Lacrosse: Origin and Application.” Ventiquattro started the lacrosse program at Carthage Central School in 1988 and has coached more than 30 players who became NCAA Division I college lacrosse players. He will present an overview of the “Baggataway” story and how he applies the game to prepare his players for life.

On July 16 at 6:30pm at the Great Lakes Seaway Trail Discovery Center, traditional handmade lacrosse stickmaker, coach and retired player Alfie Jacques of the Onondaga Nation Turtle Clan will present “The Art of Making Handmade Wooden Lacrosse Sticks.” Jacques has made box and field lacrosse sticks for more than 47 years. He is featured for his artisanship in the film “Sacred Sport” and his sticks are part of the Lacrosse Foundation Hall of Fame Museum in Baltimore, MD. He will share his personal collection of sticks at this July 16 program.

The evening program fee is $5; free with military ID.

For more information on the Great Lakes Seaway Trail National Scenic Byway and the Discovery Center, go to seawaytrail.com or call 646-1000.

Filed Under: Art & Culture, Art and Culture, Calendar of Events, Carthage, History, Onondaga, Sackets Harbor, Sports, Youth

Camillus Erie Canal Park is 2011 Erie Canalway Heritage Award of Excellence Recipient

May 26, 2011 By margo Leave a Comment

Verona Beach Lighthouse earns honorable mention

(Waterford, NY – May 2011) The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Commission is pleased to announce the Restored 1842 Nine Mile Creek Aqueduct at the Camillus Erie Canal Park in Camillus as the recipient of the 2011 Erie Canalway Heritage Award of Excellence.

Honorable Mention was awarded to the Verona Beach Lighthouse on the eastern shore of Oneida Lake and the Delta Sonic Heritage Farm at the Buffalo Zoo in Buffalo.

“We congratulate and thank this year’s recipients for doing so much to celebrate, preserve, and share the rich history of the Erie Canal,” said Judy Schmidt-Dean, Chair of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Commission. “These are not only great places to visit—each has a valuable story to tell about how preserving our heritage can go hand-in-hand with economic and community revitalization.”

The Heritage Award honors significant places of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and recognizes excellence in advancing the goals of the Erie Canalway Preservation and Management Plan. A five-person independent jury selected award recipients based on a written application and site visit, which included meetings with officials at each site, as well as community leaders, municipal representatives, and other stakeholders.

1842 Nine Mile Creek Aqueduct, Camillus
The jury selected the restored 1842 Nine Mile Creek Aqueduct at the Camillus Erie Canal Park for its extraordinary achievement in historic preservation and sustained public-private partnership between the Camillus Canal Society and Town of Camillus. Of 32 aqueducts constructed on the Enlarged Erie Canal in the mid-1800s, Nine Mile Creek Aqueduct is the only one that is restored and navigable.

The project was spearheaded by volunteers, who worked in partnership with the Town of Camillus to raise $2.2 million to complete the restoration. The aqueduct is the centerpiece of the canal park, which serves more than 2,000 school children and 237,000 Erie Canalway trail users annually. In addition, several thousand people take advantage of the park’s cruises each year, which lead right over the aqueduct.

“For nearly 40 years, town officials and the community have supported the Camillus Erie Canal Park, which is operated and maintained solely by 160 volunteers who constantly step up to the plate,” said Liz Beebe, Vice President of the Camillus Canal Society. “We are honored to be recognized for our efforts to transform an abandoned, brush filled, forgotten canal into a showpiece for local residents and visitors.”

Verona Beach Lighthouse, Town of Verona
The Verona Beach Lighthouse was built during the construction of the Erie Barge Canal in 1915 to guide mariners from Oneida Lake to the Erie Canal. Yet after years of neglect this historic structure fell into disrepair and suffered from waste dumping, graffiti, and vandalism.

Thanks to a ten year effort by the Verona Beach Lighthouse Association, the Verona Beach Lighthouse, once forlorn and forgotten, again serves as a beacon on the shores of Oneida Lake. This historic preservation effort serves as an outstanding model for citizen action and community outreach.

Volunteers removed 150 dump trucks of junk and spent countless hours to restore the lighthouse and enhance the site for visitors. They continue to participate in festivals, events, and parades, offer speaking engagements, and host volunteer work days to promote and preserve this unique canal structure.
Delta Sonic Heritage Farm at the Buffalo Zoo, Buffalo

The third oldest zoo in the country tapped into Buffalo’s canal history as the focus of its new children’s exhibit: the Delta Sonic Heritage Farm. Opened in 2010, the family-friendly exhibit depicts life on a small family farm located on the banks of the Erie Canal in the mid-1800s.

Combining fun and recreation with history and environmental education, the exhibit has the potential to share the rich history of the Erie Canal with 420,000 zoo visitors annually, including nearly every fifth grader from the Buffalo City School District. The exposure to Buffalo’s heritage makes perfect sense in a city whose very existence is owed to the canal.

The exhibit features an historic barn originally located along the canal that was dismantled board by board and reconstructed on site. Heritage breeds of crops and farm animals, and landscaping with native plants bring the farm to life.

Heritage Award Ceremony
Heritage award recipients will be recognized at an award ceremony on Wednesday, June 29, 2011 at noon following the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Commission annual meeting in Syracuse (location TBD).

For more information about the award, more details and photographs of this year’s recipients, and a list of previous Heritage Award Recipients, visit www.eriecanalway.org.

Filed Under: Annoucements, Calendar of Events, Camillus, History, Museums & Historical Socities Tagged With: Camillus Canal Society, Camillus Erie Canal Park, Camillus NY news, Nine Mile Creek Aqueduct, Oneida Lake, town of Camillus NY

Camillus Erie Canal Park is 2011 Erie Canalway Heritage Award of Excellence Recipient

May 26, 2011 By margo Leave a Comment

Verona Beach Lighthouse earns honorable mention

Honorable Mention was awarded to the Verona Beach Lighthouse on the eastern shore of Oneida Lake and the Delta Sonic Heritage Farm at the Buffalo Zoo in Buffalo.

For more information about the award, more details and photographs of this year’s recipients, and a list of previous Heritage Award Recipients, visit www.eriecanalway.org.

LeMoyne Professor to Present at next Round Table Meeting

May 25, 2011 By margo Leave a Comment

(East Syracuse, NY – June 2011) On Thursday June 16 at 7 p.m. at the Town of DeWitt Community Room, 148 Sanders Creek Pkwy, E. Syracuse (off NYS Thruway Exit 35 at Carrier Circle), the Onondaga County Civil War Round Table program is pleased to present a talk by the nationally – acclaimed historian Douglas R. Egerton, Professor of History at LeMoyne College.

Egerton will be discussing his recent, widely-praised book “Year of Meteors: Stephen Douglas, Abraham Lincoln, and the Election that Brought on the Civil War,” regarded by many as an essential prequel to Team of Rivals.

In it, Professor Egerton explores the extraordinary political events of the 1860 election year, analyzing Lincoln’s unexpected emergence as President of the United States, the ascendancy of the young Republican Party, the disintegration of the Democratic Party, and the events immediately precipitating the secession of Southern states and the onset of military conflict between the North and the South.

In early 1860, political analysts across the country shared the view that Democratic U.S. Senator Stephen A. Douglas (IL) would be elected President. Instead, on Nov. 6, 1860, Abraham Lincoln, a former one-term U.S. Representative (IL) who had initially not even been a leading candidate within his own Republican Party (which had been in existence less than 10 years), won the popular election with a still-record low 39.8% of the vote. He went on to receive 180 of the 303 electoral votes (152 were needed to win) on Feb. 11, 1861 and was sworn into office on March 4, 1861.

Between Nov. 6 and March 4, seven states seceded from the Union. Within one month of his assumption of office, the Civil War commenced.

Egerton received his Ph.D. from Georgetown University in 1985, and has been on the LeMoyne College faculty since 1987. During the 2011 – 2012 academic year he will be teaching at the University College Dublin as a Fulbright scholar, holding the Mary Ball Washington Chair.

Egerton, a descendant of North Carolina slaveholders and Confederates, is the author of four other books: Death or Liberty: African Americans and Revolutionary America, Gabriel’s Rebellion: The Virginia Slave Conspiracies of 1800 & 1802, He Shall Go Out Free: The Lives of Denmark Vesey, and Rebels, Reformers, and Revolutionaries: Collected Essays and Second Thoughts.

For additional information, visit http://occwrt.blogspot.com, or contact Bill Goodwin at 315-437-3887.

Filed Under: Calendar of Events, East Syracuse, Education, History, Onondaga County Agencies and Organizations, Veteran's Corner