GAR Hall

[mkyzzzrdet]

The quiet town of Litchfield, Minnesota lies about 70 miles west of the Twin Cities. It possesses the Litchfield G.A.R. Hall which is one of the only ones left in the nation, and the only authentic one remaining in Minnesota. I have been fortunate to visit it twice, and I would like to put this on the forum.

Here is the website if you would like to read more about it: https://www.garminnesota.org/

View attachment 139169
I know everyone on this site knows what the G.A.R. stands for. This hall was obviously designed to look like a fort, and was built in 1885. It was named for a local - Frank Daggett, an important publisher who also served in the war. Apparently he had some early connections to John Brown, but I have not been able to find out exactly what.

 

[mkyzzzrdet]

I have not finished with the GAR at Litchfield entry - but my computer gave me some problems and I will finish later as I have some more pics on it.

 

[Jimklag]

The quiet town of Litchfield, Minnesota lies about 70 miles west of the Twin Cities. It possesses the Litchfield G.A.R. Hall which is one of the only ones left in the nation, and the only authentic one remaining in Minnesota. I have been fortunate to visit it twice, and I would like to put this on the forum.

Here is the website if you would like to read more about it: https://www.garminnesota.org/

View attachment 139169
I know everyone on this site knows what the G.A.R. stands for. This hall was obviously designed to look like a fort, and was built in 1885. It was named for a local - Frank Daggett, an important publisher who also served in the war. Apparently he had some early connections to John Brown, but I have not been able to find out exactly what.

I have always been curious about when the various Union armies became lumped into The Grand Army Of The Republic. When did this happen - during or after the war?

 

[mkyzzzrdet]

I have always been curious about when the various Union armies became lumped into The Grand Army Of The Republic. When did this happen - during or after the war?

Hi - the GAR was organized in 1866 in Illinois, and you had to be a Yankee (obviously) veteran of the war. It was to promote fellowship among the Union vets, and to do charity work. I believe there is a thread here that shows the GAR hall in Aurora.

 

[Blessmag]

They host a CW round table. I get to speak there on Nov. 14th. They normally meet on Thursdays during the day but are trying to add an evening meeting.

 

[Patrick H]

I have read several times that the GAR was once a defacto wing of the Republican party. I don't doubt it. I imagine its influence faded somewhat as the members died off. The standard wiki article (for whatever it's worth) says the G.A.R. was disbanded in 1956 when its last civil war veteran member died in Duluth, Minnesota. The organization was succeeded by the Sons of Union Veterans. There are many G.A.R. notations on grave stones in my town.

Coming back to edit, I have seen a remarkable photo of a G.A.R. convention held in my town. I don't have it on my computer but I've got it in a book around here somewhere. I think it must have been a statewide convention or reunion. All the gents were quite advanced in age, so I imagine it was in the 1930s or thereabouts. I have no idea where the G.A.R. meeting place was in my town, but I know someone who probably knows. Paging @Boonslick.

In the meantime, I will check back to see photos of your G.A.R. hall. I think this is very interesting.

 

[John Hartwell]

Democrats (particularly the southern variety) used to say the G.A.R. was the "military wing" of the Republican Party, but there were plenty of Democrat members -- as there were plenty of Democrat veterans. There were sometimes tensions, of course, as when many Democrats opposed the extension of pension rights. At such times, the G.A.R. spoke with unanimity, regardless of to whichever party a member might belong.

By the 1890s, when the GAR was at its height, there was danger of it falling apart over one partisan issue. I wish I could find it again, but years ago (in the '80s or early '90s) I read a piece in one of the Civil War magazines (a regular, "last page" column). It was about a G.A.R. convention in Philadelphia, I think. After bitter debates and angry denunciations over which side the Convention would support on the hard vs soft money issue (very much a Dem. vs Rep. thing). Half the members were threatening to walk out if the vote went against them.

In the balcony, observing, was a lady who, not being a member would not normally be allowed to speak. She sent a note to the convention's president. He gaveled the members to silence, and announced that Mrs Julia Ward Howe was asking permission to briefly address the Convention. Unanimously, by acclamation, the veterans agreed to let her speak.

There was silence, as she stood at the edge of the balcony, and in a thin, clear voice, sang: "Mine eyes have seen the Glory of the coming of the Lord ....." Before she had finished the first verse, voices began to join in, and soon he entire hall was resounding with this eloquent reminder of their comradeship, their shared experiences, and the reason the G.A.R. existed: to serve the interest of all Union veterans. The upshot was that it was decided that the Convention would take no public stand on issues that did not directly affect veterans' concerns, but urge each member to act according to his conscience. The article made it sound like Julia Ward Howe had single-handedly saved the G.A.R.

It may be an apocryphal story, I don't know. I've tried several times unsuccesfully to track it down. But, I've always remembered it, and it does highlight the bipartisan membership of the organization.