Gainesville, Texas 1862: September 2012

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Commemoration now hosted by Clark Family

Great Hanging Commemoration now to be hosted by the Clark Family. Commemoration will take place on Saturday, October 13, 2012.
MANY THANKS TO THE CLARK FAMILY!!

The Clark family has issued the following information:

Update - August 29,2012

On Monday night , August 27th, the Cooke County Heritage Society Executive Board of Directors met and made the unanimous decision to cancel “October’s Reign of Terror” due to lack of support. This two day event was the Commemoration of the Great Hanging of 1862, This educational event featured bus tours to local cemeteries, renowned authors and speakers, and a Civil War era ball.

HOWEVER - the Clark family will host a one-day event at the same location.

Remembering Our Past, Embracing Our Future
October 1862 - 2012
This year marks the 150th year since the Great Hanging at Gainesville. The Clark Family invites you to join them for commemoration events and catered luncheon.

Saturday, October 13, 2012 at the Civic Center
200 S. Rusk St, Gainesville, Texas

9am – 12noon Speakers – Richard McCaslin, Leon Russell, Ron Melugin and L.D. Clark

12noon Catered Luncheon

3:30pm Clark Cemetery
Color Guard Ceremony

5pm Clark-Carri Farm
629 Clark Rd Gainesville
Hor d’ oeuvres & Bonfire

RSVP - before October 5, 2012
E:mail: NathanielClarkfamilyreunion@gmail.com

Additional information contact Brenda Clark Fehlbaum – 214.803.9212 or
Colleen Clark Carri – 817.999.9551

This was posted Wednesday, August 29, 2012 11:32:00 PM

2012 Great Hanging Event Canceled -- WHY??

The following can be found on the website for the Commemoration of the Great Hanging:

On Monday night , August 27^th, the Cooke County Heritage Society Executive Board of Directors met and made the unanimous decision to cancel "October’s Reign of Terror” due to lack of support.

Not much of an explanation -- Sounds kind of lame. Especially for those who have already purchased flights, reorganized work schedules, reserved rooms, etc, etc.

**UPDATE** Check out the follow-up announcement by the Clark family here.

**Please read this post to find out WHY the commemoration event by the Cooke County Heritage Society was canceled. Note the comment made by the Mayor Pro Tem of Gainesville. It appears that Gainesville wants to ignore the fact that the hanging took place in their town.

Let their stories be told

In what some call "one of the worst atrocities of the Civil War", at least 40 men, suspected of Union sympathies, were hanged in Gainesville, Cooke County, Texas during the month of October 1862. Several others were lynched in neighboring communities.
Each family of a Gainesville Hanging victim has a story that needs to be told and shared.
Our goal is to remember all the men who died in the 'Great Hanging' and find their families – spouse, children, parents, siblings.
Please add to this blog any stories about your 'Great Hanging' ancestor.

Sources

Please refer to Richard McCaslin's book "Tainted Breeze" for information on the Hanging or refer to the Source Category in this blog. The posts in the Source Category contain links to some online articles.
DISCLAIMER:
The information shared in these blog posts was gathered from family descendants or researched from sources I felt were reliable. As new research and new records become available, corrections may need to be made to previous research. Blog authors reserve the right to correct or edit any previous post.