The first-ever Colonel Crowther Day and weekend is scheduled for next weekend in Tyrone.
Events are planned throughout downtown Tyrone to commemorate one of Tyrone’s original citizens. Aug. 5 has been designated Colonel Crowther Day in Tyrone with Colonel Crowther weekend continuing in town on Aug. 6.
The weekend has been set aside to honor Colonel James E. Crowther who served and died in The Civil War. Before his service in the war, Col. Crowther was a businessman in Tyrone and was the second person ever to serve in the position of Tyrone Burgess (the equivalent of today’s mayor).
The executive director of The Colonel Crowther Foundation, Dr. Robert R. Hileman, Jr., has written two books about Crowther and has an extensive background in Civil War knowledge.
Several reenactment units will participate in an encampment at Railroad Park. The encampment will reflect Camp Crossman, a Civil War era camp located about three miles from Huntingdon. Colonel Crowther and his men were at Camp Crossman in preparation for Civil War battles. Colonel Crowther was killed in action at Chancellorsville, VA on May 3, 1863. His death came less than two months after he received his commission as a colonel. He is buried at the Fredericksburg National Cemetery in Virginia and is the senior Union officer buried there.
Next weekend’s two-day event will also feature living history and military demonstrations by Hampton’s Battery F, Pennsylvania Light Artillery, 46th Pennsylvania Regiment Band (The Logan Guard), 148th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Company C, Blacksmith, Surgeon, Civilians and other living historians.
There will be a reception for the Crowther family and invited guests on Saturday. A number of Col. Crowther’s descendants have been invited to attend the event.
A book signing, a Saturday evening public dinner, a concert and other programs will mark the first day of the event. Ceremonies in Hotel Park will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. to honor Colonel Crowther including an address by Dr. Anthony (Andy) Waskie as General George Meade. Refreshments will be served at the Tyrone History Museum by the Rotary Club of Tyrone after the ceremonies.
Dr. Hileman told The Daily Herald, an art exhibit by Jodi Hileman has been added to the day’s event. The art exhibit will be held at the Tyrone History Museum in conjunction with a book signing by Dr. Hileman and author Jared Frederick from 2 to 4 p.m.
A Colonel Crowther Day Concert will be held Saturday at 8:15 at City Hotel Park featuring the 46th Pennsylvania Regiment Band (The Logan Guard). Admission is a donation for the band.
The Railroad Park encampment will continue on Sunday, Aug. 6. There will also be music by the 46 Pennsylvania Regiment Band (The Logan Guard) on Sunday morning outside the First Presbyterian Church followed by a memorial service at the church and another reception for the Crowther family. A wreath laying will take place on at 12:15 p.m. at Grandview Cemetery followed by a luncheon for reenactors. Living history and military demonstrations are scheduled to continue at Railroad Park after the luncheon until the end of the day’s events. There will also be another art exhibit and book signing on Sunday afternoon at the Tyrone History Museum from 2 to 4 p.m.
The Colonel Crowther Foundation is a nonprofit, non-stock Pennsylvania corporation, incorporated in November 2005. Donations are welcome. The organization has set up a Foundation Friends Regiment with different levels of contributions from an honorary rank of colonel for $500 to an honorary rank of private for the $25 level.
The Colonel Crowther Weekend’s events are free to the public except for the Saturday night dinner at the Wesley United Methodist Church Hall. The ticket is through a $20 donation and includes a presentation entitled “The Colonel from Tyrone”. The presentation can be attended without attending the dinner for a $5 donation. Tickets for the event are available through the Tyrone Area Chamber of Commerce and the Tyrone Area Historical Society. Some tickets remain for the dinner.
Also, it was recently announced that the two books written by Dr. Hileman are available for purchase at the Tyrone Area Chamber of Commerce office on Logan Avenue in Tyrone. The first book is titled The Crowther Letters: Family, Companions and Rebels and the second book is titled The Crowther Letters: Chasing Stonewall to Chancellorsville.
More information about the Colonel Crowther Foundation and a complete schedule of the weekend’s events can be found on the Colonel Crowther Foundation web site at www.colonelcrowther.org.
