history’s stories: independence day

Independence Day also known as July 4th, was one of the most exciting days of the year I recall growing up in the 1950's. The day started out with much excitement, as the local National Guard would have a parade and show off and demonstrate their equipment, such as the weapons and large tanks and jeeps, allowing us kids to climb on them. All the local politicians including Spotsylvania and Stafford would be making speeches and the local fire, rescue units and police would have displays.

history’s stories Indepe By Ralph July 4th still remains a symbol of patriotism in the United States. Many families still choose the 4th, as a date for family reunions with cook outs, ending with flags on display and fireworks. The early 1950's and 60's was considered the days of largest celebrations of July 4th, as millions of Americans had served in World War II and Korea with ndence Day “Tuffy” Hicks many older veterans of World War I, were still alive. Patriotism was at its height during these years. The Viet-Nam era saw a time of mixed emotions with large demonstrations in the streets against the United States being involved and unrests similar to what we have seen in recent years.

We seem to have lost much of the TRUE MEANING of the holiday that came to be on July 4, 1776, however, the day was not declared an official Federal holiday until 1941, with paid leave for government employees.

The Revolutionary War was not over until the surrender of the British at Yorktown in 1781. General Washington issued double rum rations to his soldiers in 1778 and 1781 to mark the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Many colonists who desired total independence from Britain were considered to be very radical, however, pamphlets such as "Common Sense " by Thomas Paine changed many of their opinions. Most of the stories we read are about individuals such as Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both of whom died on the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1826. I think of our own local hero's that made Fredericksburg what it is today, many of them have long past and a few live on to celebrate another July 4th.

We all have our own heroes to remember on this special day of the year. Many of them are family members or veterans of wars past and present. We all have those special people that helped make us what we are today. We should probably send them a note of "just thanks", or a relative we can give a "Hug" that will last a lifetime.

It was not until 1870, that Congress made July 4th a national holiday. I recall I sent a teacher a note of thanks, 30 years after graduation and receiving a reply that I have kept to this day.

DAY". Make this July 4th a "SPECIAL

HAPPY 90TH BIRTHDAY MR. WALTERS!

DEDICATED TO: Barbara Willis, Harold Powers, and Charlie Beckham

Tuffy is Front Porch’s Resident Historian

What’s in a Story?

the chimneys

By jon gerlach

This is a story about The Chimneys. Mark Twain would have had fun with it. I can't write nearly as well as he did, but please humor me. I'll try to keep it brief.

Once upon a time, a Scottish merchant by the name of John Glassell build a stately home in Fredericksburg just before the Revolutionary War. It was flanked by two massive chimneys. Some folks thought John was a Loyalist, meaning he favored the British in a private way. He left Fredericksburg when the war started, crossed the pond, and little was heard from him after that. In the magnificent house that John built, there lived a little girl named Nell Herndon. She was known for her beautiful singing voice and "ethereal presence". As a young socialite with promising dreams, Nell would fall in love with a rising star from New York, named Chester Arthur. By all accounts it was a very good marriage. Unfortunately, Nell died of pneumonia. This was a common and oftentimes fatal - situation in the 1800s. A single parent now, within the year he would become Vice President of the United States. His sidekick, James Garfield, was assassinated soon afterwards, so Arthur assumed the Presidency. By that time there were three Presidents who were widowed when they took the oath of office (Jefferson, Jackson and Van Buren), and Arthur made it four. There was a roundtable in the White House, but wait … this is a story about The Chimneys. So … Nell's father (remember Nell?) was a gentleman by the name of William Lewis Herndon. He was captain of the mail steamship Central America. In 1857 William went down with his ship off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, lost at sea in a ferocious storm. Besides the mail, he was transporting tons of gold coins and bullion, valued today at well over $100 Million. The shipwreck might just be the most talked about treasure in American history. The "Ship of Gold" was the subject of furious litigation over ownership and profit rights. The wreck was salvaged using cutting-edge ROV technology, designed to lovingly retrieve stacks of uncirculated gold coins in an undamaged state. Naturally, a single scratch devalues a rare coin. The significance of this wreck to coin collectors, investors (and old story-tellers like me) cannot be overstated. Remember The Chimneys? This is a story about The Chimneys. At 623 Caroline Street, it's a fine example of Georgian architecture and an icon in Fredericksburg's preservation movement. Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, Inc. (HFFI) bought the building and put a preservation easement on it. Successive owners Bill Vakos and Tommy Mitchell have maintained The Chimneys in good condition, reflecting their commitment to historic preservation. Today, Billiken ' s Smokehouse at The Chimneys offers delicious barbeque, hand-smoked in the back yard. Rooms can be rented for private parties. Bands play Rock & Roll covers on the brick patio. When nostalgic tunes waft on the fragrant breeze, do you ever wonder what Arlo Guthrie's song "Alice's Restaurant" was really about? That's a story for another day. So … what's in a Story? Well … here it's about a little girl who …

An attorney and retired archaeologist, Jon Gerlach chairs the Architectural Review Board in Fredericksburg Photo courtesy City of Fredericksburg