Imagine how many times this must have happened throughout the country? “State officials… oust… Gowen Post G.A.R. from its headquarters in State Armory. The Civil War veterans, who have extensive relics and records have no place to go…. The room occupied by the veterans is needed by the two military units just organized and there is no alternative but to order the old soldiers to vacate.” [Philadelphia Inquirer, June 18, 1922].
By 1922, Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) Posts gradually lost both their political and patriotic clout as the veterans died and situations such as the above were bound to occur. In the greater Lykens Valley area this could have happened as well. What happened to the extensive collection of relics that surely must have been part of these chapters? What happened to the records? Were they taken over by other veterans groups? Were they kept in veterans private homes and unknowingly discarded by their children or others who had no idea of their historical worth?
The following is a list of G.A.R. Posts in and around our geographic area of study. If anyone knows what has happened to the “relics and records” of these posts, a response would be appreciated:
#17 – Minersville – Cpt. George J. Lawrence Post, #23 – Pottsville – Gowen Post. #26 – Schuylkill Haven – Jere Holmes Post. #29 – Cressona – Dentzer Post. #43 – Ashland – Joe Hooker Post. #37 – St. Clair – John Ennis Post. #58 – Harrisburg – J. F. Hartranft Post. #78 – Middletown – Gen. Simon Cameron Post. #78 – Middletown – William Starr Post. #92 – Mount Carmel – Burnside Post. #110 – Mahoney City – Severn Post. #116 – Harrisburg – Col. Seneca G. Simmons Post. #121 – Girardville – Maj. Jennings Post. #129 – Milton – Henry Wilson Post. #136 – Tremont – Lt. W. D. Williams Post. #140 – Shamokin – Lincoln Post. #144 – Port Carbon – Allison Brothers Post. #146 – Shenandoah – Watkins Waters Post. #174 – Tower City – William Thompson Post. #185 – Georgetown – Col. James Cameron Post. #189 – Tamaqua – Gen Doubleday Post. #203 – Pine Grove – Wolf Post. #212 – Millersburg – Kilpatrick Post. #217 – Easton – Lafayette Post. #225 – Watsonville – Bryson Post. #232 – Lykens – Heilner Post. #280 – Williamstown – Chester Post. #335 – Sunbury – Lt. William A. Bruner Post. #350 – Northumberland – Cpt. James Taggart Post. #351 – Steelton – Sgt. Samuel W. Lascomb Post. #376 – Gratz – Kissinger Post. #393 – Fisherville – B. F. Miller Post. #443 – Hummelstown – Capt. J. Henderson Post. #443 – Reedsville – Kishacoquillas Post. #485 – Frackville – John S. Meredith Post. #520 – Harrisburg – David R. Stephens Post. #523 – Halifax – Gen. H. W. Slocum Post.
Does anyone know if the Pottsville veterans were actually ousted? If so, did they find a place to go?
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First published on the Civil War Blog, November 28, 2010.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.