Athens 2008

[fahtz]

It is my pleasure to announce that the civilian side of things have been set in motion. Silvana Siddali will head things up in regards to registration and the scenarios, while Anna Allen will work on the authenticity and impression side of things. Both of these ladies have put a lot of research into the event already and I am proud to be working along side of them! The Sutler point of contact will soon be set in stone. For now if a sutler wants to attend drop me an e-mail and I will help the Sutler POC once they are officially announced!

In terms of MSG guidelines and such they will be coming out in November. For those who have attended the event before there will be a few minor changes to the impression guidelines due to new research found!

[CJDaley]

Re: Athens 2008

It is my pleasure to announce that the civilian side of things have been set in motion. Silvana Siddali will head things up in regards to registration and the scenarios, while Anna Allen will work on the authenticity and impression side of things. Both of these ladies have put a lot of research into the event already and I am proud to be working along side of them! The Sutler point of contact will soon be set in stone. For now if a sutler wants to attend drop me an e-mail and I will help the Sutler POC once they are officially announced!

In terms of MSG guidelines and such they will be coming out in November. For those who have attended the event before there will be a few minor changes to the impression guidelines due to new research found!

This looks like a GREAT event Mitch! I'm glad to see things are moving smoothly on both the military and civilian side of things. It's also nice to see people upgrading impression suggestions based on current research, my hat is off to you.

[MoFed]

Athens 2008 Coordinators

Missouri State Guard (CS): Mitch Critel, fahtz1863@hotmail.com, 308-379-3135

Home Guard (US): Charles Hoskins, choskins1861@yahoo.com, 636-239-2644

Civilian: Silvana Siddali, silvana.siddali@gmail.com, 314-494-7548

Sutler: Vivian Murphy, vmurphy@peoplepc.com, 319-524-2968

The event guidelines and registration materials, although not significantly changed from 2005, will be released shortly.

Charles D. Hoskins
Holmes Brigade USV, Inc.

[fahtz]

Re: Athens 2008

The male-Missouri State Guard-Athens 2008 guidelines have been posted in the Tier 2 folder. RIGHT HERE! ENJOY!

[BaconBob]

Re: Athens 2008

Thank you Mr. Critel for once more making things happen in fact. I'll see you there at Athens. Are you still looking for battle field trash?

Robert Taylor
Friend of Athens

[MoFed]

Athens Background

Founded in 1844, by the early 1850’s Athens was a small but thriving community and area trade center. The Thome Mill was a valuable asset to Athens and the region. “The roads leading into Athens were often lined with wagons of people coming for miles around brining their grist (primarily corn and wheat) to be ground and often the customer would have to wait a day or two for his flour or meal.” (Kahoka Gazette-Herald, Oct. 24, 1930). Thome’s mill was not only a grist mill, but also a flour mill and saw mill; the upper story was a woolen mill.

While waiting their turn at the mill, the settlers could fish, visit, or buy supplies at George Gray’s General Store. George Gray not only sold the “necessities” at his store, but some of the “frills” in life as well. He also served as a postmaster and sold stamps. He purchased hogs, butter, and made cash loans. Some items from the ledger for sale in 1852 are as follows:

Isaac Galland, Coat - $6.00
Israel Duty, 3 yds. Ky. Jeans at .45/yd. - $1.35
John Duty, Coarse boots - $2.00
I.N. Lewis, 5 hogs 770 lbs. At 4 cents - $30.80
A.W. Harlan, Bonnet - $4.50
Jas. Riley, Curry comb - .25
Thos. Caldwell, Bed cord - .30
Thos. Vanfossen, Violin string - .10
Arthur W. Peake, Smith’s Arithmetic - .35
Silvester Parsons, 1 pr. Suspenders - .30
Joseph Benning, 2 pr. Trace chains - $1.50
John Dumas, 81 1/4 lbs. Plow mold iron 5 cents - $4.06
Lewis Dumas, 1 fishline and hooks - .20
Mrs. Sloan, buy 4 1/4 lbs. Butter @ 15 cents - .64
Arthur Thome, of Farmington, per Paul, 1 ox whip - .25
Harry Slaughter, of Farmington, 1 fur cap - $6.00
John Anthony, of Iowa, ½ side upper leather - $1.25
Jonathan Fifer, 1 cloth coat for son - $7.50
Wm. Clark, 1 gal. S.H. molasses - .50
Jas. Cameron, on Fox river, 34 lbs. Cowhides - $2.04
G.W. Christy, 2 tuck combs @ .12 ½ - .25
Jas. Christy, ½ quire letter paper .10, 1 doz. Quills, .5 - .15
Jos. Christy, 1 violin .50, 5 strings .10, .30? - .80
Wm. Christy, 1 horse collar - $1.40
Thos. Calvert, 1 bonnet $1.50, 1 bandbox .20 - $1.70
I.N. Stewart, 1 shawl $2.25, 1 linen coat $2.00 - $4.25
Chas. Harr, (per wife) 2 ½ yds ribbon @ .10 - .25
Wm. Herman, 2 pr. Gloves @ .18 ½ - .37
Allen Stewart, by cash lent Troxwell - $1.20
David Hewit, (near Chambersburg) 1 fur hat - $2.25
Geo. Swazy, 1 pr. Fine shoes - $1.75
John Biedman, postage on letter - .05
Wyatt Mayfield, 3 straw hats @ .15 - .45
John Roseberry, 1 Atlas and Geography - .75
Jas. Graham, 1 sperm candle .5, 1 bar soap .10 - .15
Jos. Peckham, 4 lbs. Coffee .12 ½ - .50
Robt. Gammon, 1 gal. Molasses - .50
Crown (of Iowa) 2 bars lead .10, ¾ lb powder - .25
Mrs. Shaffer, 2 bonnets @ $3.00 - $6.00
Stewart Brannum, of Iowa, 1 overcoat - $6.50
Thos. Johnson, 19 lbs. Bacon .10 - $1.90
Benj. Johnson, 1 pocket knife - .60
Geo. Johnson, 1 vest - $3.50
Woodruff Becket, 1 congress hat - $1.25
Washington Smith, of Iowa, ½ lb. tea @ $1.00 - .50
Tallerand Frost, to cash, $3.00; 1 pr. Fine boots $3.75; 1 coat, $3.75; 1 black silk vest, $3.50; ½ plug tobacco @ .25 - .12; credit by loading and boating 3 days at Alexandria, $3.00; by bringing up boat, 4 days - $4.00
Case and Doud, by making wood work of wagon and painting same, $29; making wagon box, ironing and painting same, $12
Gideon Hottle, 1 keg nails, 100 lbs. At .04 - $4.00; buy 13 doz. Eggs @ .05 - .65
Daniel Shuler, by hauling 1 load of iron from Alexandria - $4.00
Riley Bedell, by hauling goods from Alexandria - $4.00
Bradley Barrows, by 3 days work boating, $3.00
Tuttle (of Farmington) to use of boat from Wed. to Tues. 6 days at $1.50/day, $9
Samuel Bedell, by 2 days hauling goods from Alexandria, $4.00; expenses on same, .90 by cutting pork ½ day .50; by stove pipe and elbow .50
Perry Colerton, by 1 ¾ days work boating, $1.75
Thomas Dean, by hauling 1 load from Alexandria, $3
Joseph Benning to cash paid Mr. Coon for dressing deer skins, $3.75


By 1852, houses and buildings were beginning to be built of frame and brick. The Aunt Jane Gray house (now known as the Widow Gray home), a frame structure was constructed in 1852 or 1853 at the east corner of the Isaac Gray log home. By 1852, George Gray was selling weatherboarding at .02 ¾ per foot and clear pine lumber at the same price. Black and white walnut lumber was selling for .02 ½ per foot. Bricks were sold at .40 per hundred. Case and Doud seem to have been the principal carpenters/wagonmakers that traded at George Gray’s general store. The bought a considerable amount of lumber and bricks as well as ingredients to mix paints. They are listed as purchasing Chinese vermillion, Paris green, Chromo green, Lamp black, and linseed oil. Case & Doud were operating a wagon shop and were renting a log house to conduct their business from Issac Gray. David McKee was apparently operating a blacksmith shop. Henderson Brown was making wagons or at least working on them.
Athens was doing a considerable trade via the Des Moines River as well as overland as the fees paid to Bedell, Colerton, Dean and Shuler attest.

In 1852, the highest wage seems to be $1/day. Board rates were $1/week. Food was inexpensive by our standards:

Flour, $4.50/barrel
Best bacon & ham, .10/lb.
Pork, .04/lb.
Bone meal, 02/lb.
Butter, .12 ½ - .15 /lb.
Eggs, .06 - .08 /doz.
Sugar, .08 1/3 per lb.
Coffee, .12 ½ per lb.
Tea, $1 /lb.
Maple sugar, .12 ½ per lb.
Rice, .06 ¼ per lb.
Dried peaches, $3/ bushel
Dried apples, $2.50/ bushel
White beans, $2 / bushel
Vinegar, .25/gallon
Mackeral, 6 for .25
Codfish, .07 / lb.
Peppersauce, .25/ bottle
Tobacco, .15 - .25 / plug

Smoking tobacco and liquor are listed infrequently. It is likely that tobacco was grown for smoking and whiskey made locally.

The maple sugar sold at Gray’s store was likely a product of local manufacture. Aunt Jane Gray was a well known producer of maple sugar and maple syrup. Other settlers would have made use of the maple trees in the area, but “Aunt Jane” was the most well known. The famous “sugar tree” grove of early Athens was reported as located behind her house.

George Gray’s store was located on Water Street, along the Des Moines River bank. Numerous other buildings were also located there. In addition to his store, George Gray has a woodyard and meat packing house along Water Street. The mill, ferry and boat landing were also located there. A large brick hall is also reported along Water Street where public meetings and dances were held, as is a brick hotel operated by a Mr. Jackson. A slaughter house was located upstream from the mill, across a stone bridge that spanned Stallion Branch. Of the many boats and steamers that serviced Athens in the early 1840’s-50’s, only the name of the “Lucy Bertram” is recorded. However, other steamboats, the “Die Vernon” and “Sucker State” are recorded at Churchville and likely serviced Athens as well.

In 1852, Athens had four physicians: Dr. Thomas H. Harlan, Dr. J.B. Augustus, Dr. M.D. Scott and Dr. J.M. DeBall. George Gray’s ledger reveals that Dr. DeBall purchased a quantity of drugs, including opium and arsenic for $29.43. Dr. Scott, obviously successful, purchased “one fine coat, $11; one fine vest, $3.50; one pair black cassimere pants, $6; one pair calf boots, $3.75; one pair kid gloves, .75; and one silk handkerchief, .75. (Kahoka Gazette-Herald, Nov. 14, 1930).

Five churches were located in pre-Civil War Athens. The churches represented were one Baptist, one Presbyterian, one Christian, and two Methodist. It is not recorded if each church had a separate place of worship or if they were representative congregations that met at private homes or public buildings. Other businesses and organizations present in the 1850’s were: Masonic Lodge, Express Office, and an Academy under the charge of Slaughter and Burah. The population was about 500. The Keokuk, Fort Des Moines and Minnesota Railroad Company had a station agent named Armstrong in Athens. It is likely that they anticipated the railroad reaching Athens, but construction was interrupted by the Civil War and the line was never completed.

The following is a list of businesses and organizations c. 1853-1860:

Wm. B. Armstrong, general store
W. Armstrong, agent K. Ft. D. and M. Railroad
? Armstrong, beef and pork packer
? Baker & Co., general store
?J. and W.B. Barwett, coopers
David Bedell, carpenter and builder
J.S. Bedell, Justice of the Peace
John Bobbitt, carpenter and builder
Mr. Buschler, stoves and sheet iron ware (Note: Most of the surviving buildings in Athens appear to have been designed to use stoves and do not have fireplaces.)
W. Burhage, painter
E.T. Colton, flour and grist mill
A.W. Calvert, cabinetmaker and carpenter
T. Colton, woolen manufacturer
Wm. Deck, blacksmith
Isaac, grocer
Henry Fehlhaber, wagon maker
R.P. Gray, coal dealer
B. Gray, livery stable
Isaac P. Gray, grocer
George Gray, general store
G. Gray, brick yard
George Gray, beef and pork packer
George Gray, postmaster
T.H. Hallan, physician and surgeon
T.H. & J.R. Hallan, druggists
P.F. Hamilton, cooper
J.M. Hiller, general store
George Hiller, blacksmith
David Kennedy, general store
Miss Kelly, Milliner and dressmaker
J.T. McKnight, baker
David McKee, assessor
McGown and Boler, blacksmith
J.T. McNiglet, tailor
Rev. D. Mason, Methodist Episcopal
J.D. Nash, boot and shoe dealer
G. Neuse, lumberyard
Henry Ostrander, blacksmith
James Perkins, Justice of the Peace
W. Perkins, Justice of the Peace
B. Robinson, ambrotype artist
G. Slaughter, constable
C.W. Stone, butcher
St. Louis Hotel, R. Jackson, Proprietor
M. Scott, cabinetmaker
John Stafford, general store
A. Starr, cooper
D.M. Scott, physician
R.P. Slaughter, meat market
Peter Turner, brickyard
Rev. Umpston, Presbyterian
Henry Warner, boots and shoes
Rev. Samuel Wood, Christian minister

According to the 1860 census, Clark County had a white population of 11,216; black population of 468. There were a total of 129 slaveholders, the largest being Col. Thomas C. Rutherford with 21 slaves.

The Circuit Judge from 1860-62 was Thomas S. Richardson.

The results of the 1860 National election in Clark County were as follows:
John Bell, 752
Stephen Douglas, 542
John Breckenridge, 497
Abraham Lincoln, 277

The foregoing information was taken, with permission, from the Athens Site Study researched and prepared by Roger Boyd, site administrator, Battle of Athens SHS and the History of Lewis, Clark, Knox and Scotland Counties, Missouri, 1887, (reprinted by Walsworth Publishing for the Knox County Historical Society 1981).

Charles D. Hoskins
Holmes Brigade USV, Inc.

[fahtz]

Re: Athens 2008

Robert,
I am in fact looking again for camp trash. Now I do not want to make the camp look like a trash heap, but a fair amount would be a good idea. After the event we will collect it all up and what I can save I will add to the current collection, and the other things can be disposed of on site. Keep in mind everyone we are looking at August of 1861 with a rather large trade route near by, so many things could be had, and used, and then disposed of in a nice junk pile! :D

[MoFed]

Re: Athens 2008

The Athens 2008 registration packet is attached in Word format. The registration form is at the end of the document. Please contact me if you need a hardcopy. Questions and registration forms should be directed to their respective coordinators as listed in the materials. We look forward to seeing you in August.

Charles D. Hoskins
Holmes Brigade USV, Inc.
Battle of Athens 2008 Steering Committee

[BaconBob]

Re: Athens 2008

Mr.Critel,

I have a tote sack about half filled with suitable refuse for this interesting goal of improving the camp's appearance with appropriate discarded items. By August I should have the sack full. Let there be more canp refuse!

Robert Taylor
A Friend of Athens

[VMurphy]

Re: Athens 2008 Coordinators

PLEASE NOTE THIS CHANGE....my new email is vmurphy@nemr.net

If anyone has ideas on merchants/sutlers they think might be interested in attending Athens...please drop me a line ....I'm not having very good luck :( and would welcome some help/ideas.
Vivian Murphy

Sutler: Vivian Murphy, vmurphy@peoplepc.com, 319-524-2968

The event guidelines and registration materials, although not significantly changed from 2005, will be released shortly.

Charles D. Hoskins
Holmes Brigade USV, Inc.[/QUOTE]

[MoFed]

Re: Athens 2008

The registration guidelines and form have been moved to http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/...252#post108252. They had gotten buried in the threads and it exceeded my posting limit to post them in multiple locations.

[Silvana Siddali]

Re: Athens 2008

Hello everyone,

There are twelve days left to register for Athens if you want to share in the free rations supplied by the Park Rangers. Those civilians who register by July 1 will receive coffee, ham, eggs, sausages, bread, corn, watermelon, onions, potatoes, and possibly fruit and meat pies.

All civilian registrations have to be in by July 21 at the latest. There's still room in the camp of convenience, which is located in a secluded, shady area near the village.

Remember, this event only occurs once every three years. This year will be better than ever. There are new buildings opened to the public, more civilians and activities, and a rare chance to witness a battle raging through your town. Deborah Hyland will reprise her famous Mercantile / Confectionery (which alone would be worth the drive!) Don't miss it.

[Abrams]

Re: Athens 2008

I have been slothful on getting in my registration. Thanks for the reminder. It is now mailed.

:)

[Michael Comer]

Re: Athens 2008

Yes, I've got to get mine in also. It's printed and ready just needs to get mailed.

[Hairy Nation Boys]

Re: Athens 2008

Every three years is the battle reenactment. The Hairy Nation Boys have a living history every year. :)

Also, myself and Greg Colvin (both Nation Boys) have talked and given the park the menu. Do not come to this event if you are on a diet! You will eat well!!! The park is ready to provide food for 150 participants.

I also got my Friends of Athens newsletter today. We are in need of new members. If you think Athens is worth preserving sign up!!