Franklin County Visitors Bureau highlights extraordinary history
of Chambersburg PA and the
citizens of 1864, who brought it back to life.
CHAMBERSBURG, Pa., July 16,
2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Franklin County Visitors
Bureau invites the public to remember the extraordinary citizens
of 1864 Chambersburg and
celebrate their courage at the 1864 Ransoming, Burning at Rebirth
of Chambersburg on July 20.
Saturday, July 20,
2024, is the 1864 Ransoming, Burning & Rebirth of
Chambersburg commemoration. It is
a celebration of community spirit and remembers the resiliency of
the citizens that brought Chambersburg to life from the ashes of
destruction.
At first glance, Chambersburg
seems like an ordinary town with tree-lined streets, historic
architecture, and an appealing downtown. Yet, the history of
July 30, 1864, makes Chambersburg far from ordinary.
Step back 160 years to a hot, July day--July 30, 1864. Confederate General John McCausland rode into Chambersburg. He and his chief officers went
to the Franklin Hotel on the square for breakfast. There,
McCausland ordered the arrest of leading citizens and began
spreading the word of his purpose in Chambersburg—to hold the town
at ransom for $100,000 in gold or
$500,000 in Yankee dollars. If the
ransom was not paid, Chambersburg
would be burned. The town could not raise anything close to the
ransom, and by noon, nearly twelve blocks of Chambersburg blazed. More than 2,000 citizens
were left homeless and over 500 structures were lost in the Great
Fire. 2024 marks the 160th
anniversary of the fateful day.
Saturday, July 20, 2024, is the
1864 Ransoming, Burning & Rebirth of Chambersburg commemoration. It is a
celebration of community spirit and remembers the resiliency of the
citizens that brought Chambersburg
to life from the ashes of destruction.
The remembrance and tribute to the strength of the 1864
residents began in 2011 as part of a joint launch of Civil War
sesquicentennial events with Adams
County. The 1864 commemoration, organized by Franklin County
Visitors Bureau (FCVB) and brought to life by Eslinger Lighting,
continues annually. New to this year's event is a 21st-century
twist—an LED panel display with a live feed to help the audience
experience the total event. FCVB is also streaming the event on
FCVB-TV and its website--ExploreFranklinCountyPA.com.
July 20 is a day filled with
activity, topped off with the historical re-enactment and light
show depicting the history of the 1864 Ransoming, Burning and
Rebirth of Chambersburg. This
year's schedule includes:
- 9 AM – 4
PM - Old Market Day fills the streets of Chambersburg with over 100 stalls--row after
row of art and craft vendors displaying one-of-a-kind wares as well
as an assortment of festival food. Local merchants hold sidewalk
sales and Courthouse Plaza features a variety of
entertainment.
- 10 AM – 4
PM – Franklin County Historical Society, located in the Old
Jail on King Street, is celebrating Louisa
Brand, an 1864 resident, who wrapped herself with the
American flag and defied Confederates to remove it. The flag in
which she wrapped herself is displayed at the historical society in
the Burning of Chambersburg
exhibit.
- 9 AM – 8:00 PM - Franklin County Visitors Bureau (FCVB),
15 South Main Street, offers a children's area with crafts,
coloring pages, and ball pit. The video vault will air recent
FCVB-TV episodes throughout the day. Check out the selfie stations
and enter the drawing to win a gift basket full of local favorites,
like Martin's Potato Rolls and Chambersburg peaches, plus five passes to the
Chambersburg Aquatic Center. Drawing at 5:45
PM on Courthouse Plaza. Also, throughout the day and into
the evening, enjoy the Civil War walking tour at your own pace and
at any time. Visit ExploreFranklinCountyPA.com/1864-burning to
listen and walk.
- 4 PM – 9
PM – The Chambersburg Volunteer Fireman's Museum, 441 Broad
Street, is open for free tours. Be sure to check out the 1850 hose
cart, which belonged to the Friendship Fire Company and was at the
burning of Chambersburg.
- 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM – Evening horse and wagon tours,
highlighting properties of today and what was onsite in 1864. Rides
are free and last approximately 12 minutes. Donations to Homeless
Matters and Habitat for Humanity are being accepted. Wagon will
load on the northwest side of Memorial Fountain.
- 5:30 pm – 8 PM – Enjoy food vendors, including Copper Fox
Coffee, Boost Burger, Jerky Shak, Yard Goat Treats, and more.
Dining is, also, available along Main Street at Classic Family
Diner, Don Checko's, Veroni Cafe,
Falafel Shack, and Bistro 71.
- 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM - Courthouse Plaza is the stage for
celebrating 10 years of A Cappella & Unplugged and the 2024
Finals of the competition. Finalists are Jeff Trish, Marissa
Porter, Kiley Heltzel,
Calamity & Justus, and Paul
Minnich. Audience members vote for their favorite
performance by ballot and text-in vote. The winner receives
$500 and becomes the 2024
champion.
- 8:45 PM - Join thousands, who
gather to watch, as the town is transported back to 1864 and
ransomed by Confederate soldiers.
1864 Ransoming, Burning & Rebirth of Chambersburg is a re-enactment and light show
done completely with atmospheric effects and actors. The steps of
the 1865 Franklin County Courthouse are the stage. Bring a lawn or
stadium chair. The event is rain or shine.
The Franklin County Visitors Bureau invites all to explore
Franklin County PA and enjoy the
trails of history, arts and architecture, recreation, natural
beauty, fresh foods and the warm hospitality communities like
Chambersburg, Greencastle, Mercersburg, Shippensburg, and Waynesboro. Franklin
County PA is located just north of the Mason Dixon Line and
is an easy drive from Washington
DC, Philadelphia, and
Pittsburgh. Plan a visit at
ExploreFranklinCountyPA.com or contact 866.646.8060.
Media Contact
Janet Pollard, Franklin County
Visitors Bureau, 7175522977, jpollard@explorefranklincountypa.com,
www.ExploreFranklinCountyPA.com
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SOURCE Franklin County Visitors Bureau