WAYNESBORO– On Saturday, Aug. 16 the Monterey Park Battlefield Park and Museum held their annual Relic Display Day event on the lawn of the museum. Even the scattered thunderstorms that came through the area throughout the day didn’t stop visitors and history buffs from coming out to see a variety of artifacts ranging from coat buttons, coins, musket balls, rifle bayonets, and even a variety of postcards and letters on display all with a unique story to tell.
One of those stories was that of David Blubaugh, who shared with me the story of his great, great grandfather, Alexander “A.D.” Morganthall, who served during the Civil War as part of the 162nd Regiment, 17th Pennsylvania, Company G.
“A.D. was a special man,” Blubaugh said, “our family are very proud of him and his legacy.”
He proudly displayed to me a photo of A.D. Morganthall as well as a collection of envelopes that once contained letters from a surgeon during the Civil War, Dr. Edward Kershner, who was originally from Clearspring, Maryland and had a practice in Hagerstown. Maryland. The envelopes were given as a gift to Blubaugh and have since become a centerpiece of his growing collection. Blubaugh spoke humbly of his of artifacts on display, but it was still an impressive collection of living history.
One of the volunteers at the museum and an avid collector is Tyler Tharp. He shared with me a little background of some of the collectors that were sharing their finds with us and gave some insight as to why they spend so much of their time out with shovels and metal detectors digging in the dirt.
“We love going out with our metal detectors sharing what we find,” he explained, “we have fun but we also do it to educate others on the importance of preserving history.”
There is a lot of history at the Monterey Battlefield Park and Museum to be seen. A walk through the museum itself is a trip back in time. Old clothes worn by the soldiers and citizens, the weapons used to wage war, and the everyday items one might find in a 19th-century home are all on display for the eager historian, or the passerby who just wants to stop in for a visit. There are books and souvenirs available for anyone who wants to take a bit of history home with them as well. You can visit the museum and park every day from 8am-8pm.
