GATESBURG HOMECOMING/BICENTENNIAL

August 7 & 8, 2009

www.gatesburg-1809-2009.cyberwalt.com

 A Gatesburg Homecoming/Bicentennial celebration will be held on August 7 & 8, 2009.  Activities are being planned for both days such as:

·       Civil War re-enactors

·       Parade

·       Charcoal making

·       Blacksmith demonstration

·       Pig Roast/picnic

·       Gatesburg/Marengo cemetery guided tours

·       Historical Home Tours

·       Veterans Memorial Dedication

·       Commemorative booklets, cookbook, & pottery sales

Friends and neighbors of Gatesburg, Marengo, Tadpole, Penna. Furnace, and Western Ferguson Twp. (described as the Western Ferg. Twp. area West of Fairbrook to the intersection of Marengo road and Loveville road).

Map

A map of the Gatesburg area can be viewed by clicking the following web address, or by pasting the link into a browser:

 http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?city=Gatesburg&state=PA&country=us

Parade

 One of the main events is a parade scheduled to be held on Friday, August 7, 2009 beginning at 6:00 p.m.  Anyone who is interested in joining the parade route is encouraged to contact Denny Moore, Parade Chairman, to confirm participation.

Charcoal making

 The “Stack” will be built starting at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, August 7, 2009 at the Gatesburg Community Park and “Lit off” at 12:00 noon.  The public is invited and encouraged to help with this activity.  Master Collier, Paul Fagley from Greenwood Furnace and Ernie Harpster, Journeyman Collier, will be supervising this event.  Journeymen (apprentice helpers) colliers will receive the appropriate certification of performance for completing a minimum of six hours of tending the pit which is required for the next 30-32 hours on a continuous basis.

 Notify Ernie Harpster of your availability to help build the “Stack” and a schedule of when you can tend the “Pit” on a rotating 2-4 hour shift during the continuous 30-32 hour charcoaling process.

Blacksmith demonstration

Scheduling for the blacksmith demonstrations will be announced on our web site as it becomes available.  Wrought iron items will be available for purchase.

Pig roasting/picnic, dedication of Veterans Monument and Bluegrass entertainment

 A community pig roast will be held on Saturday, August 8, 2009 from 5 – 8 pm at the Gatesburg Church pavilion with Bluegrass entertainment at dusk.

The dedication of the Veterans Monument will take place at 8:15 pm.

Family Portraits

Important note - As of April 1st, 2009, pictures are no longer being accepted for inclusion in the booklet.

Commemorative Booklet, Cookbook and Pottery items

Commemorative Booklet

A commemorative booklet will be offered for sale containing pictures and articles of the western Ferguson Township area as well as family pictures, both past and present.

Important note - Be advised that as of April 1st 2009, pictures are no longer being accepted for inclusion in the booklet.

Cookbook

The Gatesburg Bicentennial Cookbook, which includes 488 recipes from the Gatesburg Lutheran Church (Bakers Dozen dtd 1990), and 127 new recipes is being offered for sale at $15 per book. To see the revised cover of the cookbook, click here. To order, click here to get the order form.

Pottery items

Pottery items (coffee mugs, hanging wall plates, utensil jars, etc.) will be offered for sale.  A portion of the clay being used in the production of these items is native to the Gatesburg area.The price of the mug is $15, the crock is $20, and the plate is $25. Pictures of the mug, the crock and the plate are provided.

To order, click here to get the order form.

We are also seeking businesses to advertise which further information on this will be made available.

Veterans' Memorial

 To honor all veterans from the western area of Ferguson Township, a memorial monument with the names of each veteran and the war/service period in which they served, will be built thanks to the generous contributions of our area residents and businesses. Additional contributions are welcome. See the next section for information about contributions.

The bronze plaque is in production as of early June, thanks to everyone's help.

 Monetary contributions request

Donations are still needed to cover a redesigned and enlarged monument from our original plans in the following amounts:

Those who contribute to this memorial will be acknowledged in our commemorative booklet. Names in memory of or as contributors will be included in the commemorative booklet. Those pledging $250.00 or more will receive a commemorative booklet and a choice of pottery, mug or utensil jar.

Meeting dates and minutes of past meetings.

All schedules and minutes are on a separate page -- click here to see them.

Committee Member Contact Information

Help is being solicited in all areas of our festivities; please join us by contacting any committee member or join us at future meetings. See schedule for dates and times.