The number of guests and volunteers surpassed member attendance at ERSC on Feb. 28 as Nita Gibson and Nancy Hess, dressed in Civil War era attire, offered a very thorough oration and slide show about “Women in the Home Front in the Civil War.” This first-time program was widely advertised in two local newspapers (The Valley Banner and the Daily News Record), in addition to email and word of mouth notifications.
For the 15 guests and volunteers and 13 ERSC members, a clear view of the role of women during the Civil War was offered, and the duo noted that the weight of the Confederacy was just as heavy for women as it was for men as they fought on battlefields, toiled, prayed and suffered.
During their presentation, Mrs. Gibson and Mrs. Hess discussed and used accompanying photos of Civil War sites in our area and also showed photos of prominent women from this era, the types of clothing they wore, and offered voice overs for letters written by some of the women. Members of the audience could easily see the vast amount of knowledge and research Mrs. Gibson and Mrs. Hess have put into this subject, and the two indicated that they have spoken to approximately a dozen groups and organizations. Dr. Irvin Hess (retired orthopedic surgeon) accompanied his wife and was very eager to speak with attendees one-on-one about his keen interest in the area’s rich history and his ancestors’ involvement. Dr. Hess and his wife purchased Widow Pence Farm on the Cross Keys Battlefield in 2000, which is adjacent to property where his ancestors once lived. They placed an easement on it, restricting future alterations and construction on the tract.
Today’s program was initiated through the Rockingham County Recreation Department courtesy of Ashton Rawley, Recreation Technician.
More online at www.EastRockinghamSeniorCenter.org.
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