Summer 2004
The Telegraph News & Events from the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History in Association with the Smithsonian Institution
Vol. II, No. 1
Construction of New Education Building Slated for this Winter
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Museum staff Bob Ferris, Jane Pies, and Mike Bearrow celebrate a successful first year.
Anniversary Celebration
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ivil War soldiers and locomotive factory workers joined visitors in celebrating the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History’s anniversary weekend March 27-28, 2004. “Our anniversary was a great opportunity to thank the community for its support this past year,” Museum Executive Director Jeff Drobney said. Living histories, guided tours, weapons demonstrations, and giveaways helped mark the event. The Museum, in affiliation with the Smithsonian Institution, reopened March 30, 2003 after an extensive expansion project that resulted in a world-class facility 10 times larger than the original building.
hrough the generous donations of organizations and individuals, the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History will soon expand further with the addition of an education center. “The community has responded generously to our capital campaign, helping us raise $1.1 million in just eight months,” commented Executive Director Jeff Drobney. “Thanks to their
support, we will be able to broaden the educational programs we offer to include hands-on learning activities for children, summer camps, and increased space for lectures and special events. The center will also provide a work area for railroad historians who use our archives for research.” Construction on the education building, which will be located behind (continued on page 4)
Museum Receives Federal Grant for Railroad Preservation
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he Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History has been awarded a Transportation Enhancement (TE) federal grant of $400,000 that will be used for the construction of the new education building (see related article above). The goal of the TE program is to enrich the transportation of Georgians through specific types of enhancement projects. Museum Executive Director Jeff Drobney feels that the TE’s aforementioned goal will presently be fulfilled. “By enhancing a city with such remarkable involvement in locomotive and Civil War history, the TE program will reach 100% achievement of its goal in Kennesaw.” Eighty percent of the funds received by the Museum are federally allocated with the City of Kennesaw providing the other 20%. Drobney concluded with sincere praise for Kennesaw, “a city that
The Museum received a TE grant for historic preservation of transportation-related facilities.
recognizes a public duty to the preservation of history.” The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) Planning Office manages the TE program in Georgia. The Museum was selected by the Transportation Enhancement Advisory Panel to the Georgia DOT to receive funds for “historic preservation of transportation-related facilities like railroad depots.”
From the
Executive Director Jeff Drobney, Ph.D. I have just returned from Washington D.C. after attending a conference for affiliates of the Smithsonian Institution and have, once again, been reminded of the tremendous responsibility we have here in Kennesaw. Although our size and collections pale in comparison to that of the National Museum of American History, what we do in Kennesaw on a day-to-day basis is just as vital as what occurs in Washington as it relates to our role in preserving our nation’s and region’s history and educating the public. As you are aware, the Southern Museum is a tremendous asset for our community. From our award winning exhibits to our extensive collection of Civil War and railroad related archival material, the Museum has become a cultural and educational focal point for north Georgia. Our staff is committed to making the Museum a first-rate facility. But the truth of the matter is that we cannot do it alone. Our efforts to preserve our collections and to educate the public cannot be a one-way road. We need your help. Since our grand reopening the Museum has had a very successful run over the last 16 months. However, if the Museum is going to continue to expand and prosper, we need partners who are willing to give of their time and financial resources to support our mission and programs. If you are already a member of the Museum, encourage a neighbor or friend to join. If you have friends or relatives in town, bring them to the Museum. If you have a few spare hours, volunteer to be a docent or to work in our archives. Help support our education programs or special exhibits through a multi-year or one time pledge. Better yet, establish a legacy through a planned gift. What ever it is, we welcome your involvement as we all work to maintain and expand upon our recent success.
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Members Get Sneak Peek at New Railroad Exhibition June 30
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embers of the Southern Museum were the first to learn to drive a locomotive during a sneak preview of the Museum’s upcoming exhibition, June 30. “Railroading in the Southeast is a little different from our previous exhibitions,” revealed Executive Director Jeff Drobney.
presentations on railroading, story times for children, a ribbon cutting ceremony, and more. Authors Sallie Loy, Dick Hillman, and C. Pat Cates will be available to sign their new book Images of Rail: The Southern Railway, as well. The exhibit and prekindergarten areas were made possible with the support of the North American Railway Foundation, Publix Supermarket Charities, and the Imlay Foundation.
Students Shoot Video
“It features more interactive exhibits for both children and adults.” A locomotive cab simulator allows visitors to “drive” a train, while a working telegraph machine challenges them to read Morse code. A special pre-kindergarten area for young children features wooden and electric trains, a reading area, and more. Regular story times are planned throughout the duration of the exhibition, which is scheduled to remain at the Museum until May 15, 2005, when some of it will find a permanent home in the Museum’s new education center. The exhibition also chronicles the impact railroads had on the South through photos, text, and videos. “Many of the photographs on display will come from the Southern Railway Historical Association Archives that the Museum houses,” Drobney said. Railroading in the Southeast opens to the public July 3. The grand opening of the exhibition will be July 31 and includes activities such as lectures and
Students from North Cobb High School’s Broadcast Video Production staff partnered with the Southern Museum to produce a video on Southern railroads for the upcoming exhibition. “Our goal is to bring history to life for our visitors, and we felt a video that chronicled what railroad workers do would help meet that goal,” explained Museum Director of Education Jennifer Legates. “We’re so pleased that the North Cobb video students agreed to help us with the project.” Seniors Krystina Reynolds, Tiona Turner, Amanda Bode, and Ben Watson produced the project under the direction of Scott MacCullough, the sponsor of the
Many of the photographs on display come from the Southern Railway Historical Association Archives that are housed in the Museum.
Broadcast Video Production staff. “We’re excited to be part of this project,” MacCullough revealed. “It’s a great opportunity for our students to test their abilities, and learn about railroading at the same time.”
Archives Staff Produces Southern Railway Book By Archivist Sallie Loy, Assistant Curator Dick Hillman, and Assistant Archivist C. Pat Cates
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n the fall of 2003, the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History signed an agreement with the Southern Railway Historical Association (SRHA). The SRHA, an organization that has been assigned the responsibility of maintaining the historic records of the Southern Railway, has now designated the Southern Museum as the repository of their collections. To help publicize this event, the Museum’s Archives Staff produced a book, utilizing many of the vintage black and white photographs from the SRHA collections. Professional photographers took these photos, and their quality is extraordinary. The book illuminated the era of the 1930s to the 1970s, a colorful period in the growth and development of the South. The photographs include trains, both steam powered and early diesels; trackside scenes throughout the Southeast; people – both railway workers and passengers; and several photos of that all-important railroad structure, the depot, from the smallest, most humble structure imaginable to terminals of monumental proportions like the razed Atlanta Terminal Station. The Southern Railway System operated from Washington, DC and
Cincinnati, OH in the North to Jacksonville, FL and New Orleans, LA in the South. The book explains the important role that railroads played in the growth of the Southern United States. The book, Images of Rail: The Southern Railway was published by Arcadia Publishing Company of Charleston, SC and was released to booksellers in early May 2004. All profits will go toward purchasing archive supplies, such as special boxes and acid-free paper. Books may be purchased at the Museum Store, local book stores and model train/hobby shops, and at amazon.com.
Assistant Curator Dick Hillman, Archivist Sallie Loy, and Assistant Archivist Pat Cates autograph their book (pictured above) at the Museum during the Kudzu Rails convention in May.
Don’t Forget!
Renew Your Museum Membership Yearly!
Call Membership Coordinator Cindy Dadyala at 770-427-2117, ext.104
Free Civil War Concerts, Living History July 17!
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annons and guns will be blazing in downtown Kennesaw July 17 during a Civil War living history encampment by the 125th Ohio Volunteer Infantry and Stephens Light Artillery sponsored by the Southern Museum. Two historical music concerts featuring the 8th Regiment Band, from Rome, GA, are also planned during the day. “We want to give visitors a feel for what life was like for soldiers during the Civil War,” explained Jennifer Legates, Director of Education for the Museum. “The 8th Regiment Band uses authentic mid-19th century instruments, so the Civil War music they play will sound just as it did when the soldiers heard it,” she added. Band concerts are scheduled for 2 PM and 7 PM. Weapons firing demonstrations begin at 9:30 AM and continue throughout the day. The candlelight tour of the camps will immediately follow the evening band concert.
Celebrate History at the Southern Museum! Civil War Encampment Band Concerts Weapon Firing Demos Candlelight Tour of Camps 3
Thanks to Our 2004
Corporate Members ACS Water / Callaway Blue Spring Water Alcon Associates, Inc. Ashton Staffing Charter Bank Chastain & Associates Inc. CheckPoint Mortgage Elite Telecom Services Georgia Power Main Street Bank Moore Ingram Johnson & Steele North Metro Technical College O’Neill Communications, Inc. Reid Rawlins Interiors & Gifts Glenn Reese DMD Riverside Bank State Farm Insurance - Lewis Street
New Education Building (continued from front page)
the Museum, near the existing parking lot, is expected to begin at the end of the year, or early in 2005. “A significant amount of the money raised came from a TE (Transportation Enhancement) grant we received from the federal government,” Drobney said. Thanks to the following organizations for their generous donation to support the construction of the education center and exhibits:
Bright Wings Foundation Imlay Foundation Publix Supermarket Charities Woodruff Foundation LeoDelle Lassiter Jolley Foundation Federal Highways Administration - ISTEA 4
The Kennesaw Community Center featured operating model train layouts for the public to enjoy.
Kudzu Rails Convention Comes to Kennesaw
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he Kudzu Rails Convention proved to be a real adventure for those who share the love of rails and locomotive history. Railroad enthusiasts assembled at the Museum May 20 through May 22 for this first annual event. Kudzu Rails was organized and sponsored by the Southern Railway Historical Association. Several excursions and events allowed the public to join in on the railroad fun. The entertainment began on Thursday when the public was invited for a daylong train ride through the North Georgia mountains. Participants enjoyed a box lunch and a scenic train ride on either the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum “Hook & Eye” line or the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway. Friday and Saturday’s activities included model railroads on display at the Kennesaw Community Center for public viewing. Vendors also sold memorabilia and model train supplies. Train buffs could take a 1 1/2 mile ride on the Canton Live Steamer to experience the thrill of traveling through
Train enthusiasts could view, buy, and sell model items and other memorabilia.
tunnels and trestles. Free events open to all included a Friday night slide show of trains and historic railroad pictures held at the Kennesaw Depot. Afterwards, lights were set up for attendees to photograph the passing trains. Saturday night, visitors enjoyed “Dinner by the Tracks” at the Depot with food by several local restaurants and a live concert by the Norfolk Southern “Lawmen” musicians. “Kudzu Rails ’04 was so successful that we plan to make it an annual event and hope it will be even bigger and better next year,” George Eichelberger, the event’s organizer, declared.
Kudzu Rails ’04 Sponsors Southern Railway Historical Association ACL & ASAL Historical Society Central of Georgia Historical Society Louisville & Nashville Historical Society GA Southern & Florida Historical Society Tennessee, Alabama & Georgia Historical Society
Education Department Unveils New Programs By Director of Education Jennifer Legates
Enthused children are captivated by Civil War weapons demonstrations.
2004 Events of the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History! Railroading in the Southeast July 3, 2004 - May 15, 2005
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he members of the Education department have been busy working with student and adult visitors as we bring history to life. Thousands of area students have visited the Museum as part of an educational field trip, and our outreach program has brought history right into the classroom for countless others. We have hosted adult tour groups from across the country and even as far away as England. This spring we unveiled new interpretive programs to delight the numerous visitors who explore our Museum. Programs are offered daily throughout the summer and on weekends during the fall and spring. Visitors can join the hourly programs that include guided tours of the Museum’s exhibits, demonstrations of 19th century music and weapons, as well as interactive discussions on locomotive operations. Be sure to check out this newest addition next time you visit! Last fall we began our volunteer program and are now proud to welcome our first group of volunteer staff members. Community members have already contributed their time and talents to numerous projects in the Museum. Thank you to the dedicated volunteers who assist in the care and maintenance of the Museum’s collections as well as our continuing efforts to provide guests with a fun and educational experience.
Mark Your Calendars!
Fourth of July Celebration July 3 - 4, 2004 Civil War Living History Encampment & 8th Georgia Regimental Band Concerts July 17, 2004; 2 PM & 7 PM Civil War Living History Encampment: 125th Ohio August 14 - 15, 2004
Volunteers in period dress give a variety of hourly programs at the Southern Museum such as demonstrations of Civil War weapons.
Free Special Events Open to the Public This spring we kicked off a year full of special events including Civil War encampments and lectures. We are excited to work with numerous area living history groups to provide visitors with a glimpse of the past. The Museum jointly sponsors a monthly lecture series with the Kennesaw Historical Society providing local historians with insightful discussions on our community’s history. The highlight of the summer is sure to be the upcoming Civil War encampment and two concerts of the 8th Georgia Regimental Band on July 17, 2004. The event will be free and open to the public so mark your calendars now! Young visitors can explore their love of railroading in our new children’s area that is part of the Railroading in the Southeast exhibit now open. Children can try their hand at preparing and serving food on a dining car, play with trains and even climb aboard a toy train. Future mechanics can build a train while other youngsters may take advantage of the reading corner’s numerous books and puzzles. This new addition to the Museum is sure to delight the young engineer in your family!
Civil War Living History Encampment: 10th Texas August 21 - 22, 2004 Southern Museum Gala October 23 2004 Folk Tales of the Rails October 9, 2004 Thanksgiving Dinner on the Battlefield November 20, 2004 A Civil War Christmas December 11, 2004
2004 Lecture Series The Museum and the Kennesaw Historical Society host monthly lectures March - October at 2 PM.
July 10: “Collecting Civil War Relics” - Butch Holcombe August 14: “Georgia State Brigade at Camp McDonald” - Kurt Graham September 11: Civil War Music Concert
For more info on upcoming events, visit www.southernmuseum.org
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STAFF SPOTLIGHT
Museum Store Offers New Items this Summer
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ell, summer is here! While you are out running the kids to ball games and day camps, be sure to stop by the Museum Store to see what’s new. We’ve added beautiful silk floral pins and hand-carved shell cameos to compliment any spring or summer wardrobe. For the guys, we have several new ball caps and sports bottles - great for the golf course or ball field. Kids will love our train-themed socks and period toys and games. Also new to the store this season is our line of edible goods. Reminiscent of the foods Ms. Lacy would’ve served to those involved in the chase, our Lacy House brand of preserves, dressings, sauces, and nuts are sure to delight! These unique items, along with our new line of Museum logo gifts (thimbles, bells, spoons, magnets, key chains, ornaments, and money clips), make wonderful souvenirs to complete a visit at the Museum, or thoughtful gifts that add that special touch from Kennesaw. Don’t forget to purchase your copy of Images of Rail: The Southern Railway, written by our own Sally Loy, Dick Hillman, and C. Pat Cates. We can even have it autographed for you! Be sure to present your membership card at the register as you are entitled to receive a discount on all Museum Store purchases.
By Retail Services Manager Jane Pies 6
John Grimm, Retail Sales
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ohn Grimm is one of the Southern Museum’s dearest staff members. This year marks his eighth year as a Museum employee though he started out volunteering for a year before becoming full time. “I was retired and had lived in Kennesaw for a year, so I was looking for something to do and answered an ad in the Brightside Newspaper when the Museum was looking for volunteers,” Grimm explained. Though he originally had no special interest in trains or the Civil War, he has served the Museum longer than any other current employee. “John exhibits gracious hospitality by always putting the visitors first, spending time with them, and making them feel welcome and appreciated,” commented Jane Pies who supervises the Museum’s gift shop. John does the reporting for the gift shop and ensures proper inventory levels. He pays close attention to detail, making sure everything gets done the right way. He is very much a people person and is admired and respected by his coworkers. “John is a true asset to our Museum and
community,” said Museum Executive Director Jeff Drobney. He was born in West Virginia but eventually settled in Montgomery, AL, before moving to Kennesaw. He and his wife, Dora, have been married for 50 years and have a daughter and a son, three grandchildren and 2 greatgrandchildren. John is very involved with his church through the senior citizens group and as a substitute Sunday School teacher. He served in the Air Force for 20 years and in the Department of the Army for 20 years as a civilian. Through the military and other travels he has lived in Japan, Turkey, Germany, and Vietnam. John’s favorite thing about working at the Southern Museum is greeting the visitors and getting to know them. “I like to ask them where they are from, since I’ve traveled all over the world and often we have something in common to talk about. Establishing a rapport with the visitors gives them a warm feeling at the Museum and helps build long term relationships so they will continue to come back,” Grimm said.
Smithsonian Photography Exhibition Brought National Parks to Kennesaw The nation’s National Parks and Monuments came to Kennesaw January 24 - March 21 during “These Rare Lands,” a Smithsonian exhibition, at the Southern Museum. Organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), “These Rare Lands” captured the majesty of the National Parks in panoramic views by photographer Stan Jorstad. Visitors appreciated seeing the National Parks right in their own backyard, commenting the exhibition increased their interest in visiting more of our nation’s natural wonders.
“These Rare Lands” photographs appeared courtesy of Time, Inc. The exhibition was made possible through the generous support of Galyan’s. Look for more exciting Smithsonian exhibitions coming to the Museum in the future.
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Stan Jorstad
Panoramic view of “El Capitan” - Olympic, Washington, a photograph by Stan Jorstad from These Rare Lands Smithsonian exhibition.
New Weapons Installed in Civil War Collection By Curator George Deeming
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he curatorial department has been busy installing a few new exhibits in the Railroads: Lifelines of the Civil War collection. A Palmetto Armory Model 1842, .69 cal musket, manufactured as flint but converted to percussion is now housed in the long arms case. The Palmetto Armory (William Glaze & Co) was located in Columbia, SC. Wm. Glaze, as the Palmetto Armory, produced 3,720 of these muskets. On April 15, 1851, South Carolina awarded Benjamin Flag of Millbury, MA and Glaze, owner of the Palmetto Armory, a sizable contract for muskets, rifles, and pistols. One thousand sabres and 1,000 artillery swords were included. Although these were all used by the Confederacy during the war, it’s important to note that they were all regulation US models made nine years before the war, and in no way should have the letters CSA on them. Another interesting piece recently installed in the same case is an 1859 new Model Sharps, .54 cal rifle. Christian Sharps went to work with John H. Hall in 1830 where he learned the intricacies of each of Hall's rifles and carbines, as well as the basics of assembly line production. Later, he improved Hall's breech-loading system. Sharps experimented with variations in breech mechanisms, and obtained a US Patent for a “gun with sliding breech-pin and self-capping.” The Sharps rifle greatly reduced the escape of gas and the threat of backflash. Although fast, sturdy and reliable, Sharps' arms still leaked some fire at the breech. As the design of these arms progressed, the hammer was moved to the outside. Manufactured briefly in 1850 and 1851 in Mill Creek, PA, these arms are associated more widely with the Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company, established about 1851 in
Hartford, CT. In 1853 Sharps left the company and moved to Philadelphia. Sharps started another small shop in 1856 that eventually became known as C. Sharps and Company. The arms produced by Sharps were appreciated by military personnel. During the Civil War, Colonel Hiram Berdan recruited the top marksmen in the North to become members of the 1st and 2nd US Sharpshooters Regiments. Most of Berdan’s men were armed with Sharps rifles, and in their hands, the “Berdan” 1859 Sharps rifle became one of the deadliest weapons of the war. Be sure to examine the Confederate LeMat, .42 cal, 9 shot percussion pistol with .63 cal shotgun backup on display in the short arms case. This revolver was a favorite of Southern Generals Stuart and Beauregard. In the 1850s, the new rapid fire revolver gained increasing attention from farsighted military officers. A French born physician named Jean Francois LeMat invented this extremely rare Confederate percussion 10 shot handgun. The double barreled sidearm had a cylinder that held 9 .42 cal rounds that fired from the top barrel and a load of buckshot in the lower .63 cal barrel. The lower barrel was fired by a flick of the thumb which repositioned the hammer. Neither the revolver, nor Oliver Winchester's repeating Henry rifle were used much during the war. However, those few officers who saw the advantage of a repeating pistol were busy negotiating deals in hopes of persuading the Army to adopt these as standard sidearms.
The Georgia Power team of David Connell, Dr. Ken, John Dobbs and Frank Love, won this year’s tournament.
Tournament Raises Thousands
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ood weather, good people, and a great cause brought 132 golfers to Cobblestone golf course April 15 for the 8th Annual Great Locomotive Chase Golf Tournament, sponsored by Carl Black Buick/Pontiac /GMC. While the team from Georgia Power won the tournament, the annual event raised over $28,000, making the Southern Museum the big winner.
Thank You Sponsors Presenting Sponsor Carl Black Buick/Pontiac/GMC Bronze Sponsors Alcon Associates, Inc. • Riverside Bank • Bentley, Bentley & Bentley Cobb EMC • Main Street Bank BellSouth Telecommunications Ashton Staffing • Georgia Power Food Provided By Hooter’s Restaurant - Kennesaw Sweet Tomatoes Restaurant
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Kennesaw Museum Foundation 2829 Cherokee Street • Kennesaw, Georgia 30144 770-427-2117 • Fax 770-421-8485
Please visit www.southernmuseum.org for more information on upcoming events.
Eagle Scout Lolley Builds Benches for Southern Museum
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Mayor Leonard Church, center, and Southern Museum Executive Director Jeff Drobney, right, thank Eagle Scout Jordan Lolley for his hard work on the new benches.
nstead of heading for the beach, Kell High School sophomore Jordan Lolley spent his spring break building benches for the Southern Museum, as part of an Eagle Scout project. “My parents work in downtown Kennesaw, and I would see (Museum Lead Interpreter) Harper Harris outside giving weapons demonstrations to kids during field trips. They were always sitting on the grass, and I thought it would be nice if they had benches,” Lolley, a Kennesaw resident, explained. The five new benches were dedicated April 15 in a ribbon cutting ceremony featuring Kennesaw Mayor Leonard Church, Museum Executive Director Jeff Drobney, City Manager Steve Kennedy, Lolley, and several waitresses from Hooter’s, one of the financial sponsors of the project. Lolley spent nearly a week on the
project, preparing the wood, assembling the benches, then installing them at the Museum. He had some help from his parents, Bill and Brenda Borden, Scoutmaster Bill Wrye, and fellow scouts Herman Owens, Zach Smith, and Carter Kees. Several local businesses contributed money or supplies to the project, including Hooter’s; Threads for the South; Raymond D. Rhoades, CPA; Jasper Lumber; and, Wally Zimmerman of Crashmasters, Inc. “We really appreciate all the hard work Jordan put in,” Drobney said. “He’s an amazing kid – he raised all the money himself, then built and installed the benches for us. Now kids will have someplace to sit during the outdoor portion of their field trips.” Lolley is a member of Eagle Scout Troop 422 of the Mountain Lake District of the Atlanta Area Council.