22nd Annual Grant Days! Celebration Observes 196th Birthday of General/President Grant

By Professor Earnest Veritas · Originally published July 2018 · p. 19

The U.S. Grant Boyhood Home Association in Georgetown, Ohio, celebrated the hometown hero’s 196th birthday in grand fashion during their annual Grant Days! Celebration; an event they have held for 22 consecutive years. The celebration ran from Thursday evening to late Saturday afternoon and involved a number of presenters and exhibits under a big top on the Boyhood Home grounds. The weekend was opened in the fellowship hall of the Georgetown United Methodist church. This is the church Grant and his family attended while he grew up in Georgetown. Historian Chris Burns delivered an interesting talk titled: “U.S. Grant and his Treatment of Minorities.” It was cogent and thought-provoking for the large crowd that attended. For more information about this talk or for Mr. Burns, contact him at: [email protected] On Friday, School Day hosted more than 200 students from nearby schools. Friday evening featured the one-man play, “Grant: Unconditional Surrender” by Living Historian Dr. Curt Fields. The play is a reflection by General/President Grant on his life from 1861 to his death, and is based on “The Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant” and readings about his Presidency (which he did not address in his “Memoirs”). The play, held in the 1906 Gaslight Theater just off the square in Georgetown, and a fundraiser for the U.S. Grant Boyhood Home Association. Approximately 100 people attended the event. Saturday was busy with presentations being held under the big tent. Period magic shows were performed by Professor Faris (and his magic snake: Snako the Magnificent). Ben Kemp from the Grant Cottage at Mt. MacGregor, N.Y., gave a presentation on the MacGregor Cottage. Ben also had a booth with information about the cottage and how to become a supporter of the Grant Cottage. Author Joe Krom talked of Grant’s early military career. Joe has written two books about Grant: “Ulysses S. Grant: Youth to Uniform” and “Ulysses S. Grant: Uniform to Union.” Living Historian, Dr. Curt Fields talked about Grant lifting the siege of Chattanooga and the brief career of Colonel U. S. Grant. Stan Purdy, Brown County Historical Society President, gave a talk about “President Grant’s Second Term.” Ulysses and Julia Grant held a “Meet the Grants” question and answer session (with Dr. Fields and Lena Moody as Julia). Other attractions were an extensive display on arms and accouterments of the soldier and the life of Grant in pictures and engravings. A local bee keeper had a fascinating display of bees and their raising and care; a local lady had a marble display where she taught children how to play Ulysses Grant’s favorite game as a boy. A walking tour of downtown Georgetown was led by Dr. Ned Lodwick. That walk included a stop at the larger-than-life statue of General Grant and the backstory of how it came to be and how difficult it was to install on that corner of court square. A substantial number of reenactors camped on the grounds; both the infantry and artillery gave regular demonstrations throughout Saturday. There were book signings by Joe Krom and Dr. Dennis Rasbach who recently wrote “Joshua

Lawrence Chamberlain and the Petersburg Campaign.” Saturday was unseasonably cold and kept the numbers down but a gratifying number of Grant devotees did come and enjoy themselves. The day ended with a memorial to the Brown County, Ohio, soldiers who fought in the war. The names of those killed in action or died in the service were read and a bell rung for each name. An Honor Guard of Federal and Confederate soldiers (there were five Confederate soldiers from Brown County!), fired a twenty-one gun salute, followed by dignitaries’

statements that ended with a statement from General Grant. The annual celebration is always held on the weekend closest to Grant’s birthday. It would behoove anyone to attend and enjoy his boyhood home and the original schoolhouse he attended. For more information on Grant Days! Or to join the association, contact them at: [email protected] or on the website: www. usgrantboyhoodhome.org or phone: 937-378-3087. “Simply put: tell the simple truth, simply.” Professor E. Veritas

General Grant.

(The Boyhood Home Association)

Grant 196th Birthday Cake presented after “Grant: Unconditional Surrender.”