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Many years ago when Corinth first brought up the idea of having an interpetive center the response from the then superintendent of Shiloh National Military Park was "It would be a cold day in hell before anything like that was built in Corinth". Well, it must be a cold day in hell today because the Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center has been built and will be opening today. I don't get excited about a lot of things but I am very proud of how my adopted hometown has come through on this one.
Below are several articles from today's paper.
From the Saturday 24 July edition of the Daily Corinthian
Dream becoming a reality for community
Today, the community dream becomes reality.
As local citizens, visitors and dignitaries gather on the grounds of the
new Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center with the impressive building
rising in the background, a long process will come to a conclusion and a new chapter will open in Corinth’s history.
Shiloh National Military Park Superintendent Woody Harrell, who will
oversee the new center, said it’s been a special experience to watch as the center went from an idea through the design process and then became a reality in wood, glass and concrete. The ideas which began very general have been transformed into a solid expression of the planners’ vision.
“To see them reflected in wood and stone and concrete, that’s exciting,” said Harrell.
He said in the beginning there were some very grandiose ideas tossed
around of what those involved in the planning process wanted the
building to be. Over time, choices had to be made about what to include and what to discard. Harrell said he believes the resulting center is a testament to the correctness of their decisions.
“I think we have made some good choices,” he said.
He’s especially proud of the way the building is integrated into its
surrounding. With dark brick and rough wood-patterned concrete, the
facade of the center is intended to present an organic look and blend
into the hillside while reflecting the theme of earthworks and earthen
structures
(For details on this story, see Saturday’s Daily Corinthian print edition.)
Camp was destination of freed slaves
The little-known story of the village of freed slaves that existed for
more than a year in Corinth is gradually coming into the spotlight.
Commonly known as the contraband camp or freedmen’s camp, it was the destination of thousands of freed men, women and children who sought refuge with the Union Army in Corinth after Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on Sept. 22, 1862.
It’s a chapter in Civil War history that deals more with civilian life
than battle and may help to broaden the appeal beyond that of Civil War buffs, organizers hope.
“Slaves from Mississippi, Tennessee and Alabama made their way to
Corinth seeking freedom,” said Siege and Battle of Corinth Commission Chairwoman Rosemary Williams. “The camp at Corinth was a model one. By September 1863, 6,519 people were housed in the camp.”
A regiment of black soldiers was raised to guard the camp, which
included the North Parkway area where the commemorative park is planned.
“Since so many of the men at the camp had come from Alabama, the
regiment was called the 1st Alabama Infantry of African Descent,” said Williams. “Later, it became the 55th Colored Infantry.”
The story was largely unknown among Corinthians, including prominent local historians, until it was casually mentioned more than 10 years ago by a visiting National Park Service historian. The Siege and Battle of Corinth Commission hired Joseph E. Brent to prepare a study on the camp, and the research of Corinth resident Stephanie Sandy helped pinpoint the location.
Paintings depict scenes from war
The artist behind two commissioned oil paintings depicting Corinth Civil War history will be on hand at two locations today to sign limited
edition prints of both original works to be exhibited at the Corinth
Civil War Interpretive Center.
Keith Rocco is scheduled as the special guest of the Interim Civil War
Interpretive Center behind the Verandah-Curlee House from 9-11:30 a.m. and the bookstore at the new interpretive center following its 1:30 p.m. opening ceremony today at the site of Battery Robinett.
A portion of proceeds from sales of remaining “Decision at the
Crossroads” prints at $150 each and the new “Key to Corinth” prints at $160 each benefit the Friends of the Siege and Battle of Corinth
Commission. “Decision at the Crossroads,” completed in 1996 by Rocco, depicts the fight for the vital railroad junction in Corinth that began on Oct. 4, 1862, and resulted in a defeat for the Confederacy and loss of lives that numbered 2,359 among the Union ranks and 4,838 Confederate soldiers. “Key to Corinth,” completed by Rocco in 2004, depicts Col. William P. Rogers and the 2nd Texas at Battery Robinett.
Below are several articles from today's paper.
From the Saturday 24 July edition of the Daily Corinthian
Dream becoming a reality for community
Today, the community dream becomes reality.
As local citizens, visitors and dignitaries gather on the grounds of the
new Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center with the impressive building
rising in the background, a long process will come to a conclusion and a new chapter will open in Corinth’s history.
Shiloh National Military Park Superintendent Woody Harrell, who will
oversee the new center, said it’s been a special experience to watch as the center went from an idea through the design process and then became a reality in wood, glass and concrete. The ideas which began very general have been transformed into a solid expression of the planners’ vision.
“To see them reflected in wood and stone and concrete, that’s exciting,” said Harrell.
He said in the beginning there were some very grandiose ideas tossed
around of what those involved in the planning process wanted the
building to be. Over time, choices had to be made about what to include and what to discard. Harrell said he believes the resulting center is a testament to the correctness of their decisions.
“I think we have made some good choices,” he said.
He’s especially proud of the way the building is integrated into its
surrounding. With dark brick and rough wood-patterned concrete, the
facade of the center is intended to present an organic look and blend
into the hillside while reflecting the theme of earthworks and earthen
structures
(For details on this story, see Saturday’s Daily Corinthian print edition.)
Camp was destination of freed slaves
The little-known story of the village of freed slaves that existed for
more than a year in Corinth is gradually coming into the spotlight.
Commonly known as the contraband camp or freedmen’s camp, it was the destination of thousands of freed men, women and children who sought refuge with the Union Army in Corinth after Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on Sept. 22, 1862.
It’s a chapter in Civil War history that deals more with civilian life
than battle and may help to broaden the appeal beyond that of Civil War buffs, organizers hope.
“Slaves from Mississippi, Tennessee and Alabama made their way to
Corinth seeking freedom,” said Siege and Battle of Corinth Commission Chairwoman Rosemary Williams. “The camp at Corinth was a model one. By September 1863, 6,519 people were housed in the camp.”
A regiment of black soldiers was raised to guard the camp, which
included the North Parkway area where the commemorative park is planned.
“Since so many of the men at the camp had come from Alabama, the
regiment was called the 1st Alabama Infantry of African Descent,” said Williams. “Later, it became the 55th Colored Infantry.”
The story was largely unknown among Corinthians, including prominent local historians, until it was casually mentioned more than 10 years ago by a visiting National Park Service historian. The Siege and Battle of Corinth Commission hired Joseph E. Brent to prepare a study on the camp, and the research of Corinth resident Stephanie Sandy helped pinpoint the location.
Paintings depict scenes from war
The artist behind two commissioned oil paintings depicting Corinth Civil War history will be on hand at two locations today to sign limited
edition prints of both original works to be exhibited at the Corinth
Civil War Interpretive Center.
Keith Rocco is scheduled as the special guest of the Interim Civil War
Interpretive Center behind the Verandah-Curlee House from 9-11:30 a.m. and the bookstore at the new interpretive center following its 1:30 p.m. opening ceremony today at the site of Battery Robinett.
A portion of proceeds from sales of remaining “Decision at the
Crossroads” prints at $150 each and the new “Key to Corinth” prints at $160 each benefit the Friends of the Siege and Battle of Corinth
Commission. “Decision at the Crossroads,” completed in 1996 by Rocco, depicts the fight for the vital railroad junction in Corinth that began on Oct. 4, 1862, and resulted in a defeat for the Confederacy and loss of lives that numbered 2,359 among the Union ranks and 4,838 Confederate soldiers. “Key to Corinth,” completed by Rocco in 2004, depicts Col. William P. Rogers and the 2nd Texas at Battery Robinett.
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