September 2006
TheTelegraph News & Events from the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History in Association with the Smithsonian Institution
Vol. IV, No. 3
Heroes and Legends Ball To Present Murder Under the Magnolias
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veryone loves a good murder mystery. Add to that a delicious meal, a live auction and the ability to recognize local heroes, and that’s a true Southern gala. Join the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History and the Kennesaw Museum Foundation, Inc. as it hosts the ninth annual Heroes and Legends Gala on October 28 at the Renaissance Waverly Hotel. Think you have what it takes to be an expert witness? Consider yourself a Sherlock Holmes, Nancy Drew or even the omnipotent Miss Jane Marple? Then consider yourself invited to Murder Under the Magnolias and try your hand at solving the interactive murder mystery performed by Bacchus Productions, Atlanta’s premier theme-party producers, who have woven tales for Coca-Cola, IBM, Microsoft, Time Warner, Bellsouth and more. The event not only serves as a major fund-raiser for the Museum Foundation, it is also a way of recognizing local heroes who have contributed to the success of the Museum. This year’s winners will be announced during the night’s program. The Southern Museum underwent a major expansion and reopened its doors
in March of 2003 to the delight of history buffs and children. Its effect on the community has exceeded expectations. Not only is it a member of the prestigious Smithsonian Affiliations Program, which provides access to some of the Smithsonian Institution’s most treasured collections, the Museum also hosts exhibits from the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service. Let the Museum know how honored you are to have it as one of Georgia’s historical venues. Buy your tickets today. Proceeds benefit the Kennesaw Museum Foundation and support educational programs that include artifact acquisition, special events (All Aboard Days and Civil War Christmas), special exhibits, educational outreach programs and plans for a Museum expansion that include a new education building.
Tickets to the ninth annual Heroes and Legends Ball are $125 each. Everyone is invited. Sponsorships also are available. Dress is black tie, optional. Come out and support this worthwhile Museum event and have fun doing it. For more information, contact Leslie Edge at 770-427-2117 ext. 105.
Museum Hosts Georgia Watercolor Society Show October 1 – November 17, 2006
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his fall, the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History will have the privilege of hosting the Georgia Watercolor Society’s annual Members’ Show, October 1–November 17, 2006. This year’s show will feature 54 of
the society’s 400+ members. The finalist paintings range in style from realism to impressionism to contemporary and abstract. Nationally known watercolor artist and teacher Alex Powers will judge the show and select the paintings to be showcased. These one-of-a-kind works of art also will be available for purchase. “This show is very competitive,” said Cathy Ehrler, president of the society. “Members from across the country and all over the state of Georgia vie to be included in the show.” If you have additional questions regarding the exhibit, contact Cindy Dadyala at 770-427-2117 ext. 104.
“Passeggiata, Roma” by Keiko Tanabe, Dr. Ph Martin’s Hydrus Fine Art Watercolor Award, 2006 National Show
Members Reception
“In Memoriam” by Harriet Wenzel, Arches Paper Award — Honorable Mention, 2006 National Show
We’re excited to offer Museum members the opportunity to mingle with artists of the Georgia Watercolor Society at a private reception October 7 from 5–7 p.m. If you are interested in attending the reception, contact Cindy Dadyala no later than October 3.
“Autumn Leaves” by Alex Carter, Warehouse Framers, Inc. Award, 2006 National Show
Hold Your Event at the Southern Museum
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hase history to the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History for a memorable and unique corporate, educational, civic or social event. From the impressive General locomotive and Glover factory reproduction to the one-of-a-kind collection of Civil War uniforms and
weapons, the Southern Museum offers an exciting backdrop for any occasion. Entertaining program options are available to enhance the Museum experience. The Museum offers a unique historical environment for both large and small events. Select caterers provide services that range from elegant cocktail
receptions to menus with real “Southern charm” and down-home barbeques. Groups of 10 or more qualify for group admission rate to the Museum. We hope you will consider hosting your next event at the Southern Museum. Please contact Leslie Edge by calling 770-427-2117 ext. 105.
Weddings •Anniversaries •Receptions •Luncheons •Cocktail Parties •Picnics •Casual Barbeques •Breakfasts •Board Meetings •Scout Troop Meetings 2
Children and Families Enjoy Education Programs By Director of Education Jennifer Legates
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his summer, we brought back by popular demand our summer children’s programs “So You Want To Be a Civil War Soldier?” and “So You Want To Be a Railroad Engineer?” In only our second year, these programs capture the interest of every future historian. Children learned about camp life and drilled like the soldiers of long ago, ending the day with a demonstration of their skills. Budding engineers learned about railroad safety and were thrilled to have their photograph taken in the famous locomotive the General. In October, we bring back the monthly Homeschool Days. Introduced in the spring of 2006, Homeschool Days promise educational programs for the homeschool family not able to explore
the Museum as part of a large school field trip. The Education staff offers a full day of activities, providing students with a fun chance to explore the past. For more information about dates and the activity schedule, visit the Education section of our Web site at www.southernmuseum.org. Fall promises to be a scary treat for those who have wondered whether the Museum is spooky at night. For the second year, we are co-sponsoring the Haunted Museum on October 13 and 14 with the City of Kennesaw’s Parks and
Recreation Department. Expanded this year to two nights, visitors will experience the thrills and chills of a spooky haunted house. Come see what all the screams are about! In November, we bring the music of the Civil War to life with an evening concert by the 8th Georgia Regimental Band. The Museum will be filled with popular songs of the 1860s in this hour-and-a-half performance, including such favorites as “Battle Hymn of the Republic” and “Dixie.” Join us for a night of wonderful music!
Summer Gathering Provides Time To Relax
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n August 26, the Southern Museum held its second Staff and Volunteer Appreciation Summer Picnic at Acworth’s Cauble Park. The picnic gave Museum staff and volunteers a chance to relax and enjoy good food and friendship. Thank you to all those who are dedicated to helping bring history to life for all our Museum patrons! If you or someone you know would like to join our group of dedicated volunteers, please contact Director of Education Jennifer Legates at 770-427-2117 ext. 114 or education@southernmuseum.org.
Two popular children’s programs “So You Want To Be a Civil War Soldier?” and “So You Want To Be a Railroad Engineer?” make history come alive. Children learn and have fun at the same time.
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Research Continues on the Marietta and North Georgia Railway By C. Pat Cates As presented in an earlier edition of The Telegraph, the Archives department continues its research on the Marietta and North Georgia Railway. This historic railroad, with its connections to the Glover family of the Glover Machine Works, ran from Marietta to Knoxville, Tennessee. In researching this railroad, a number of interesting stories have emerged from a variety of sources, including local newspapers. Presented here are some of these stories, gleaned from the Cherokee Advance and the Marietta Journal. They vividly illustrate some of the perils that the early railroad pioneers faced and give insight into improvements in safety that have been made over the years.
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onstruction accidents were fairly common. On September 7, 1886, a construction train was running backward near the Toccoa River. There
were three flatcars ahead of the locomotive loaded with crossties that were being used as seats by construction workers. The train struck a wandering cow. Tom Killian of Gilmer County and J. Rutledge of Fannin County were thrown on the track and instantly killed.
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he Marietta and North Georgia Railway was originally built as a narrow-gauge railroad. In the late 1880s, it was widened to standard gauge. A very serious accident occurred at Mabel, a flag stop north of Canton, in October 1887 where a 20-foot cut was being widened for the change of gauge. In order to use fewer workers and less time, the men were using a very dangerous procedure of tunneling under the bank for a distance before making the final cut. Suddenly the embankment collapsed. Sam Bishop was killed, and three other men were injured. After the accident, Glover went to Mabel to interview witnesses and examine the site.
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serious derailment occurred on August 20, 1889, when a northbound passenger train was crossing a trestle approximately three miles south of Blue Ridge. Engineer Kennan White was running the trip for another engineer, was not aware of the conditions of the road and was running the train too fast. The locomotive turned completely over, trapping White under the locomotive. Fireman Henry McAfee of Canton was able to jump off the locomotive and escaped injury. The baggage car and passenger coach also derailed but were prevented from turning over when they became caught in the trestle. Despite White’s serious injuries, he would make a complete recovery.
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d Brewer, an engineer on the railroad, was fatally injured while “polling” cars in Blue Ridge on September 13, 1889. During this time period, locomotives and cars had pockets at each corner for a pole. To save time in switching cars, a pole was placed between a car and a locomotive on an adjoining track. In doing this, it was not necessary for the locomotive to get on the same track as the car. Brewer was showing a train hand how to move cars using this technique when the pole broke, resulting in the fatal injuries. The practice of “polling” cars was extremely dangerous and later was banned from railroad procedures.
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Engineers of the Marietta and North Georgia Railway and their wives enjoy a party at Talking Rock, Georgia. Date and photographer unknown; Matt Bumgarner Collection
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n June 5, 1889, gunshots were heard at the railroad shop in Marietta by George Hanes. After running to the shop, Hanes was confronted by Bob Howell, who admitted to shooting the night watchman, Zack Aleywine. Hanes and W.B. Bradley (auditor) took a lighted torch to the cab of Locomotive No. 11, where they found the wounded Aleywine. Aleywine, who was cleaning
Archives, Cont. the locomotive as part of his assigned duties, died within a few minutes. Howell claimed that he had shot Aleywine in self-defense after a business transaction between the two went sour. Later that evening, he was arrested by Marshal A.T. Coryell, who was accompanied by Mayor T.W. Glover and Sheriff P.O. McLain. After hearing the evidence, the coroner’s jury found that there was sufficient evidence to send the case to the next term of the Cobb Superior Court.
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round midnight on the morning of May 2, 1894, the shop in Marietta caught fire. Night watchman George Love was cleaning engines when he discovered the blaze. There were difficulties in getting the fire engine to the water source, and within 15 minutes the old wooden structure was completely enveloped in flames. Three locomotives were in the shop and completely destroyed, and two locomotives that were sitting on a side track received significant damage. These locomotives would have been destroyed had it not been for the action of the local citizens who fought the fire with buckets of water. These same citizens were able to push a large number of passenger coaches outside the shop and save them from damage. The cause of the fire was never determined.
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n June 19, 1894, the boiler of Locomotive No. 19 exploded at the southbound grade at Hiawassee. Locomotive No. 19 was a pusher engine used to push loaded southbound trains up the heavy mountain grade. It had just backed in preparation for coupling to the detached passenger cars, and the crew was in the process of connecting the air brakes. The deafening noise of the explosion was heard through the mountains, and engine parts were blown as far away as 300 yards. Fireman Jim Deavors was found lying beside the wrecked locomotive. Deavors’ father, who had been making the coupling, rushed to his son’s aid and held him as he died. Baggage Master Sanges, who was severely injured, was found in the rubble of the baggage car. Several other trainmen were injured, but, fortunately, all the passengers were safe. Glover received news of the accident the next day and took the train to the site with his doctor and Sanges’ mother. Sanges was in such great agony that he was placed on the return train, but he died before he reached Marietta. Following the accident, Glover made a full investigation into the explosion, which included an inspection of the locomotive by a representative of the Baldwin Locomotive Works that had built the unit. The boilers of all the locomotives in the Marietta and North Georgia Railway underwent vigorous inspections to ensure that an accident of this type would not happen again.
Mark Your Calendar! Museum Day September 30, 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. This second annual event offers free admission with a special “Museum Day” card available from Smithsonian Magazine.
Southern Museum: Georgia Watercolor Society Show October 1 – November 17 Pastoral landscapes and vivid portraits will enchant visitors to the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History as it hosts the Georgia Watercolor Society’s annual Show October 1 – November 17. Entry with Museum admission $5.50 – $7.50).
Homeschool Days October 2, November 6, December 4, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Homeschooled students can explore the Museum’s exhibits for a special rate with a copy of this listing. Fun, interpretive programs will be offered throughout the day. Reservations not required. (Please Note: The Museum does not provide group tours on Homeschool Days.) For more information, contact the Education department at 770-427-2117 ext. 114. ($6.00 per adult, $4.00 per student, children 3 and under free).
The Haunted Museum October 13, 4 – 9 p.m. October 14, 4 – 9 p.m. Take a spooky guided tour through the Museum. Beware chilling characters and creepy sounds from every corner. This eerie experience is recommended for children 6 and older. Admission: $5 per person (ages 6 and up). Co-sponsored by Kennesaw Parks and Recreation and the Southern Museum.
8th Georgia Band Concert November 4, 7 p.m., Updated Date! Enjoy the sounds of the 19th century during a fun and educational concert by the 8th Georgia Regimental Band at the Museum. The hour-and-a-half performance will include tunes popular during the 1860s. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; concert begins at 7 p.m. Performance will include a 10-minute intermission. Admission: $8 (ages 4 and up) or free with Museum membership.
A Civil War Christmas December 9, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Celebrate the holidays at the Southern Museum, where the Lacy Hotel will be dressed in Civil War-style Christmas decorations. Children will make their own special decorations for the tree as the 125th Ohio Volunteer Infantry will be encamped out front. A Civil War Christmas is free with admission to the Museum.
www.southernmuseum.org 5
The Curators’ Corner
“Better Angels” Serve North and South By Curator Mike Bearrow
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etween 1861 and 1865, 650,000 American soldiers died during the conflict between North and South. Little knowledge of germ theory, infectious disease, poor sanitation practices, poor nutrition, overexposure to weather conditions and the use of weapons considered barbaric by modern standards all combined to create a mass of human suffering our nation has not witnessed since. Receiving only bare mention in our understanding of that war were the millions of survivors who went home missing an arm or leg, perhaps maimed and disfigured for life or the youth sapped from their bodies. At the center of all the misery and suffering were men on both sides who served unselfishly — as Abraham Lincoln would have described them, “better angels of our nature.” These were the doctors and surgeons, both North and South, who served their calling beyond the color of the uniforms they wore. One such surgeon was Dr. James Oliver, who served with the 21st Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. Dr. Oliver kept a diary of his experiences throughout the war and later published a book containing his remembrances of the conflict. He speaks of the day-to-day hardships and sufferings of the men under his care. You feel through his words his anger at the incompetent generals who sent young men like himself to fight useless battles that gained no result. You feel his anguish following a battle when comrades were killed or wounded. He also pays tribute to wounded Southern officers and men whom he took care of following battles. He is less kind at times in his diary to his own generals who, in his opinion, wasted the lives of their soldiers. The diary is interesting to read because we see the doctor’s thoughts and feelings at
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the time, context and place in which they occurred. Our Museum has the privilege of currently displaying the medical and cavalry swords, along with a medical kit,
issued to Dr. Oliver during the war. They are displayed within our Civil War gallery, thanks to the kindness of a local resident, Mr. Peter Kendrick, a retired lieutenant colonel in the Air Force, and his family. Mr. Kendrick and his family also have allowed the Museum to reprint and offer for sale in our gift shop copies of Dr. Oliver’s diary. Proceeds from the sales will help the Museum acquire important artifacts that it normally cannot afford.
Dr. James Oliver, a Union surgeon, used his diary to record what he saw and felt as he served soldiers from both the North and South. After the war, Dr. Oliver published his remembrances in a book.
See the Alps: Learn From Local Experts
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unique and exciting travel opportunity awaits you as the Smithsonian Institution and their partners, Collette Vacations, invite you on a thrilling train journey through the Alps. Departing on May 24, 2007, this 11-day adventure will expose you to breathtaking Alpine vistas as you journey on some of the most dramatic railway lines and roads that pass through Switzerland, Italy and Austria.
Highlights include: • GoldenPass Panoramic Train • Montreux • Chateau de Chillon • Zermatt • Matterhorn • Gornergrat Railway • Glacier Express • Bernina Express • St. Moritz Salzburg • Innsbruck
Enjoy the stunning beauty of the magnificent Alps, charming traditional villages and grand castles and the distinctive cultural treasures found in this pristine corner of Europe. Smithsonian Journeys Travel offers the best in educational travel worldwide. Their custom-crafted tours are created for adventurous travelers who seek the thrill of discovery and learning, combined with flexibility and economical rates. Local subject experts selected by Smithsonian Journeys for each trip make the difference between simply seeing and truly understanding the destination. For more information on this exciting Smithsonian travel opportunity, please contact our membership coordinator Cindy Dadyala, 770-427-2117 ext. 104 or e-mail cdadyala@kennesaw-ga.gov.
Thanks to Our 2006 Corporate Members ACH Water/Callaway Blue Spring Water Ashton Staffing Bank of North Georgia Bentley Bentley & Bentley Carl Black Buick/Pontiac/GMC Chastain & Associates Inc. CheckPoint Mortgage Cobb Energy Management Elite Telcom Services Georgia Power
Hours The Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History is open Monday – Saturday 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., and on Sunday 12:00 – 5:00 p.m. The Museum is closed on New Year’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas days.
Don’t Forget! Renew Your Museum Membership Yearly! Call Membership Coordinator Cindy Dadyala at 770-427-2117 ext.104
Main Street Bank North Metro Technical College O’Neill Communications Pacesetter Steel Services Phoenix Aviation Manager Inc. VLR Construction Vulcan Materials Company 7
NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID KENNESAW. GA PERMIT NO. 39
P.O. Box 846 • Kennesaw, Georgia 30156 770-427-2117 • Fax 770-421-8485
Please visit www.southernmuseum.org for more information on upcoming events.
Soon g n i m Co ercolor t a W a Georgi y Show Societ er 1 Octob Opens
Welcome Boxcar Cheesecake
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oxcar Cheesecake is the newest addition to the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History’s merchant discount program. Made to order in more than 50 varieties or by the slice, this incredibly creamy cheesecake is worth a stop. Boxcar Cheesecake is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday — Friday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. Boxcar Cheesecake, located at 2893 W. Main Street, Kennesaw, is offering
Museum members $1 off a single slice of cheesecake. Boxcar Cheesecake, www.boxcarcheesecake.com, 770-919-7740
Boxcar also serves a great lunch!
“Picked for Breakfast” by Duncan Simmons, Third Place, 2006 National Show