Noted Civil War historian, Rev. John Schildt, will speak on “The Roads From Gettysburg” on Wednesday, May 9 at 7:00 p.m. at the Renfrew Visitors Center.
Schildt has written some 20 books on various Civil war topics, a fascination that began in his childhood when his great grandmother told him tales of feeding Union troops on their way to Gettysburg, hiding horses from enemy troops and burying the silverware in a mattress.
In 1951, while in high school, he published his first article about the Battle of Antietam. And, throughout his years in the ministry, he continued to write, producing a book every five to six years.
His newest title is “Frederick in the civil War: Battle & Honor in the Spired City.” Others include “Roads from Gettysburg, “ “Roads to Gettysburg,” and “Roads to Antietam,” and several on Stonewall Jackson, including Jackson’s doctor, Hunter Holmes McGuire.
With five titles on Antietam alone, Schildt knows his field from both the military to the civilian aspects, reporting in detail on corps and campaigns, as well as the homefront, using original letters and other documents.
In addition to writing books, Schildt also gives tours at Antietam, Shepherdstown and Gettysburg. He has lectured at the Gettysburg College Civil War Institute, the Chicago and Baltimore Civil War Round Tables and many other groups. He has also taken groups to Normandy on tours and took part in the joint commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the landing on D-Day in 1944.
Schildt was ordained a minister in the United Methodist Church in 1962. After initially serving at United Methodist Church in Wolfsville, Md, he spent 38 years at the Bethel United Methodist Church in Chewsville, Md, from which he is now retired, and still preaches periodically at churches in Washington County.
This event is part of the 150 Civil War commemoration.
Renfrew Museum and Park is home to a federal-era Pennsylvania German farmstead, bequeathed to the borough of Waynesboro by Mrs. Emma Nicodemus. The Museum House is open to the public from April to October for tours and special events. The grounds are open year-round from dusk to dawn. Renfrew also features the largest collection of John Bell pottery in the country. The gift shop is open Tuesday through Friday from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p. m.
This year, Renfrew Museum and Park’s 200th anniversary will be celebrated with a day-long Pennsylvania German Festival on Saturday, September 8.
For additional information, call Renfrew at 717-762-4723 or check the website at www.renfrewmuseum.org.
