Camp Ford Historical Association, Inc.

THE CAMP FORD HISTORICAL CENTER

THE CAMP FORD PUBLIC FORUM

Except for June, July, and December, The Camp Ford Historical Association hosts a monthly Public Forum, to which the general public is invited as well as members. These events feature a guest speaker along with refreshments provided by the association board of directors. Unless advised otherwise, these meetings are always scheduled at 7 p.m. the third Monday of the month, in the Genecov Room at the Chamber of Commerce Building, 305 N. Broadway Avenue.
COMING EVENTS
Please join the Board and membership of The Camp Ford Historical Association at its monthly Community Forum meeting as Mr. Mark Walters brings this months program titled “THE ROLE ARCHAEOLOGY PLAYS IN UNDERSTANDING THE PREHISTORY OF SMITH COUNTY, TEXAS”. Mr. Walters’ affiliations are as a Research Fellow with the Center for Regional Heritage Research and he is a member of the Texas Archeological Stewardship Network. Mr. Walters will explain the science of archaeology and how it helps us to better understand the rich cultural history of Smith County. He will take us through a power point demonstration of two Caddo Indian hamlets (Redwine and Leaning Rock) that he has hands on experience with. Our meetings are held in the Genecov Room located in the Tyler Chamber of Commerce Building (aka Blackstone Building), downtown Tyler, 315 N. Broadway. Meeting time is 7PM; however refreshments will be served at 6:30 PM. The public is invited to attend all of our meetings. Camp Ford Historical Association is organized to build and maintain a museum dedicated to educating the public about Camp Ford, the largest Prisoner of War encampment west of the Mississippi River. More can be found about the history of Camp Ford and our Museum project by visiting our web-site, http://www.campfordhistoricalcenter.org/ CENTER>
PAST EVENTS
THE 2010 PUBLIC FORUM
The Camp Ford Historical Association Tyler, Texas September 15, 2010 PRESS RELEASE POC: Mark Vogl 903-725-3175 Jerry Watts TO PRESENT “TEXANS at the battle of Altoona, Georigia” AT CAMP FORD HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION MEETING Jerry Watts will be the guest speaker at the Community Forum meeting of the Camp Ford Historical Association (C.F.H.A.) at 7 p.m., Monday, September 20th in the Genecov Room at the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce, 315 N. Broadway Ave. Refreshments will be served at 6:30 p.m. before the public forum meeting. Jerry Watts is a graduate of Tatum High School. Mr. Watts received a Bachelor of .Science degree from Texas Christian University, and a Masters degree in history from Stephen F. Austin. Mr. Watt’s Master's thesis was titled An Exercise in Futility: Federal Counter Insurgency 1861-1865. He is currently working towards publication of a three-volume manuscript on guerrilla warfare in the Civil War. Mr. Watts was a history teacher and coach in Texas public schools for 35 years. years. After retirement, Mr. Watts and his wife returned to Tatum. All branches of Jerry's family were in Tatum before the Civil War. I had some 100 relatives from Rusk County who were in the Confederate military and about 100 more relatives in the south who were also Confederates. Jerry's topic for the September Camp Ford meeting is: the battle of Altoona, Georgia. The meeting is open to the public and the Camp Ford Historical Association is looking for people interested in local history and would enjoy spending one evening a month with others who are working to preserve the history and heritage of Tyler and East Texas. The Camp Ford Historical Association is organized to build and maintain a museum dedicated to educating the public about Camp Ford , the Confederacy’s largest prisoner of war internment center west of the Mississippi . The museum will be part of a visitor’s center to be built on U.S. Highway 271 immediately across from the Camp Ford Park, which is managed by the Smith County Historical Society, not affiliated with the C.F.H.A. The museum and park will be independent but complementary attractions. Community Forums are held at the Chamber of Commerce Genecov Room on the third Monday of every month. The meetings are always free and open to the public. More information about the CFHA can be found at their Web site, http://www.campfordhistoricalcenter.org/. < Dr. Robert Glover to address Camp Ford Association about Tyler munitions plant which operated during the Civil War.
Dr. Robert Glover will be the featured speaker for the Community Forum held by the Camp Ford Association (C.F.H.A.) at 7 p.m. Monday, May 17th at the Genecov Room at the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce, 315 N. Broadway Ave. Refreshments will be served at 6:30 p.m. before the public forum meeting.
Dr. Robert W. Glover is a graduate of Steven F. Austin University, with a MA degree in history, and North Texas State University, where he earned a Ph.D. in Confederate history. Dr. Glover taught at Lon Morris College and was Instruction and Program Coordinator at Tyler Junior College from 1962 until his retirement.
Dr. Glover is the author of several historical articles about Camp Ford and is co-author, with F. Lee Lawrence, of Camp Ford, CSA, the definitive book on the subject.
The meeting is open to the public and the Camp Ford Historical Association is looking for people interested in local history who would enjoy spending one evening a month with others who are working to preserve the history and heritage of Tyler and East Texas.
The Camp Ford Historical Association is organized to build and maintain a museum dedicated to educating the public about Camp Ford, the Confederacy’s largest prisoner of war internment center west of the Mississippi River. The museum will be part of a visitor’s center to be built on U.S. Highway 271 immediately across from the Camp Ford Park, which is managed by the Smith County Historical Society, not affiliated with the CFHA. The museum and park will be independent but complementary attractions. Community Forums are held at the Chamber of Commerce Genecov Room on the third Monday of every month. The meetings are always free and open to the public. More information about the CFHA can be found at their Web site, http://www.campfordhistoricalcenter.org/. DALE WEST
Professional Engineer and Author
Program
IMAGES OF THE CIVIL WAR
Monday, April 19, 2010, at 7:00 P.M.
The Tyler Chamber of Commerce Building, Genecov Room
315 North Broadway, Tyler, Texas
Enter through the Genecov door on Line Street
Please join us for coffee and cookies at 6:30 P.M.
Jerry Watts was the guest speaker at the Community Forum meeting of the Camp Ford Historical Association (C.F.H.A.) at 7 p.m., Monday, March 15th in the Genecov Room at the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce, 315 N. Broadway Ave. Refreshments will be served at 6:30 p.m. before the public forum meeting.
Jerry Watts is a graduate of Tatum High School. Mr. Watts received a Bachelor of .Science degree from Texas Christian University, and a Masters degree in history from Stephen F. Austin. Mr. Watt’s Master's thesis was titled An Exercise in Futility: Federal Counter Insurgency 1861-1865. He is currently working towards publication of a three-volume manuscript on guerrilla warfare in the Civil War.
Mr. Watts was a history teacher and coach in Texas public schools for 35 years. years. After retirement, Mr. Watts and his wife returned to Tatum.
All branches of Jerry's family were in Tatum before the Civil War. He had some 100 relatives from Rusk County who were in the Confederate military and about 100 more relatives in the south who were also Confederates. Jerry's topic for the March Camp Ford meeting is: Operations of Texas cavalry in Louisiana, 1861 -1865.
The meeting is open to the public and the Camp Ford Historical Association is looking for people interested in local history and would enjoy spending one evening a month with others who are working to preserve the history and heritage of Tyler and East Texas.
The Camp Ford Historical Association is organized to build and maintain a museum dedicated to educating the public about Camp Ford , the Confederacy’s largest prisoner of war internment center west of the Mississippi . The museum will be part of a visitor’s center to be built on U.S. Highway 271 immediately across from the Camp Ford Park, which is managed by the Smith County Historical Society, not affiliated with the C.F.H.A. The museum and park will be independent but complementary attractions. Community Forums are held at the Chamber of Commerce Genecov Room on the third Monday of every month. The meetings are always free and open to the public. More information about the CFHA can be found at their Web site, http://www.campfordhistoricalcenter.org/.
East Texas celebrity Tom Perryman was the guest speaker at the Community Forum meeting of the Camp Ford Historical Association (C.F.H.A.) at 7 p.m. Monday, February 15th at the Genecov Room at the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce, 315 N. Broadway Ave. Refreshments will be served at 6:30 p.m. before the public forum meeting. The title of Mr. Perryman’s presentation is "The East Texas influence on country music." Tom’s experience as a radio disc jockey spans more than half a century. A member of the Eat Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in Carthage, Perryman’s talk is based on vast personal experience. Perryman has worked at the Grand Olde Opry in Nashville, and worked with a wide variety of successful performers including the King himself, Elvis Presley. Bradley W. Brookshire, chairman of the board of Brookshire Grocery, will tell the story of the business founded by his grandparents. He will speak at the Community Forum meeting of the Camp Ford Historical Association at 7 p.m. Monday, November 16, at the Genecov Room at the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce, 315 N. Broadway Ave. Refreshments will be served at 6:30 p.m. before the public forum meeting
Brookshire Grocery Co. began in 1928 when Brad’s grandfather, Wood T. Brookshire, opened a small, 25 x 100-foot store on the downtown square in Tyler, Texas. He and five brothers operated several stores in East Texas until the partnership dissolved in 1939. At that time, Wood became sole owner of three stores in Tyler that served as the cornerstone of today’s company. Through the years, the company continued to experience healthy growth, building new stores in new markets and branching into even more territories by acquiring stores from other operators. Today, Brookshire Grocery Co. has more than 150 supermarkets operating in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi:
The Camp Ford Historical Association is organized to build and maintain a museum dedicated to educating the public about Camp Ford, the largest Confederate prisoner of war internment center west of the Mississippi . More information about the CFHA can be found at their Web site, http://www.campfordhistoricalcenter.org/. Community Forums are held at the Chamber of Commerce Genecov Room on the third Monday of every month. The meetings are always free and open to the public.

THE 2008 PUBLIC FORUM
We can look back with satisfaction over the 2008 forum meetings, and with gratitude to the speakers who enlivened them.

The first Forum speaker for 2008 was Mark Vogl, who gave an inspiring presentation about the life of Robert E. Lee. Lee was born in January, so Vogl’s January 2008 talk was very appropriate. Lee’s birthday on the nineteenth, which was once a Texas state holiday, sadly has been usurped by the celebration of the birthday of a lesser man, but Vogl reminded us of why Lee, America’s greatest general and a genuine Christian gentleman, is still revered by Southerners.

February’s Forum featured Art Hall from Athens. He gave a riveting history of the Parker family, before, during, and after the massacre of the Parker family by Comanche Indians and the abduction of Cynthia Ann Parker. The years-long obsession by an uncle to find and recover Cynthia was the basis of the John Wayne movie, “The Searchers,” and Art Hall’s presentation was more entertaining than the movie.

Texas legislature Representative Leo Berman was the speaker for March. Representative Berman has been a supporter of historical and heritage groups in our district. His topic was the difficulties involved in controling illegal entry into Texas across the Mexican border.

Noted historian and board member Dr. Robert Glover was our speaker for April. His presentation, “Howdy Martin, a Texan in Search of a Fight,” covered the career of William Harrison (“Howdy”) Martin (1823-1898), lawyer, Confederate officer, and congressman. His nickname came about when, due to lack of military training, he addressed Robert E. Lee with, “Howdy, General!” Martin’s life was colorful, and so was Dr. Glover’s talk.

Byrd pottery was the subject of May’s meeting, delivered by Gary Fleet. Byrd pottery, once made in Tyler, is artistically distinctive and has become sought after by avid collectors. Gary Fleet, teacher and high school coach, has an extensive collection and brought many pieces to show. Thanks to the efforts of D.M. Edwards and Maxine Herbst, we had excellent newspaper coverage for this event and consequent good attendance.

Our Executive Secretary, Maxine Herbst, was our speaker for August and her topic was one dear to her heart, “Spirits of Oakwood.” Under her leadership the United Daughters of the Confederacy took on the job of restoring the neglected gravestones of Confederate veterans in Tyler’s oldest cemetery. To help fund this activity the UDC has an annual “Spirits of Oakwood” event at the graveyard in which volunteer “ghosts” don period costumes and assume the personas of departed notables. They stand near the graves that contain the remains of the persons they represent and give the onlookers first-person stories of the lives of the deceased. Maxine was assisted in her talk by an outstanding Power Point presentation prepared and shown by Mary June Goodson.

Dr. Archie P. McDonald of Nacogdoches, long-time head of the East Texas Historical Association, addressed the Camp Ford Historical Association in September. Dr. McDonald recently retired after 37 years as Executive Director of the East Texas Historical Association. East Texans are acquainted with Dr. McDonald from his regular newspaper column, “All Things Historical.” The topic of his talk was “Texas in Secession, Civil War, and Reconstruction, with Music,” and Dr. McDonald brought some of the forgotten songs back to life with voice and guitar.

Kevin McCall spoke at the October Forum. His talk was about the life of Chief Bowles, whose colorful life ended just west of Tyler in a battle with the Texas Rangers during the days of the Republic of Texas. He has occupied several posts in the Sons of Confederate Veterans at camp, brigade, and division levels.

Mark Vogl, who began the year with his talk on the life of Robert E. Lee, wrapped up the 2008 Public Forum season with a discussion of more recent historical events, namely the Cold War, how it came about and why it ended. Mark always delivers a well researched and entertaining talk.

REMEMBERING OUR FIRST EVENT
November 15, 2003 OPEN HOUSE

Over 150 visitors braved the rain to attend the Camp Ford Historical Center Heritage Day celebrated on Saturday, November 15, 2003. The Center's first event gave those attending the "before" picture of facilites that will eventually become an outstanding tourist attraction for the area.

Civil War exhibits, music, and demonstrations in period dress provided additional interest to touring the facilities.

Re-enactors, entertainers, and exhibitors were furnished by the Captain James P. Douglas Camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, the Mollie Moore Davis Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, the Children of the Confederacy, the Emma Sansom Chapter of the Order of Confederate Rose, and other patriotic and heritage groups and individuals.

Historian and foremost authority on Camp Ford, Dr. Robert Glover gave the audience the story of the creation and life of the camp, which began as a training facility for Confederate conscripts and grew to become the largest prisoner of war camp west of the Mississippi.

On the Center campus, during the intermissions of rain, loading, firing, and cleaning demonstrations of Civil War era cannons and muskets enthralled the many children who had come with their parents.

A barbecue lunch was provided by the Camp Ford Historical Association, and served by members. While the guests ate, they were entertained by songs of the old South performed by Three Majors and a General. This talented quartet was the entertainment highlight of the day.

Exhibits and Living History presentations by Frazier Brothers Re-enactment Venders of Dallas gave a preview of the type of authentic material that will eventually be housed by the museum.

Camp Ford Historical Association, Inc.
P.O. Box 1865
Tyler, Texas 75710

E-mail: Secretary

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