Category: Philanthropy

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Education Philanthropy

Sharpsburg Historical Park

For several years, the Antietam Institute has been committed to supporting the Town of Sharpsburg in its efforts to develop an interpretive plaza in the green space at the corner of Main and Church Streets. Each year, we have made a $2,000 annual contribution for this project.

This year, construction on the park began in earnest, and by Memorial Day, 75% had been completed. The final piece of the park was the installation of interpretive waysides to tell the story of Sharpsburg and the people who have lived there.

Before the installation could begin, the waysides had to be developed. Because of our staunch support of the project since the beginning, the Sharpsburg Mayor and Town Council asked the Institute to help with this undertaking. After an initial concept meeting to develop some themes, we formed a committee of several members to begin formulating these themes and ideas into six distinctive waysides.

The committee included: John Schildt, Steve Cowie, Timothy Snyder, Robert Nill, Jim Buchanan, and Chris Vincent. The committee did an excellent job gathering stories, first-hand accounts, and photos for each panel. By July, the town approved the six draft panels, and they were off to Chris Brown, the Executive Director of Civil War Trails (CWT) for review and development. Civil War Trails, Inc. also collaborates with small parks, museums, and communities to share their history, topics, and sites by providing unique research and development expertise, along with high-quality materials.

To help draw interest to the historical park through the marketing of CWT, one of the six waysides was selected to be a Civil War Trails sign and the Antietam Institute took on the sponsorship and annual membership of that sign. This is the second CWT sign the Institute has sponsored in the Town of Sharpsburg.

Despite the frigid, wet weather, Chris Brown and his CWT crew installed the six waysides at the park the first week of December, just in time for the 35th Memorial Illumination.

The six waysides at the park are:

1- The Piper House: A Historic Connection to the Antietam Battlefield. Refers to the Piper house across the street, the Piper family, and the connection to the battlefield that so many Sharpsburg families had.

2- Canals and Turnpikes Fuel the Economic Growth. Discusses the C&O Canal and the turnpikes that intersect at Sharpsburg, which spurred economic growth of the town.

3- Sharpsburg Architecture and Prominent Citizens. Talks about some of the unique buildings in town and residents like Dr. A. A. Biggs, O.T. Reilly, and Dr. Hal Shealy.

4- Returning Veterans and Remembrance. Shows the connection between veterans returning to Sharpsburg after the war and the tradition of the Sharpsburg Memorial Day parade.

5- Sharpsburg and the Battle. Focuses on the civilians in town, specifically the Adam Michael family, whose house is across the street from the park, and the hardships caused. (Civil War Trails wayside)

6- Sharpsburg and the Civil War. Shares stories of several residents who were caught up in the war, like Barney Houser, Thomas Grove, Judge David Smith, and Jacob Rohrbach.

One final vertical interpretive panel will be added in the spring that will include the founding of the town in 1763 by Joseph Chapline, a timeline of key events, and a map of Sharpsburg. The Sharpsburg Historical Park is a much-needed resource to tell the amazing story of Sharpsburg and its residents and will help interpret this chapter of the Maryland Campaign and the Civil War.

We want to thank the committee members for sharing their time, effort, and knowledge on this project. Thanks to Chris Brown and Civil War Trails for their hard work and commitment in sharing the stories of civilians, soldiers, and communities. More importantly, we would like to thank the Town of Sharpsburg, Mayor Russ Weaver, and Vice Mayor Jacob Martz for the opportunity to support this project and promote the town’s history. We look forward to our continuing partnership with Civil War Trails and the Town of Sharpsburg.

Categories
Education Philanthropy

2025-26 Scholarship Recipient

We are pleased to announce that the recipient of the Antietam Institute 2025-26 Scholarship is William Faith. William is a senior at Shepherd University completing a degree in Historic Preservation/Public History, with a minor in Business Administration.

Born and raised in Hagerstown, Maryland, William spent a great deal of time growing up surrounded by history, whether that was family trips to historic sites and museums or simply taking in the local history through local culture.

William has an Associates in History from Hagerstown Community College, where he was able to spend time as an intern and a volunteer for the Washington County Historical Society. William says, “This pivotal moment in my educational journey helped me not only hone my skills and understanding of public history, but also solidified a love for the American Civil War, Reconstruction, and its deep ties to local culture and identity. This love for the period has inspired me to continue working with the wonderful resources it provides locally.” He has also been an intern at the Byrd Center at Shepherd University through the Public History program. William believes, “experiences like these have continued to sharpen the tools necessary to be an effective historian and further grow my love for it”.

William is on track to graduate in the winter of 2026 and is thrilled to see where this journey will take him over the next few years. He hopes to be a longstanding part of historic education and public history no matter where he ends up. Outside of his love for history, William’s enthusiasm spills into a love for film and music, and is happiest when all three of those joys converge.

We wish William all the best as he completes his degree and strives to obtain his goals. We also want to thank Dr. Jennifer Murray and the Shepherd Foundation for the opportunity to support one of the many outstanding students of Shepherd University.

(Institute President, Jim Rosebrock, William Faith, and Exec. Director, Chris Vincent)
(Institute President, Jim Rosebrock, William Faith, and Exec. Director, Chris Vincent)

Categories
Education Philanthropy Programs

Student Symposium Scholarship

We are pleased to announce that Trevor Huff from Hood College in Frederick, Maryland is a recipient of our Student Symposium Scholarships.

Trevor is a 27-year-old Hood College third-year student and United States Army veteran. He is originally from Houston, TX, where he attended his first two years of college and completed an associate’s degree.

From December 2021 to June 2024, Trevor served as an Infantryman in the 1st Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, “The Old Guard,” where he participated in hundreds of funerals at Arlington National Cemetery. Since leaving the Army, Trevor enrolled at Hood College to complete a Bachelors Degree in History. He intends to further his education beyond a bachelor’s. Trevor is a proud Phi Theta Kappa member and has recently been invited to join Phi Theta Alpha, the Honors Society for History.

Last fall, Trevor volunteered at Antietam National Battlefield under the NPS volunteer program. During that period, he had the unique opportunity to inform park guests about the park’s programs and speak to the public about the Civil War. This experience furthered his passion for studying the war and its legacy. Trevor said, “For all of my life, History, specifically military history, has been my principal area of study.”

We look forward to seeing Trevor at the symposium and talking more about his love for history.

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Philanthropy

2024-25 Scholarship Recipient

We are pleased to announce that the recipient of the Antietam Institute 2024-25 Scholarship is Aaron Walker. Aaron is a senior at Shepherd University completing a degree in History and a minor in Education. Aaron hails from Strasburg, Virginia, and graduated from Strasburg High School.

Growing up in the Shenandoah Valley, Aaron has a great admiration for the War between the States, being introduced to local history at an early age. He grew up on a part of the Fisher’s Hill Battlefield, specifically where the Federal forces moved to outflank the Confederate defenses. Aaron family farm is chocked full of artifacts from both the early and later parts of the war.

Aaron chose to go to Shepherd University after a camping and biking trip at Antietam. He enjoys all areas of history but harbors a deep appreciation for the American Civil War from relic hunting on his family’s farm. His goals are to work with the National Park Service and become a history teacher.

We wish Aaron all the best as he completes his degree and strives to obtain his goals. We also want to thank Dr. James Broomall and the Shepherd Foundation for the opportunity to support one of the many outstanding students of Shepherd University.

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Education Philanthropy Research

2024 Summer Internship

Sarah Sofsky

We are excited to announce the start of a new internship with Shepherd University at the Antietam National Battlefield. The intern will be assigned to the Resource Education and Visitor Services Division at Antietam National Battlefield under the direct supervision of the Division Chief, Park Ranger Keith Snyder.

Working with Dr. James Broomall, Director of the George Tylor Moore Center for the Study of the Civil War at Shepherd University and Keith Snyder, we’ve selected Sarah Sofsky. Sarah is a Maryland native, but has lived in many places in the United States. She is currently a junior at Shepherd University and a proud member of Phi Alpha Theta, the National History Honor Society. Sarah says her “time at Shepherd University has been phenomenal, the last three years of seminars, research and projects have propelled my love for all things historical farther than I ever imagined.” Sarah’s goal is to work for the National Park Service and ultimately become an archaeologist.

Sarah duties will include working at the park visitor center assisting visitors; performing roving/informal interpretation at various sites on the battlefield; and presenting the 30-minute battlefield orientation program. During her three-month internship, Sarah will also be conducting some transcription of over sixty Civil War letters related to Antietam and the Maryland Campaign soldiers that will be posted on our Historical Research Center. These documents have been provided to the Institute by William “Griff” Griffing, owner and transcriber at Spared & Shared. Board members, Brian Downey and Chris Vincent are overseeing this portion of the internship. 

Categories
Education Philanthropy

Civil War Trails sign at old Lutheran Church site

New Designation for a Church Destroyed by Civil War

Heavily damaged Lutheran Church after the Battle of Antietam. Sept. 1862 Photographer: Alexander Gardner. Library of Congress

On Thursday, August 24 members of the Antietam Institute helped hoist a new set of Civil War Trails signs into place where the Mount Calvary Lutheran Church once stood. This is the first Civil War Trails (CWT) site in downtown Sharpsburg officially adding the beautiful community to the multi-state program. The church was damaged beyond repair during the September 17, 1862 Battle of Antietam.

Chris Vincent, President of the Antietam Institute (right) helps placed the new Civil War Trails interpretive sign alongside Jason Shaffer, Operations Manager for Civil War Trails (left). The new site is located at 213 East Main Street., Sharpsburg, Maryland. Courtesy, Civil War Trails, Inc

“We are extremely excited to have this first CWT sign installed at the site of the old Lutheran Church,” said Chris Vincent, President of the Antietam Institute. The Institute was the primary advocate for the project, envisioning how to tell this often overlooked story and covering the initial costs. They will also be the sustaining partner for the site enabling the Civil War Trails program and its partners to market the site internationally to visitors from around the world.

Sharpsburg residents taking shelter in the Kretzer cellar during the Battle of Antietam. Artist: F.H. Schell Leslie’s Illustrated Magazine

This project in Sharpsburg is the latest addition to the CWT program which offers over 1,500 sites across six states. As visitors travel to each site, utilizing the CWT brochures and directional signs to navigate they visit local restaurants, stay at local B&Bs, and enjoy museums, hikes, and other amenities. Daniel Spedden, President of the Hagerstown/Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau lauded the project. “As cultural and heritage tourists seek authentic experiences, they not only generate revenue, but also support countless small businesses, create employment opportunities, and preserve the unique history, traditions, and craftsmanship of our region.”

Jason Shaffer, Operations Manager for Civil War Trails (left) and Chris Vincent, President of the Antietam Institute (right) steady the directional ‘trailblazer’ sign which helps catch the eye of drivers. These ‘trailblazers’ work in tandem with the print and digital map-guides to help visitors the sites. Courtesy, Civil War Trails, Inc.

Across Maryland there are over 180 Civil War Trails sites, including over two-dozen stops associated with the 1862 Antietam Campaign. The popularity of the 1862 Antietam Campaign driving trail dovetails nicely with the mission of the Antietam Institute. The Institute is a member centered organization with a mission to educate the public on the critical importance of the Battle of Antietam and the campaign which was a major turning point of the Civil War which directly resulted in the Emancipation Proclamation.

The two organizations are optimistic about the ability to help promote travel to region and in telling new and varied stories. Vincent continued, “This is the first of many signs the Antietam Institute plans to sponsor around Sharpsburg to tell the story beyond the battlefield, of those civilians who experienced the tragedy of the bloodiest single day in American history.”

The new Civil War Trails site is located at 213 East Main Street, Sharpsburg located on top of the hill where the cemetery is now today. Be sure to snap a #signselfie and post it along with #mdinfocus. For more information about visiting or for a free map-guide shipped to your door visit civilwartrails.org. To find out more about the Antietam Institute, their programs, publications, and project visit their website at antietaminstitute.org and follow them @antietaminstitute on social media.

Editorial Note: We do not recommend publishing, printing, or posting a photo which shows the entire sign content. Doing so actually decreases visitation.

Categories
Philanthropy Publications Research

2023 Summer Internship

We are pleased to announce that our summer internship program with Shepherd University has begun. Working with Dr. James Broomall, Director of the George Tyler Moore Center for the Study of the Civil War, we have selected Gareth Cushman-Reynolds to be a transcription intern for the Publications Committee.  Gareth is a local student, graduating from Boonsboro High School in 2019 and lives in Hagerstown, Maryland. Gareth will be a senior at Shepherd University pursuing a bachelors degree in History with a concentration in the American Civil War and 19th Century America.  He is passionate about history, and is excited to be working with the Antietam Institute to help bring historical documentation into the digital age. Gareth assisted in a separate transcription project at school, working on the Journal of Cotton Mathers, and is excited to continue with this line of work. In his free time he enjoys reading, writing, gaming, and traveling to explore new places.

Gareth Cushman-Reynolds

This summer, Gareth will be transcribing the Jacob Duryee manuscript and documents that the Institute acquired last year. He will also conduct research while transcribing and annotating the manuscript. The goal of Gareth’s work is to prepare the manuscript for future publication. Board members, Kevin Pawlak and Chris Vincent are overseeing this project. 

Jacob Duryee
manuscript

The internship will meet one of the requirements for Gareth’s Practicum in Civil War Studies course he is taking this summer and provide an opportunity for him to grow and develop as an historian.

Categories
Education Philanthropy

Confederate “Greybacks” Donated

The Antietam Institute recently helped facilitate the donation of four Confederate notes to the Sharpsburgh Museum of History. We received an email in late April from Mr. Larry Lauer stating that he had a number of Confederate notes and wanted to donate them to an organization for preservation. The notes he had were $100, $50 $10 and $5. They were dated from 1861 ($50) 1862 ($100) 1863 ($5) and 1864 ($10).

Mr. Lauer said the the notes had been given to him by an aunt in 1965 when he was 16 years old. April 9th of that year was the centennial anniversary of the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox. The centennial was a “big deal nationally with lots of activities around it”, he stated. Mr. Lauer was very interested in the Civil War reading books by historian Bruce Catton, who wrote “A Stillness at Appomattox” and others. His aunt also gave him a few older books about the Civil War to encourage his interest. Mr. Lauer donated a 1965 5¢ Appomattox commemorative stamp as well. It was one of the five Civil War Centennial Series stamps issued between 1961 and 1965.

Although he is not a collector, Mr. Lauer researched the notes and said from his understanding the bills from 1861 ($50) and 1862 ($100) are rarer because fewer of them were printed then in the later war years. All of the bills were printed in Richmond on rice paper which is thin and brittle. They are hand signed by different people and some are numbered and dated by hand.

The Confederate paper money was called “Graybacks” to distinguish them from the Union bills which were called “Greenbacks”. When the Army of Northern Virginia marched north, they gave these “Graybacks” to locals when they confiscated food and live stock to support the army on the move. These payments were essentially worthless, because they could not be redeemed for gold until after the war. The Union armies did the same thing. Maryland, being a border state, had soldiers from both armies fighting and marching through the region throughout the war, so both “Graybacks” and “Greenbacks” were not uncommon in local areas.

Once the Confederate notes arrived, the Institute coordinated with Ed Beeler, Executive Director of the Sharpsburgh Museum of History, to receive them. The museum will display the notes in a new exhibit interpreting the Civil War that emphasizes the struggle and hardships the civilians of Sharpsburg faced during the war.

We want to thank Larry Lauer for his generous donation to the Sharpsburgh Museum of History and are thrilled that the Institute was able to assist in making this happen. We look forward to seeing the exhibit at the museum.

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Philanthropy

Scholarship Donation

In late, rainy September 2022, a small group of Princeton University Alumni came to the Antietam National Battlefield with a special guide, Professor James M. McPherson.  They have previously been on a tour of Gettysburg with Professor McPherson and at the end of that tour, McPherson answered their question of what battlefield should we tour next: Antietam was his immediate answer.  The group all stayed at Antietam Institute’s corporate member the Inn at Antietam, and for with owner Miriam Cunningham, it was a bit of reunion with the professor, having previously worked with McPherson at the American Historical Association.

Back Row: Stephen McMaster, Clayton Ramsey, Josh Pollack, Jimmy Teti
Front Row/Couch: Christina McMaster, Jim McPherson, Len Teti

Instead of taking a speaker’s fee, McPherson suggested that the group donate to an organization in his name.  They were all taken by the work done by the Institute, the conferences, the journals, the Brigades of Antietam book all being discussed and perused.  It was decided that they would help support the Institute’s scholarship at Shepherd University, generously donating $2000 which will be matched to the $2000 the Institute provides.  This scholarship was awarded for the first time to Kierstyn Williams in 2022.  The goal of the Institute to maintain this scholarship with Shepherd University and increase it as funding allows.  The scholarship is to encourage and inspire future study of the American Civil War and the Maryland Campaign.   The Institute thanked the groups for their generosity and commitment to the study of history. 

Professor James M. McPherson and Institute Board Member, Miriam Cunningham

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Philanthropy

Antietam Institute Donates Funds for Artillery Marker Refurbishment at Antietam National Battlefield

This past week we were honored to present Superintendent Susan Trail and the Antietam National Battlefield a $1,000.00 donation to support the refurbishment of the sixteen artillery display plaques that mark key artillery positions across the Antietam battlefield. 

(Photo: L-R Keith Snyder, Chris Vincent, Susan Trail, and Miriam Cunningham)

This donation was presented in accordance with our mission to encourage and foster the study of the Battle of Antietam and the 1862 Maryland Campaign.

As part of the sesquicentennial of the Battle of Antietam, the National Park Service in 2012, installed interpretive markers at sixteen locations where artillery batteries played significant roles in the fighting on September 17. The markers have been in place for twelve years and are showing much wear and tear from the elements.

Along with the Institute’s donation to refurbish the markers, Jim Rosebrock, author of The Artillery of Antietam and Institute Vice President, reviewed the narratives on the markers and suggested several updates which have been incorporated into the information that will be displayed on the new markers.  The updated markers are expected to be in place by the battle anniversary in September 2023. 

For more information on the artillery markers on the field: http://npshistory.com/brochures/anti/antietam-artillery.pdf