Our Old Bookcase
The Museum of the Soldier from Portland, Indiana, is host‑ ing the British Exhibit on Sunday. The British Exhibits feature re‑ volvers and other firearms, which include a British Enfield No. 2 revolver. Museum of the Soldier representatives will be available to give information about the British Military exhibit this Sunday and about the Museum of the Soldier during the year.
For the first time, two large col‑ lections of military papers, one from World War I and another from the Civil War, will also be on display at the Military Exhibit at the Mercer County Historical Museum, on Sunday, Oct. 25. On exhibit this year will be a private British collection from a member of the board of directors of the Museum of the Soldier.
The first collection belonged to the Lucinda Karch Sink collec‑ tion of World War I letters. She and other citizens took their let‑ ter writing as a special mission to demonstrate their support of the troops fighting in the “Great War to end all wars” from 1914 to 1918. The letters “home” were writ‑ ten by young men who were from the Burkettsville, Cranberry Prai‑ rie and North Star area. Names included Maurice (Mack) E. Sul‑ livan, Frank Spahr, Clarence Leo Grilliot, Christian Huwer, William J. George and Ray Karch. Letters reflected the loneliness of camp life and how soldiers missed weekly dances and weddings. Descriptions were given of camp life, French life, effects of battle and the spread of the influenza from 1918 to 1919.
The letters were edited by Allen W. Bernard of Cincinnati, a former St. Henry citizen. Allen asks what happened to Mack Sullivan? Allen’s book “The Bavarian Connection, the George and Wal‑ burga Karch Family” will be on display. Allen’s book, “The North German Connection, Johann H. Ahlers Family and Bernard H. Duesman Fam‑ ily,” which includes the diary of Bill Dues, will also be on display.
The second collection includes the condensed story of James McClurg, a Civil War veteran. He was the great‑grandfather of many Mercer, Darke and Auglaize county residents. The collection not only includes personal information about James McClurg, and his life, home and land purchases, but also companies and regiments and their bat‑ tles during the Civil War, in the 1860s. Larry and Mary Eyink, Chickasaw, placed these documents at the Mercer County Historical Museum in 2018.
Another British item of interest is the rare, WWI propeller from a SE‑5E fighter aircraft, one of the most successful of the British combat air‑ craft of the era. This nearly 8‑foot long propeller has a fascinating story included with the display.
The mission of the Mercer County Historical Society is “to preserve Mercer County’s history and to educate the public about that history.” In keeping with this mission, the society is preserv‑ ing military history, not only with this special 20th annual military exhibit, but also the mili‑ tary exhibit on permanent display at this Mercer
County Historical Museum. I will look forward to seeing you on Oct. 25. Please follow social dis‑ tancing rules and wear your face mask. Thank you.
The newest book, “Oil & Gas Boom, Mercer County and Midwest Ohio” is available. The book is on sale at a discounted price of $45, if you want to buy it now or for a Christmas present. The last day of the discounted pricing will be on Oct. 25.