The 80th regular meeting of the Hancock Historical Society was held on Sunday, April 29, 2007, at Town Hall with President Don Corbett presiding.

Those in attendance were: Jim & Starla Ward, Ernest Shives, Lowell & Frances Younker, Regina French, Leila Stuckey, Connie& Jeanie Corbett, Marian Golden, Robert & Aura McCusker, Sharon Solow, Tommy Swaim, Mike Fox, Daisy Fox, Mary Avella, Marilyn Walls, Richard Munch, David Ambrose, Steve French, Lydia Manning, Wayne Keefer, and Bun & Peggy True. A total of twenty-five members and friends of the Historical Society were present.

The minutes of our previous meeting were read by Secretary Wayne Keefer and approved on motions by Robert McCusker and Jeanie Corbett.

Old Business:

President Don Corbett announced that the Christmas Open House at the Toll House and Museum saw an excellent turnout with roughly sixty people visiting both places.

The Nominating Committee announced that nominations would be taken from the floor for any interested in serving as President, Vice President, Treasurer, or Secretary for the upcoming year. Starla Ward will replace Marian Golden as Vice President. The remaining officers will remain the same with Don Corbett as President, Dan Murphy as Treasurer, and Wayne Keefer as Secretary.

President Don Corbett announced the findings for the annual audit report. Linda McCarty, Branch Manager and Bank Officer of M&T Bank in Hancock, reported that bank statements reconciled with records kept by the museum. Her letter was available for members to see.

President Don Corbett also made available the 2007 budget. The 2006 and 2005 budgets were also available for comparison.

It was announced that sixteen cemeteries have been completely photographed and are available in the museum.

Several members are to gather on Wednesday, May 2nd, from 8am-12 noon to photograph the Public, Presbyterian, Episcopal and Catholic cemeteries on High Street.

Museum workers for 2007 are still needed. Two museum dates have so far been canceled for lack of volunteers. If interested, see any officer to volunteer.

No old business was announced from the floor.

New Business:

A board meeting was called for following the regular meeting and guest speaker presentation.

New life members were announced. They are: Dr Ralph Salvagno, Tracy Wolford and Vickie Vann.

The Historical Society will not participate in working at the visitor's center at the Cut of the Mountain. This will not benefit the museum as no items can be cold. A fundraising committee was formed at the last board meeting. A presentation will be made at the next Hancock Historical Society meeting.

The Hancock Historical Society has decided to start a new annual picnic in place of the July meeting. This year the picnic will be held on July 29th,

(Widmeyer Park - New Lion's Pavilion), from 2pm - 4pm. This will be a friendly get together. Everyone is asked to bring a covered dish. Starla Ward will organize this event.

Refreshments are needed for our next meet in October. Please contact a board member if you are able to help provide refreshments.

No new business was added from the floor.

The meeting was adjourned and our guest speaker, Mr Steve French, was introduced who spoke about a civil war era diary and its description of Civil War happenings in our local area.

Highlights from our Guest Speaker:

Steve French gave a presentation on a diary kept by Elijah Manor who lived during the Civil War in our area. Elijah lived in the Johns town area with his father, aunt, grandfather, and brothers David and Charley. The Diary begins on July 1, 1861 and throughout gives many accounts of the Hedgesville Blues Militia which was formed in response to John Brown's raid in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. The Hedgesville Blues was a very professional group with blue uniforms. Elijah's brother David was killed at the Battle of Manassas on July 21, 1861. His brother Charley was shot during the Civil War too, but survived. Steve spoke of Stonewall Jackson's attack on Hancock in January 1861 and the passing of 700-800 infantry men who came through the Hedgesville area. The diary mentions on the 5th that cannon fire was reportedly heard very clearly from the Bath (now Berkeley Springs) area. The diary also talks about Elijah and his uncle in the Clear Spring and Mercersburg area looking for an escaped female slave and her children.

footnote: Numerous books pertaining to the Hancock area, old postcards of Hancock, Medallions, envelopes-stamped & dated, and many pictures of the Hancock area are available in the museum at very reasonable prices