Custer

Monroe, Michigan
Harbortown RV Resort Park
Back In #129

After such a long day yesterday, I wasn't surprised that we weren't up and raring to go.  This afternoon we took John and Karen Knoll with us to the Monroe County Historical Museum.  Bernie and Carol Patton had given us some brochures which talked about the museum.  

When Bill found out the museum had a George Armstrong exhibit, he was eager to see it.  

 There was no doubt that this building which housed the museum, built in 1913, was a former United States Post Office.  I believe every town within miles, has had a building just like this one.  This was the site where Libbie Bacon Custer was born.  

The museum was free and we wouldn't have seen the donation jar, if we hadn't asked about it.

I can't really say it was great, just a normal small town museum on the first of two floors.  

I was impressed with this table which was completed in 1908 to commemorate the Spanish American War.  The table was made with five different kinds of wood and over 2,000 pieces of veneer.  The detail doesn't show up in the photo.  It was made by Peter McMillan.   

I thought the museum used a little creative artistic thought with the restrooms--Libbies and Georges.  I'm not sure some school children in today's world would know which one to use.  

George Armstrong Custer and Libbie Bacon met and were married in Monroe.  

We've attended a couple of the Little Big Horn re-enactments, toured Fort Abraham Lincoln and visited New Rumley, Ohio where Custer was born.   Today some more of the blanks were filled in in the life of Custer.  

I was surprised by the size of Custer's desk which could be taken down easily for transport. 

 There were some tombstones with this description above them.  I saw the name George Yates and thought of a blog reader with the same name.  

The other interesting item to me was this cannon on a sled.  It would have  been similar to the type used by the British at the Battles of the River Raisin in 1813.  The Battle of the River Raisin was the largest military engagement fought in Michigan.  "Initially an American victory, the British and their native allies struck back in the following days and defeated the American army commanded by Gen. James Winchester.  

Fearing reprisal, the British returned to Canada with American prisoners.  A number of wounded Americans left behind were later massacred by the native allies of the British and 'Remember the Raisin.' became a rallying cry for the remainder of the war."  It was one of the bloodiest battles of the War of 1812. 

According to the brochure from Bernie, the River Raisin Battlefield became a National Battlefield Park in 2009.  When I asked the receptionist at the museum about River Raisin National Battlefield Park, she'd didn't know anything about it or where it was located.  If you don't love history and don't know anything around you, why would you work there?  

Just down the street from the museum is the Custer Equestrian Monument which celebrated its 100th anniversary.  

Libbie Custer helped select Edward C Potter to do the sculpture of her deceased husband.  The monument was dedicated in 1910 by President William H Taft and other dignitaries as well as Michigan Cavalry Brigade veterans.   

Bernie called and wanted us to stop by around 4 pm.  I wasn't sure what time we'd finish up and I looked at the clock on the truck and forgot to adjust for the correct time zone and allow for all the detours over the train tracks.  By the time I figured things out, we were an hour late so we just called it a day.  

Tomorrow sounds like a busy day.  There is a re-enactment at the Battlefield, Navarre-Anderson Trading Post will be open and the Woodward Dream Cruise is tomorrow.   

Turtle Safely......