Local artifacts included in Civil War exhibit
A Congressional Medal of Honor, letters written by Union soldiers and a dress worn by a Uniontown woman to hear Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address are among the artifacts that can be viewed at a local exhibit on the Civil War at Abel Colley Tavern in Menallen Township.
“We’re pleased with the generosity of people who loaned us artifacts. We’re so grateful,” said Chris Buckelew, president of the historical society, which operates the tavern as a museum and its headquarters.
The Fayette County Historical Society prepared the exhibit with donations from local residents. It is running as a complement to “The Civil War in Pennsylvania,” a 500-square-foot exhibit created by the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh in partnership with the statewide Pennsylvania Civil War 150 effort to observe the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War. The Heinz exhibit uses life-like figures, artifacts and museum panels to explain the commonwealth’s presence in the war.
“The Civil War in Pennsylvania” premiered in Pittsburgh in March and is scheduled to travel to nearly 40 sites in western Pennsylvania over the next four years. It opened at the Colley Tavern during the National Road Festival and can continue to be viewed from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through June 13. The Colley Tavern is located along Route 40 in Menallen Township about a mile west of Searights Tollhouse.
“People who have been here a couple of times, but not recently, come in with their eyes wide,’ said Buckelew.
“We think of this as a wonderful beginning to our museum and a starting point for future traveling exhibits and building our own collection.”
The Fayette County exhibit, which is mixed in with the Heinz pieces, includes a Congressional Medal of Honor that was awarded to Francis Morrison, of Ohiopyle, who served as a private in the Union Army in the 85th Pennsylvania Infantry.
Vallorie Brady, a member of the historical society, explained Morrison was awarded the medal for action on June 17, 1864 at Bermuda Hundred, Va.
“He saw his friend Jesse Dial of Somerset County shot and went into the line of fire and brought him back,” said Brady, whose great-great-grandfather Jesse Burnworth, of Ohiopyle, was with the 2nd Pennsylvania Infantry during the Civil War.
Jumonville, the Christian camp in North Union Township, also loaned materials from its museum about the Soldiers Orphan School that formerly operated at its site.
The school cared for children whose fathers had fought in the Civil War and whose families were unable to provide for them.
In addition, there are letters written by local soldiers from the front, including William Patterson of Nicholson Township and Jesse Moore of Greene County, who were members of 85th Pennsylvania.
Dwayne Santella, a member of the historical society, noted that transcripts of the letters are available for reading in a room on the tavern’s second floor.
Santella pointed out other artifacts that included a sword owned by Reason Smurr of Connellsville of the 76th Pennsylvania Infantry, a reunion photo of the Fayette County Veterans Association taken in front of the Fayette County Courthouse in September 1915, and paper memorials that list members of 85th and 8th Pennsylvania regiments as well as a GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) kepi (cap) signed inside by A.I. Ellis, who later established Ellis Music Store in Uniontown.
The exhibit includes a navy dress with purple flowers that was worn by Barbara Carroll of Uniontown in November 1863 at the dedication of the National Cemetery at Gettysburg where she heard President Abraham Lincoln give the Gettysburg Address.
Santella also pointed out a copy of the American Standard newspaper from April 20, 1865, that reports the assassination of Lincoln on page two.
Santella said of the exhibit, “We’re very excited. It lets people know that a lot of history in Fayette County is tied to the Civil War.”
The historical society welcomed Knap’s Independent Battery E, Pennsylvania Light Artillery, a re-enactment group, during the opening weekend. Rolling Thunder veterans group will offer a Missing Man ceremony on June 2.
Members of the Fayette County Historical Society and youths 12 and under are admitted free to Colley Tavern.
A small admission is charged to others.