A Different Kind of Travel

My newest family member, Luke being held by his Aunt. A different type of travel for sure. We traveled to the hospital to visit our newest family member. Isn't he a cutie! And his aunt, so proud. The pretty mint green and turquoise blue blanket on her lap is a work in progress (WIP for my knitting, crocheting, and crafty friends). It's a tie, no sew blanket. I got her a kit for Christmas and she's elected to make a baby blanket with it. The colors remind me of my very favorite prom dress ....way back in the day. Oh how I wish I had a picture of it. Will have to look through old pictures and see if I do.
Hubby here holding sweet little Luke. Welcome to the family Luke. Notice his Buckeye Cap? lol Born a Buckeye for sure! Traveling to hospital do present different types of travel. Will be heading out shortly to travel yet again to another hospital. Though this time it won't be so pleasant. We're heading to Urbana, my 91 year old Aunt has fallen again and is having emergency hip surgery. Hip fractures are never good.

Edmundsbury, South Carolina

Traveling on US Route #17 on our way to Beaufort, South Carolina we happened upon this historic sign. Both sides of the sign say the same thing, though this side..the back side is far more readable. As we pulled the car over to read and photograph the sign a local farmer hopped off his tractor to tell us about the sign. He was quite chatted and told us an old cemetery lay further back in the brush. He went onto tell us a story that had been handed down to him by his Dad and others in the community. His story, I believe is just that a story. And a wobber at that. Troubling too, as inaccurate things like this story help to keep a wall between Northerns and Southern, help to keep some folks still fighting The Civil War.

He told us the church was full of people, The Union locked them in, and proceeded to burn it down with them inside. The people were civilians. I thought that pretty unlikely. Though "War is Hell", according to Sherman, and we all know bad things happen in war. Purposely locking civilians in a house of worship and setting fire....I couldn't buy that.
As you can see by the sign it was burnt in 1852 (prior to The Civil War), rebuilt in 1854 and "wrecked" by Union Troops in 1865. Further research indicates Landgrave Edmund Bellinger for whom the community was named for was here. Landgrave was born in England and is buried along with other family members in this old church cemetery. Ashepoo (current community and name of the river is in Colleton County, South Carolina. All my research indicates Sherman's troops burned the church in January of 1865, but no article substantiates the "story" the farmer is spreading.

We had a tight time table and so didn't tromp back through the brush to see the cemetery and church ruins. There had been lots of rain and the ground was a mess, but perhaps on our next trip, we'll get to explore a bit further.

I also found an account of a church being burned in January of 1865 by Sherman called Sheldon Episcopal Church in Beaufort Co. The land was given by the widow of the 2nd Landgrave Edmund Bellinger. One wonders if the stories have been mixed? If, there were 2 separate churches, or perhaps the church went by multiple names.

This was interesting even though we may not really know the whole story or truth of this local with regard to The Civil War because this little church and it's inhabitants played a roll in early Colonial times.

Considerations when Traveling

Things we usually check into when we're about to travel are:

Do we need to rent a car? If we're flying
Are there on line coupons are specials for golf? Or other activities
Do we need to book dinner reservations ahead?
Do we need to pack our own wine?
Are there tours that can be taken?
What historical sites to see are there?
What time zone we will be, very important to know all the time; but particularly so if flying

That list covers alot of territory and is good for almost any place you plan to travel. Do you have a list? It's Sunday, and that's Sandy's Seven on Sunday...with regard to travel that is. Leave a comment, and join the Sunday 7 Meme. Primary rules are to leave a comment and visit other's on the list. Running late today, so this will go til later tomorrow Monday.

Franklin Park, Asians and The Civil War

Flat Stanley spending more time in Franklin Park, 1777 East Broad Street Columbus, Ohio. This sign doesn't mark something specific happening on this spot, as many historic plaques do. It calls attention to a little known fact. We all know The American Civil War was fought by The Union trying to preserve The United States against The Confederacy. We know one cause of the war was deemed to be states rights, and one cause was to free Black Americans that were living in bondage in The South. But, did you know Asians fought in that war? Asians fought on both sides, despite not being US Citizens. Statistically it's believed more fought on the side of The Union.

The Civil War was fought between 1861-1865. As the sign indicates The Naturalization Act and The Chinese Exclustion Act blocked some who fought to preserve this country from being able to become citizens of this country. Those restriction continued until 1965, when finally all restrictions based on race, and origin were lifted. In 2003 those who fought were posthumously proclaimed to be US Citizens in an effort to recognize their service to this country. 142 years after the start of The Civil War, they were honored by House Joint Resolution 45.

The flip side of this sign lists names of those supposed to be Asian who fought from Ohio. Due to anti-Asian sentiment, many changed their names, changed the spelling of their names and much controversy surrounds this premise. Historians have not been able to document the names listed as really being Asian. In fact, in several cases the names have been found to be German and other nationalities, not Asian. Most aren't listed on muster lists, most weren't given pensions, and therefore the names listed are speculation based on the feeling of some in The Asian Community that the names sounded Asian. A great deal of research has been done by Terry Foenander and others that disproves the list as being accurate.

I found some documentation that indicates a man that went by the name of John Tommy was Chinese and that he fought and died at Gettysburg. Perhaps as time goes on with the help of more research and maybe DNA testing, more information on this topic can be found.

I don't know which group of researchers has the most correct story; but am never the less glad those who fought to preserve this country have finally been given the honor of being United States Citizens.

Flat Stanley plans to return this park another time to see what else he can learn. Until then, he hopes to see you all again next Friday for more Fun on the 25th.

This perhaps is a deep/heavy topic; but I believe you can still make this a family appropriate outing. Discuss with the kids why knowing who fought for the country is important. Do they known someone who is Asian? Can they find Asia on a globe or map? Make a word list, a spelling list. There's always something that can be age appropriate as the kids explore with
Flat Stanley.