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January 23, 2012 at 6.30 pm. 5th Annual Dinner at the Quality Inn, New Market followed by another fim in Philip Crown’s series “Yester-Years in the Shenandoah Valley”
The film to be premiered on this night is entitled “A conversation with Junior and Martha Steptoe”.
Junior’s grandfather came with his family to New Market in 1898 to pastor the Colored Methodist Church which was located on what is now Cadet Road. Junior’s father, Royal, started his barber’s shop in 1920 on Congress Street and Junior, who was 80 in 2011, continues the business today.
The film depicts the life of a young African-American, born and growing up in New Market, his school life, his time in the Army and his history of being a barber in the town.
Martha recounts how she came to know Junior and their life together in the town, and both of them recount the history of the Colored Church
MARCH 22: “The Great Train Raid of 1861” - Arthur Candenquist, Historical Consultant for the 2011 Great Train Raid Reenactment
In 1861 Southern troops needed rail cars to supplement their rolling stock. Colonel Thomas J. Jackson con-trived and executed a brilliant scheme to “appropriate” the needed rail cars, locomotives, and equipment from the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. The cars and locomotives were moved overland on the Valley Turnpike--first to the Manassas Gap Railroad in Strasburg, and then to the Virginia Central Railroad in Staunton after the Manassas Gap Railroad was wrested from Confederate control in early 1862. Some of these rail cars and locomotives and other equipment passed through New Market heading south.
Arthur Candenquist, in the persona of Capt., Thomas R. Sharp, Assistant Quartermaster, C.S. Army, presents both narration and slides, which examines how the enterprise was executed, the personalities involved, and the obstacles that had to be overcome in order to guarantee the success of the scheme.
MAY 24 “Jackson's Valley Campaign: Speed and Deception Vs. Overwhelming Odds - Greg Bair, Avid Civil War Enthusiast
Stonewall Jackson's Valley Campaign in April and May 1862 kept Union forces from reinforcing McClellan at the Peninsula Campaign. Jackson and the fast-moving infantrymen he called his "foot cavalry" ranged up and down the Shenandoah Valley in northern Virginia, despite the best efforts of three Federal commanders, John Charles Fremont, Nathaniel Banks and Irvin McDowell, to stop him. Banks lost so many supplies to Jackson's lightning raiders that Confederates took to calling him "Commissary Banks." Military officers from many countries have come to the valley to study how Jackson tied up so many troops with so few forces.
JULY 26 Annual Picnic at Luray Valley Museum The Museum is located on Route 211 in Luray, near the Luray Caverns. It is on a seven-acre site housing nearly a dozen relocated, reconstructed and newly construct-ed, environmentally friendly and energy-efficient structures which recreate pioneer life in this area. The museum displays items celebrating our early Shenandoah Valley culture including a large amount of New Market artifacts. Bring your favorite picnic fare, serving utensils, and insect repellent. The Historical Society will provide paper plates, napkins, cups, plastic silverware, sweet iced tea, and bottled water. Enjoy a relaxing evening of history and fellowship. Rod Graves, NMHS member, co-author of “Around New Market”, and founder and historian of the Luray Valley Museum, has generously offered us free entrance to the Luray Museum and a guided tour.
SEPTEMBER 27 “The Henkel Family During the Civil War” - Elsie Renalds Newcomer and Janet Renalds Ramsey
Elsie Newcomer and Janet Ramsey set out to compile a family history, but wished to make it interesting enough to market outside the family. They will be sharing their exciting adventure. Their book “1861 Life in the Shenandoah Valley" is based on Henkel family documents. Siram Henkel's journal and Dr. Caspar Henkel's letter collection, together with related news articles, reveal how the Henkel families at "The Plains" and in the town of New Market were involved in the War Between the States.
Elsie and Janet are granddaughters of Siram Henkel's thirteenth child. With the support of their husbands and children, they are working on an 1862 sequel.
NOVEMBER 15 “Tragedy in the Shenandoah Valley: The Story of the Summers-Koontz Execution” - Robert H. Moore
On May 22, 1865, Captain George W. Summers, Sergeant I. Newton Koontz, and two other young veterans of Company D, 7th Virginia Cavalry were returning home to Luray after their unit disbanded at the surrender at Appomattox. As they traveled, the four men came upon six Union cavalrymen near Woodstock. Koontz, Summers, and the other two men robbed the Federal cavalrymen of their horses and possessions.
When the young soldiers returned home to Luray, their families feared their actions might bring repercussions from the occupying Union army and urged the men to return the stolen horses. The horses were returned the next day to the 192nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry at Rude's Hill. The Luray men were given receipts for the returned property and all was said to be forgiven. Despite this, an order was later issued for the men’s arrest.
Robert H. Moore is the author of a book on the Summers-Koontz Execution and a well-respected historian on the Civil War and in particular the role played by the Shenandoah Valley. He will share his insights into the incident and how what “should have been a matter settled” turned into a tragedy.
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