John Guss, site manager, inside the Bennett Home

Spring is upon us, and the gardens and landscape are taking shape on the Bennett Farm. More and more school groups are visiting, and we have increased our Outreach programming for those who don’t have the capability at this time. Don’t forget the History Trunk is available to teachers if you need some classroom resources. Please visit the Education section of our website to see the various programs and additional learning resources we provide. And high school seniors, don’t forget the $500.00 William Vatavuk College Scholarship Award that will be presented in April. The application can be found in the Education section of the website.

We are also very excited about the upcoming 50th Anniversary of Bennett Place and the 147th Anniversary of the Surrender Commemoration, April 28-29, 2012. It will be a most memorable weekend event with the “Meeting of the Generals” being recreated along with living history activities of Confederate and Union soldiers and civilian refugees. There will be a variety of well known historians and authors to include Mark Bradley of the definitive book on Bennett Place entitled, This Astounding Close, The Road To Bennett Place, local historians Jim Wise, Brenda McKean , and Michael Hardy, Wade Sokolosky , author of Sherman’s Carolinas Campaign: from Fayetteville To Averasboro, and Jeff Toalson of No Soap, No Pay, Diarrhea, Dysentery, and Desertion will all be here. In addition we have a featured event of the unveiling of a new historical interpretive wayside, which will share more of the story on the grounds outside our visitor center. Sunday, will be the traditional wreath laying ceremony at the Unity Monument , in which we will have some very special guests participate. You’ll simply have to come out and see who they are!

However, first, March brings living history alive once again with our program, TARHEELS: Soldiers of the Old North State , a living history event with historical interpreters portraying the soldiers and civilians of North Carolina during the Civil War. If you are not familiar with the North Carolina soldier and the civilians who endured the war, this is a terrific educational experience. At the end of the month we have Civil War Park Day sponsored in conjunction with the Civil War Trust and History Channel, which is a wonderful opportunity for friends and supporters to spend a day with us cleaning the park, taking care of paint projects, cleaning up the nature trails, and a variety of other projects that we need help to get us ready for our BIG event in April.

Enjoy the great outdoors this Spring by visiting one of the most important historic sites of the American Civil War where I country began the reunification of a once torn nation.

Again, thank you for your continued support of this national treasure.

Sincerely,
John Guss , Site Manager

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