Rich Jankowski on “Renovations Needed for the Old Baldy CWRT”

Old Baldy himself

Our March meeting was to discuss the future of the Old Baldy Round Table. Fifteen folks showed up for the discussion. We had received 4 emails and 1 phone message from those unable to be there in person. Bill Hughes gave a brief account of the events in the last several months including the Board Meeting. The email and phone comments were shared with the audience. Herb Kaufman gave an account of our financial situation [which is good without dues collection]. Several members made their comments about their time with the Round Table and the Pine Street Museum. Discussion included Center City, the Union League, the aging of the membership, the need to publicize, and possible alternatives. Continue reading →

Hugh Boyle on “The Women in Lincoln’s Life”

Hugh Boyle

Hugh Boyle gave us a look into the women who were in Lincoln’s life and who helped toinfluence and mold who he was, what he thought, his desires, and also his melancholy. How his White House years were filled with the influence of strong, opinionated women. His presentation was superb with all the knowledge that Hugh has on Lincoln. It is always a pleasure to have Hugh visit us at Old Baldy.

February 2012 Newsletter

Don Wiles on “Gettysburg… Hallowed Ground in Bronze and Stone”

Don Wiles

On Thursday, January 12th Old Baldy CWRT member Don Wiles demonstrated both his graphic artist’s eye and his historian’s knowledge when he presented “Hallowed Ground in Bronze and Stone,” a slide show/talk featuring samples from his prodigious collection of photographs of Gettysburg Battlefield monuments, accompanied by Don’s exposition. Don’s excellent photographs manage to capture not only the careful details and artistry of the monuments, but also the spirit and ideals that they represent. Equally impressive is Don’s expertise: he has spent many years walking, studying, and photographing the Gettysburg battlefield. His presentation was indeed a taste of a connoisseur’s private collection; it was monumental in every sense of the word.

January 2012 Newsletter

Jane Peters Estes on “A Christmas Past”

Jane Estes

Jane Peters Estes has been a living historian and active member of various Delaware Valley region historical organizations for almost 30 years. She shared some of her expertise with members of OBCWRT on December 8th when she presented “Christmas Past,” a delightful overview of the origins of many of our Christmas traditions, ranging from the hanging of stockings to trimming the tree. Jane’s presentation particularly highlighted Christmas customs of the Civil War era and offered many insights, some of them surprising. The program was an early yuletide gift to all who attended. Continue reading →

Herb Kaufman on “Creating the Gettysburg Address”

Herb Kaufman

Herb Kaufman addressed the myth of Lincoln writing the Gettysburg Address on a small piece of paper on a train from Washington to Gettysburg. Herb pointed out the 272 words of Lincoln’s Address that had their foundation in the Declaration of Independence. He explained looking into Lincoln’s mind and examining his prior speeches and comments and determining how they impacted his thoughts for November 19, 1863. Herb further pointed out that Abraham Lincoln was one of our nation’s most thoughtful and measured presidents. That he rarely made comments that didn’t have a specific point, nor did he write a speech without giving it the most deliberate thought. The ideas and concepts that stand behind what has become his most famous and quoted speech could hardly have been attributed to a two hour ride on a train.

November 2011 Newsletter

Phil Lechak on “Camp Letterman, Gettysburg: 80 Acres for 121 Days”

Phil Lechak

When the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern Virginia left the Gettysburg environs on July 4, they left behind almost 21,000 wounded soldiers. These men were distributed over the countryside in roughly 160 locations. Casualties of this magnitude overtaxed the available resources immediately. Camp Letterman—the first of its kind, a large General Tent Hospital—was constructed. It occupied 80 acres on the site of the George Wolf Farm, on a hillside just one mile out of town on the York Pike, and existed for a period of 121 days. Continue reading →

Craig Schoeller on “Battle of the Bulge—Imprisonment”

Craig Schoeller

Due to an emergency cancellation by the scheduled speaker, Tom Moran, this month Craig Schoeller, OBCWRT member, presented the rest of his story on surviving the “Battle of the Bulge” during World War II. Craig’s story had previously gone from his enlistment to a replacement in the 35th Division of the Third Army in the area of Bastogne, Belgium, when the German Army made its final push to break through the American Lines. The second part of his story was about his capture and imprisonment in a German Stalag.

September 2011 Newsletter

Old Baldy Members present “Show and Tell”

Old Baldy Members and Guests presented a “Show and Tell” of their Civil War interests, artifacts, projects, books, photos, battlefield trips, seminars, ancestors, etc.

Show and Tell

Mike Wunsch on “Abraham Lincoln & the Great Central Sanitary Fair”

John Welsh

Local speaker-historian Michael Wunsch portrayed Executive Chairman John Welsh of the Great Central Sanitary Fair, and presented Abraham Lincoln & the Great Central Sanitary Fair, Philadelphia, June 1864.

The talk featured a brief overview and history of the United States Sanitary Commission, the growth of the local Aid Society and Sanitary Fair movements, as well as the Great Central Sanitary Fair itself, a huge commission fund-raising event held on the grounds of Logan Square from June 7 to June 29, 1864. It concluded with one of the true highlights of Philadelphia’s immense and important home-front activities, President Abraham Lincoln’s visit to the “great fair,” and our city at-large on June 16, 1864. Continue reading →

Craig Schoeller on “Battle of the Bulge”

Craig Schoeller

Craig Schoeller in WWII

Craig Schoeller gave a great talk on his life and the time he spent in the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. Craig’s story went from his enlistment to being in action as an infantry replacement in the 35th Division of the Third Army. His story was about his combat, his wounding, his friends, and his capture. As we heard of his experiences, we received a better appreciation of what young men and women went through to protect our freedoms. Craig corrected us on the term used in the previous newsletter—that he was an American Hero. In fact, he said the heroes were among the ones who didn’t come home to continue their lives but had given up those lives for America. Craig volunteered to come back and give us a talk on his captivity in a German prison camp. It was great to have Craig back from his recent injury. We are very lucky to have a gentleman like Craig as a member of Old Baldy.

June 2011 Newsletter