Marking the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War, the Crawford County Historical Society’s chapter of the Civil War Roundtable gathered in the campus center Wednesday night for the second event of a four-part presentation series held at Allegheny.

“We hope to get college students together face to face with community members to share an intellectual experience and build bonds,” said Crawford Country Historical Society Research Librarian Anne Stewart, ’55. “The college’s facilities are also excellent for our events.”

A national organization, the Civil War Roundtable gives history enthusiasts of local communities opportunities to learn about and experience their area’s role in the Civil War. Crawford County is not short of these types of people, says originator of Crawford County’s Roundtable chapter, Dr. Tom Barratt.

“We have an informal membership of about 100 people interested [in] and educated about our area’s history,” Barratt said. “Many people had antecedents in the war and want to know how their relatives were involved.”

Wednesday night’s gathering was the second in a four part presentation series on the Civil War, with a particular focus on the involvement of Crawford County and its residents.

“This area played a fairly major role in several aspects of the war,” Stewart said. “We have buried in our Crawford County Cemetery 3500 Civil War veterans.”

Professor of History, Ian Binnington facilitated bringing the Roundtable. to campus this semester.

“The History department is delighted to strengthen ties with the Crawford County Historical Society and community,” Binnington said. “I hope that my colleagues and our students will take advantage of these opportunities to join with members of the Roundtable.”

Community members at Wednesday night’s presentation were pleased to see Allegheny working with the Historical Society.

“I think it was a smart decision to use the college,” said Roundtable member Bob Frost. “It should spark interest in students that the Meadville regimen was formed by Allegheny College students and rural farm workers.”

Held on the second Tuesday of each month this semester, the Roundtable presentations are hoped to strengthen town-gown relations.

“We want these programs to be mutually interesting and beneficial for students and community members,” Stewart said.