Olde Colony Civil War Round Table

The boys of 1861

The Olde Colony Civil War Round Table is a non-profit organization and we have incorporated in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Our group studies the history of the American Civil War. We focus on learning and discussing Civil War history. We further get involved in preserving C.W. sites, researching C.W. history and writing C.W. articles. We are the largest Civil War Round Table in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, with over 100+ members. Our regular meeting is usually on a Thursday night on the third week of the month at 7:30 p.m. Prominent Civil War Guest Speakers have been invited to address our group.

Our meetings are open to the public for free. We always welcome new members to join us. Our membership is open to anyone of any Race, Creed, or Color. An interest in the American Civil War is the only qualification necessary to join the organization, and both Northern and Southern sentiments are welcome. It doesn't matter whether you are "just beginning to learn" or a "veteran of many years" on the subject, we welcome you all. Our group came from all walks of lives, and each member brings in different depth of knowledge in C.W. history. Annual membership dues are $20 for individuals and $25 for families. Anyone who is interested to join us, please e-mail to Paula Cunningham (taraatgww@aol.com), or phone (508) 823-7208, Each member will also receive our monthly Newsletter, THE CAMPAIGN. Half an hour before the meeting, at around 7 p.m., we have CW book sales, and the proceed will go to CW Preservation. The meeting will start at 7:30 p.m. After the talk, we serve light refreshment during the socializing hour.

The name Olde Colony originally referred to the Plimoth Plantation colony, the first successful and continuous settlement of the English speaking people in North America, and subsequently its towns spread around and expanded beyond Plimoth. The towns collectively are known as South Shore today, where most of our members came from.

What is a Civil War Round Table?

A gathering of those interested in the Civil War. Some members have an intense interest in the study of various aspects of the war, some devoted to research, some to collecting. Most members have a dedicated interest and enjoy reading, touring and listening to the presentations. The only criteria required to become a member is to have an interest in the Civil War. Both Northern and Southern sentiments are welcome. CWRTs were started in the Chicago area over 60 years ago (in 1940s). There are Round Tables all over the country, several in New England. Some memberships are in the hundreds and some have only a dozen. Most have scheduled monthly meetings except during the summer months. Many have a dinner meeting or two and a Battlefield Tour scheduled. While there is no central organization for these Round Tables, a good relationship exists with all. Many swap newsletters and speakers. Some members belong to several Round Tables.

Olde Colony has many years of operation. We started with nine chartered members and now have over one hundred. Of the nine founders, five were past presidents of other Round Tables that wanted one started on the South Shore. We have members from all walks of life, and cities and towns from Lynn to Nantucket and even one member from Maryland. With few exceptions, we meet monthly on the Third Thursday of the Month. We are currently meeting (most months) at the Endicott Estate, Dedham. We have a variety of speakers and subjects at our meetings. One member runs an inexpensive bus tour each spring. In the past we have gone to Gettysburg for "Two Days on the Fields of Gettysburg with Ed Bearss" (the premier Civil War guide). We also have a monthly newsletter, The Campaign.

All in all, Olde Colony Civil War Round Table makes for a very informative yet informal evening once a month. Please join us at our next meeting, I think you'll enjoy it.

David J. Kenney, Former President
1998.

Official address

Official address:
Robert D. Hall, Jr., President
Email: occwrt@aol.com
Olde Colony Civil War Round Table
51 Ware Road
Needham, MA 02492
Phone: (781) 444-3259

Officers

Officers:
President: Robert Hall (occwrt@aol.com)
Vice-President: Gordon Kwok (gordonkwok@aol.com)
Treasurer: Peter McDonough (peter.mcdonough2@verizon.net)
Secretary : Gail Dugan (g33d33@hotmail.com)
Membership Chair: Paula Cunningham (taraatgww@aol.com)

Executive Board

Joseph Scalia (jpscalia@comcast.net) (Executive Board Chairman)
David J. Kenney (DAVKENLMS@rcn.com) (Editor Emeritus)
Gail Dugan (g33d33@hotmail.com)
Bob Hearsey (puffinpeople@comcast.net)
Jack H. Flynn Jr.
Joseph H. Geden
Martha Horsefield (mrhorsefield@aol.com)
Dudley Letson III (dudleyletson@aol.com)
Barbara Magruder
Peter McDonough
Joseph Donovan (joagdonovan@msn.com)
Dr. Charles Smallwood
Richard Ferranti (fernel@prodigy.net)
Margaret Sullivan

Chairman

Program Chair: Joseph Scalia
Editor: Robert Hall
Webmaster: Gordon Kwok
Jubilee Banquet Chair: Co-chair Dana Zaiser and Co-chair Gail Dugan
Jubilee Banquet Ticketmaster: Dana Zaiser
Preservation Chair: Dana Zaiser (Kzaiser@aol.com) (Dzaiser1.aol.com)
Book-sale Chair: Rich Campangna
Refreshment Committee Chair: Jim Driscoll (jsdcad@juno.com)
Sergeant at Arms : Chuck Fazio
Color Sergeant: Chuck Fazio
Revere Award Chair: Co-chair Martha Horsefield and Co-chair Gordon Kwok
Publicity Chair: Brian Murphy (bmurphy@ci.norwood.ma.us)
Research Chair: Joseph H. Geden
Raffle Chair: Gail Dugan
Welcoming Committee Chair: Joe Donovan
Election Nomination Chair: Co-chair Martha Horsefield & Co-chair Rob Wilcox (ferrariboston7@yahoo.com)
Scholarship Coordinator: Peter McDonough
Picnic Chair: Jack McDonough (bailey541@verizon.net)

News

Abraham Linclon Bicentennial Commission of Massachusetts

Olde Colony Civil War Round Table President Bob Hall (2007-2009 term) has been appointed as one of the 16 members of the above Commission to undertake commemorative education programs, public forums and arts projects in 2009 by the Massachusetts Governor.

Civil War News featured our OCCWRT twice

On the October 2005 issue, Civil War News featured our OCCWRT on (1) our compiling a list of CWRT as a valuable resource for researching CWRT, and (2) on Bob Hearsey's inexpensive first class Annual Battlefield Tour.

The other article was the interview of our ex-president Dave Kenney on our Round Table, printed on the second article of the Civil War Round Table Review column in 2004.

September 2007 to August 2008 scheduled program

September 2007 to August 2008

Book sales (proceed goes to Civil War Preservation Fund) started at 7:00 p.m. Meeting started at 7:30 p.m.

September 20, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. (Thursday), at Endicott Estate, 656 East Street, Dedham, MA (Exit 14 off Route 128.)
Featured Speaker: Richard Griffen on "Private Perkins"
Mini-bit: Member Brian Murphy TBA

October 4, 2007, cocktail at 6:00 p.m. (Thursday), Jubilee Dinner. Meeting at Lantana Restaurant, 43, Scanlon Drive, Randolph MA. (Route #128, exit 28 South)
Featured Guest Speaker, Historian and Award-winning Author, Dr. Richard J. Sommers, Assistant Director for Patron Services at the U.S. Army Military History Institute at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvannia, past President and program Chair of the Harrisburg Civil War Round Table, and current Executive Board of that Round Table.
Topic: “Grant’s Generalship at Petersburg”
Jubilee Chair: Co-chair Dana Zaiser and Co-chair Gail Dugan
Jubilee Banquet Ticket price: $35.00 per person.
Banquet ticketmaster: call Dana Zaiser for tickets. 1-508-286-0060. Request must be received by 9/25/2007.
No tickets sold at door. Cocktails Hour 6:00 p.m. Seated at 7:00 p.m. Dinner served at 7:30 p.m.
Huge Raffle will take place (proceed goes to CW Preservation).
Presentation of the Revere Award: two prominent recipients.
Exhibits / Artifact collections! And many more!

November 15, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. (Thursday), at Endicott Estate, 656 East St. Dedham MA (Exit 14 off Route 128.)
Featured Speaker: Member Charles Lawrence on “Battle of Baton Rouge”
Mini-bit: Member Jack Flynn on "The Draft of 1862"

December 13, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. (Thursday), at Endicott Estate, 656 East St., Dedham, MA (Exit 14 off Route 128.)
"Special Holiday Meeting" ---
Minibit: Member Brian Murphy on "A Civil War Christmas".
Show and Tell #1: David Downs on “Civil War Medical Surgical Instruments”
Minibit #2: TBA
Minibit #3: TBA
Minibit #4: TBA
Minibit #5: TBA
A voluntary $10.00 value Holiday Civil War gift grab (must be CW related)--- bring one, get one!
Special Holiday Refreshment Table.

January 17, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. (Thursday), at Endicott Estate, 656 East St., Dedham, MA (Exit 14 off Route 128.)
Featured Speaker: Member Dr. Paul Griffel, M.D. on “Medicine during the Civil War”
Mini-bit: Member Margaret Sullivan TBA

February 21, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. (Thursday), at Endicott Estate, 656 East St., Dedham, MA (Exit 14 off Route 128.)
Two featured speakers, and each speaks for 30 minutes.
Featured speaker: Member Gordon Kwok on “Glorietta Pass”
Mini-bit: Member Steven C. Adamson on "Judah Benjamin & Raphael Moses"

March 20, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. (Thursday), at Endicott Estate, 656 East St., Dedham, MA (Exit 14 off Route 128.)
Featured Speaker: Member Joseph Conley on “The Conspirators---Capture, Trial and Execution"
Mini-bit: TBA

April 17, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. (Thursday), at Endicott Estate. 656 East St., Dedham, MA (Exit 14 off Route 128.)
Featured speaker: Jim Jordan on “Knocking on the Gates of Hell”
Mini-bit: TBA

May 15, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. (Thursday), at Endicott Estate. 656 East St., Dedham, MA (Exit 14 off Route 128.)
Featured speaker: Mr. David Allen Lambert of the New England Historic Genealogical Society on "New England Ancestors".
original speaker Debby Applegate on “The Most Famous Man in America---The Biography of Henry Ward Beecher” will be prosponed. She is going to received an honorary degree from Westfield State College on the same evening, May 15, 2008. She will be speaking to us some day at a future meeting.
Mini-bit: TBA

June Picnic ---- June 7, 2008, Saturday at noon.
Picnic Chair: Jack McDonough
Site: Fort Tabor Park, New Bedford, MA.
Direction: Take Route 24 south to route 140 to route 195 East towards Cape Cod. Look for downtown exit (15 East) also route 18. Stay on route 18 until the end. Go through the last set of lights and keep going straight on West Rodney French Blvd. Pass a beach on your right. Continue on the road to Fort Tabor Park.
Featured speaker: TBA
Mini-bit: TBA.
Bring your own lunch and lawn chair.

End of the year's program. Summer breaks.

Next year's program will start on September 2008.

Recipients of the Olde Colony Civil War Preservation Fund

APCWS, the Association for the Preservation of Civil War Sites (old name)---on preserving Brandy Station.
SHAF (Save Historic Antietam Foundation).
Ed Bearss Fund, via BGES (Blue and Gray Educational Society).
Scholarship Fund at the Gettysburg College---the Civil War Institute.
Joshua Chamberlain House in Brunswick, Maine.
Clara Barton's House at North Oxford, Mass.
Rockland, Mass, G.A.R. building restoration.
Captain Forbes Museum in Milton, Mass., for the preservation of an original oil painting on the Battle of Monitor and Merrimack.
Civil War Round Table Associates---Heritagepac.
Preservation of a statue of a Civil War soldier in Milton, Mass. (on Joe Ciano's recommendation).
Friends of the Borderland Park, Inc. (The Ames Mansion hosted General Ben. Butler and his son-in-law General Adelbert Ames {who was the superior of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain of 20th Maine} Civil War artifacts).
The Bennet-Forbes House in Milton, Mass. --- to restore Lincoln's Flag.
Fix up the Civil War Memorial in the Village Cementery in Dedham, Mass. --- Jim Driscoll applied and received an outside grant, all by himself, to do this preservation project.
Endicott Estate, Dedham, MA --- our monthly meeting location.
Town of Norwood, MA, on a project to restore a GAR Civil War painting at their Memorial Hall in the Town Hall.
Norton Public Library, MA, on a project to preserve and rebind a two-volume set, Record of the Massachusetts Volunteers 1861-1865.
National Park Service at Gettysburg, PA will use our donation to do preservation work on the 11th Mass. Monument in Gettysburg.
Dyer Memorial Library, Abington, MA on (1) book binding: the "General Index and Additions and Corrections" volumes of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies; and (2) Photograph preservation of Rev. Jesse H. Jones by Purdy, Civil War veteran from N.Y. State.
Dartmouth Veterans' Memorial Park, MA, Civil War Monument of Capt. David L. Gifford.
Waterloo Library & Historical Society, Memorial Day Museum, NY----The preservation of Civil War document of General Murray.
CWPT (Civil War Preservation Trust).
Central Mass Civil War Round Table on their Memorial Plaque .
Dyer Memorial Library in Abington. MA (third donation).
Heritage Plantation and Museum, Sandwich, MA.
MetroSouth Chamber of Commerce in Brockton, MA, for the restoration, cleaning and repair (a hand) of a Civil War Statute in Perkin's Park (located at N. Main & Pleasant).
Donate 12 books, Patriotic Civil War Tokens, written by George & Melvin Fuld, published by the Civil War Token Society, to local libraries for preservation purpose.
Contribute money to replace the broken arm with sword (by vandals) of the 11th Mass. statue in the Gettysburg Battlefield National Park, 3/06.
Preservation of Daniel Lady Farm in Gettysburg.
Needham Historical Society
SHAF (Save Historic Antietam Foundation), the second time.
Dyer Memorial Library in Abington. MA (fourth donation) ---- OC member Jack Zeletsky donated 3 missing volumes plus the index volume of the Southern Historical Society Papers so that Dyer would have a complete set.
Major repair of the gravestone of General James L. Bates who served with the 12th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. He attained the rank of brevet Brigadier General (after the war-- 1869). The KMH Monument Co. of Braintree completed the work on the gravestone at Highland Cemetary in Weymouth, MA.

The Revere Award recipients

The Revere Award: The Olde Colony Civil War Round Table established The Revere Award in 1999, to be awarded to a person who had made significant contribution to the study of the American Civil War. The Award is a magnificent 8-inch diameter Reed & Barton engraved silver plated bowl, or, pewter bowl, presented in the names of the brothers, Colonel Paul Joseph Revere and Assistant Surgeon Edward Hutchinson Robbins Revere, who gave up their lives serving in the 20th Mass., the Harvard Regiment, for their Country. They were the grandsons of the Revolutionary War hero, Midnight Rider Paul Revere.

Colonel Paul Joseph Revere was fatally wounded in the battle of Gettysburg on July 2, 1863, while leading his regiment to battle, and died on July 4, 1863. Assistant Surgeon Edward Hutchinson Robbins Revere died in the battle of Antietam on September 17, 1862, while tending the wound of a soldier.

For more information about the Revere brothers, please refer to
The Revere Brothers

The Revere Award recipients

The First 1999 Revere Award recipient : William J. Bernache
Olde Colony CWRT Founding Member, Treasurer, Program Chair and Tourmeister.

The 2000 Revere Award recipient : David J. Kenney
Olde Colony CWRT Founding Member, Editor and President.

The 2001 Revere Award recipient : Edwin C. Bearss
Chief Historian emeritus of the National Park Service, author and a Respected Authority on the American Civil War.

The 2002 Revere Award recipient : Robert Hall
Olde Colony CWRT Founding Member, Vice President, Chairman/ Coordinator of CSN Edward J. Johnston's disinterment, from Ft. Warren/Devens, MA, back to Fernandina, FL.

The 2003 Revere Award recipient : Joseph H. Geden
Olde Colony CWRT Founding Member, Board member, Jubilee Banquet Ticketmaster, Election Nomination Chair and our "Confederate Admiral."

The 2004 Revere Award recipient : Robert Mooney
Olde Colony CWRT Member, Nantucket Leading Historian, Author of many Histories of Nantucket and the Civil War, member of Mass. Board of Library Commissioners, past President of Board of Trustees of the Nantucket Atheneum, served in Mass. House of Representatives and Assistant District Attorny, held degrees from Holy Cross College and Harvard Law School, featured speaker on numerous Civil War subjects.

2005, no Revere Award given.

The 2006 Revere Award recipient : Gordon Kwok
Olde Colony CWRT Member, Secretary, Webmaster, Revere Award Co-Chair, Scholarship Committee member and researcher on the Chinese serving in the American Civil War.

The 2007 Revere Award recipients : C. Peter Jorgensen & Kathryn Jorgensen
Editor and Publisher of the Civil War News

Olde Colony members who were Feature Speakers in our past Civil War meetings

Steven C. Adamson
Bill Bernache
Don Beurman
Bob Borden
Peter Chace
Joe Ciano
Joe Conley
Lois Davis
Chuck Fazio
Joe Geden
Paul Griffel
Bob Hall
Jack Kelly
Gordon Kwok
Charles Lawrence
Tom Leary
Dudley Letson III
Gerald Lucas
Andy Macomber
Richard F. Miller
Bob Mooney
Brian Murphy
Ruth Nickerson
Mary Pearl
Michael Saks
Charles Smallwood
Jack Zeletsky

The William J. Bernache Scholarship

The Olde Colony Civil War Round Table had sponsored the William J. Bernache Scholarship through the Civil War Institute at the Gettysburg College, which would select a Scholarship recipient from its applicants. The purpose of this scholarship is to promote education and interest on Civil War to the High School students.

The 2001 recipient: Andrew Gerst, Newton High School, MA.

The 2002 recipient: Meghan Phillips, East Bridgewater High School, MA

The 2003 recipient: Ashley Whitehead, Phillips Academy in Andover, MA.

The 2004 recipient: Caitlin Zito from Niantic, CT.

The 2005 recipient: Kate Martin, St. Mark's School in Southborough, MA.

The 2006 recipient: Ryan Rosiello, West Boylston High School, West Boylston, MA.

THE 2007 recipient: Leah Norris, Auburn High School, Auborn, MA.

Collectors' Corner

Bob Hearsey had exhibited his vast CW collection with different themes on many occasions.
Chuck Fazio had exhibited his CW rifles and sabers collection several times.
Peter Chace (petelouann@aol.com) had exhibited his CW rifles, pistols and cavalry saddles collection.
Peter McDonough made his model CW cannons from scratch (with museum quality).

Research Topics

Joe Geden on Confederate Navy.
Bill Hickey on Fifth Mass. Light Artillery Regiment.
Jack Zeletsky on Fort Warren, George's Island, Boston Harbor, Mass.
Gordon Kwok on Chinese Serving in the American Civil War.
Robert Hall on Irish Brigade and the Invasion of Canada.

The Peace Bell

In around Sept. 1995, Executive Board member Bob Hall presented the Peace Bell to our President, Dave Kenney. This hand held bell was used by the Town Crier in Boston to herald the surrender at Appomattox following the War. The bell was presented to Post #200 of the Grand Army of the Republic and it was used to open their meetings until they disbanded. Mr. Hall presented the Bell to Olde Colony to be used to open our meetings. Dave Kenney and each succeeding President will be the caretaker of the Bell.

Other parts of this website

Olde Colony Civil War Round Table, old website homepage, part 2

Olde Colony Civil War Round Table, Recipients of the Preservation Fund, part 2a

Olde Colony Civil War Round Table, past meeting schedule, part 3

Olde Colony Civil War Round Table, past meeting schedule, part 3a

Olde Colony Civil War Round Table, past meeting schedule, part 3b

Olde Colony Civil War Round Table, on Edward J. K. Johnston, CSN, part 4

Olde Colony Civil War Round Table, on Edward J. K. Johnston, CSN, part 5

Olde Colony Civil War Round Table, on Edward J. K. Johnston, CSN, part 6

Olde Colony Civil War Round Table, on Edward J. K. Johnston, CSN, part 7

Olde Colony Civil War Round Table, on Edward J. K. Johnston, CSN, part 8

Olde Colony Civil War Round Table / Bill Bernache Scholarship

Olde Colony Civil War Round Table---The Revere Award / the Revere Brothers

Olde Colony Civil War Round Table, Membership Application Form

Local (Mass.) current Event and News on the American Civil War

Friends of Olde Colony Civil War Round Table

Olde Colony Civil War Round Table Newsletter

Olde Colony Civil War Round Table, Link page 2

Olde Colony Civil War Round Table, Link page

A List of Civil War Round Table websites, compiled by the Olde Colony CWRT

The webmaster's other Award-winning website

Association to Commemorate the Chinese Serving in the American Civil War

Webmaster: Gordon Kwok
E-mail address:
gordonkwok@aol.com
Old website started date: September 1, 1998
New website started date: July 4, 2004
New website latest revision: May 13, 2008

Visitor's count
From 9/1/1998 to 3/26/2000: no counter
From 3/26/2000 to 6/4/2003: 24,382
From 6/4/2003 to 3/28/2008: no counter
From 3/28/2008 to present: see below

Hit Counter