By Megan Molloy

Chenango County Historical Society

Chenango County’s historians and historical societies have teamed up with the Chenango County Historical Society Museum to honor our county’s Civil War legacy during the 150th anniversary.

The project was initiated by Nancy Bromley of the Greene Historical Society in order to discuss how to use a donation of Civil War letters and an 1863 diary of a 114th infantry soldier from Coventryville named Henry Andrews. From there, the decision was made to continue the meetings in order to promote a tribute to the men and women who participated in the Civil War. After several meetings the Chenango County Historical Society joined in to help connect and coordinate the effort. Members include Nancy Bromley of the Greene Historical Society, Chris Buck of the Greene and Smithville Historical Societies, Barbara Avery the historian for Columbus and New Berlin, Charles Decker, town historian of Afton, Nick Caldiero of the Afton Historical Society, Gary Darling, historian of Bainbridge, Tom Gray, town historian of Guilford, Tom and Wilma Felton Gray of the Guilford Historical Society, Sharon Donahe of the Guilford Historical Society, Doug and Joyce Bessemer, Phyllis Lerwick, and Bill Searfoss of the Coventry Town Museum Association, Fred Lanfear of the Oxford Historical Society, Oxford Town Historian Vicky House and Alan Estus, Tom Knapp, Sarah Mahan, and Meghan Molloy of the Chenango County Historical Society.

Any town historians who are not currently involved are invited to join us in preserving our Civil War history. The goal of the Civil War Commemoration Project Team is a cooperative effort across Chenango County Historical organizations for a four-year series of events to commemorate the four years of the Civil War.