Digging out of Winter Weather
By Beth Stenstrom, FoWB Volunteer
We are really happy to see the arrival of spring this year. A major snow event in January caused some major damage to trees throughout the entire Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, and park staff did an outstanding job of clearing downed trees off the paved roads.
The damage on the Wilderness Battlefield was significant and extensive. Fortunately, most of the damage, except at the tavern, was to the cedars. The hardwood trees around Ellwood survived fairly well. According to our wonderful Ground Force, here is a summary of the major breakage.
The cedar grove had massive broken branches and limbs. A large cedar branch came down at the cemetery.
The cedar on the trace where the steps used to be had a major branch come down.
The cedars between the two areas next to the garden has major breakage.
The big cedar by the catalpa had big branches come down.
The big cedar that stands alone on the other field also lost most of the rest of its branches.
The Parker Store road trail below the manor had four major trees blocking it. The trail the Wilderness Crossing Trail had several trees fallen on it.
Several trees in the 2nd chicken house came down.
Some more branches came down alongside the driveway and had to be pushed aside by the snowplow.
Other miscellaneous branches came down along the fringes.
The Parker Store road trail from the culvert to Brigadiers Way was blocked by several fallen trees.
Two trees came down on Brigadiers Way.
Two huge branches came down on the lawn at the tavern site.
Ellwood was without Rappahannock Electrical Co-Op power for more than a week because the power lines from Brigadiers Way to Ellwood were down. A power pole snapped, there were trees on the line and a lot of damage alongside Route 20. Power was provided by the generator.
Our amazing Ground Force spent days clearing the breakage and stacking it alongside the driveway for the park to chip into the grove of haul away. They worked two days a week, weather permitting, and have done a wonderful job
Top: Det Wilkens hauling downed branches for the park to chip. Bottom Left: Tom Jacobs cutting downed branches to be hauled off. Right: Piles of cedar branches to be put through the chipper.
DAR/SAR Meeting
Saturday, March 12
by Beth Stenstrom, FoWB Volunteer
Our amazing President, Bob Lookabill, was the featured speaker at the combined meeting of the Washington - Lewis Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution and the Colonel Fielding Lewis Chapter, Virginia Sons of the American Revolution, on Saturday, March 12, at the Fredericksburg Country Club in Fredericksburg, VA.
In spite of the snowy weather, there was an excellent turnout and everyone enjoyed his presentation about the Hospital Exhibit at Ellwood. Guests expressed interest in learning more, which is always positive, and quite a few guests expressed an interest in coming out to visit Ellwood and see the exhibit for themselves as soon as we are open for the season!
Following the presentation, Missy Pixton, Second Vice Regent of the Washington - Lewis Chapter, NSDAR, thanked Bob and gave him a nice donation for FoWB, and Jim Wachter, President of the Colonel Fielding Lewis Chapter, SAR, presented him with a beautiful Certificate of Appreciation.
63 New Markers!
by Bob Epp, FoWB Volunteer
On Saturday morning, March 19, FoWB members Jeff Slunt, John Rourke and Bob Epp joined in the latest effort to place new markers in the Confederate Cemetery in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The Ladies Memorial Association (LMA) continues its program of placing new markers on the gravesites of the interred Confederate soldiers, most of which died during the Battle of the Wilderness. This year, the LMA had 63 recently processed markers that needed placement.
By 9:00 AM that morning, members of Friends of Wilderness Battlefield (FoWB), members of the Civil War Roundtable Fredericksburg (CWRT-F), Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV) and dozens of family members and guests were hard at work. Small teams of 2-3 participants moved the stones to their appropriate burial sites, cut and removed sod, prepared the marker site and then packed each marker with excess soil. As the saying goes, "Many hands make light work", and by11:15 AM, the crew was tidying up and waiting the arrival of lunch. Another successful community preservation effort!!
Upcoming Events
"War to Utter Submission ... "
Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and the Transformation of a Nation
Speaker: John Hennessy
Saturday, May 7, 2022
"The Cove", Fawn Lake's stunning new country club venue!
11305 Longstreet Dr
Spotsylvania, VA 22551
This talk will look at how this unusual landscape came to embody what the Civil War had become, the immense stakes, and the profound sense of moment the nation felt as the armies fought their way through Spotsylvania County in May 1864. You should have received a separate invitation to attend with a link to buy your tickets! Doors open at 5:30 PM to give guests an opportunity to place bids on a few lovely silent auction items and the bar opens at 6:00 PM.
Tickets are $36 (plus processing fee) up until April 13, as an Early Bird
Special! Beginning April 13, tickets will be $46 (plus processing fee) per person. The deadline for reservations is Friday, April 22. We are not able to accept any reservations after that date. This is a firm date, dictated by our contract with Fawn Lake.
You may order your tickets online via this site beginning today!
More detailed information went out in a separate email, so be sure to check your spam box in case you missed it!
We hope to see you there!