A new year is always a good time to launch new endeavors. This is a project I’ve considered for a long time and finally took the time to teach myself the art of blogging, well…… at least I learned how to start a page.
As the caretaker of Barracks to Prison Pen, I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce myself. I was born and grew up in the Elmira area. Growing up, vacations almost always included included visits to historical sites. Come to think of it, even the year we went to Disney World, saw a side trip or two to a museum. As a young kid, these side trips were not always appreciated at the time, but did manage to create a lasting interest in history. After high school, I moved onto Syracuse University, Go Orange!, and a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the US Army. History snuck up on me again, as part of the officer professional development program included the study of military history. After a tour in West Germany, that included the fall of the Berlin Wall and an assignment to Aberdeen Proving Ground, I returned to my hometown. Our village mayor snagged me to help support a local Revolutionary War era reenactment and got pulled into the swirling vortex of living history. It was then I realized how many folks did not know about the rich Civil War history of Elmira, NY.
All too often many facets of a community’s history fall into obscurity and Elmira, NY is no different. Most folks if they know anything about Elmira’s Civil War history, they have heard of the 11 months in 1864-65, when Elmira was the site of a prisoner of war camp. The city’s story is bigger and starts much earlier, in April 1861 after the bombardment of Ft Sumter. So with that in mind, it is my goal to take readers on a chronological journey designed to introduce you to Elmira as it moves through the tumultuous years of the Civil War. As the readership grows, I hope to also intersperse personal stories of private citizens, Union soldiers and Confederate prisoners that passed through Elmira, as they land in my inbox. Some topics will evoke very strong emotions, but it is not the intent to hash out differing views, but present solid historical facts that will allow readers to draw their own conclusions.
Initially, until I become more adept at managing the blog, replies will be monitored before posting. Please bear with me and understand I do have other tasks to accomplish, so if you don’t get an instantaneous response, please be patient!
Pack your traveling bags, pick up your train tickets and we’ll be on our way shortly!