Online Laundry Alerts at Gettysburg College

Hello. My fascination with the topic of today's picture clearly demonstrates either: 1) I've been away from college dorm life for too long, 2) I'm very easily impressed, or 3) all of the above.

Last month while staying at the dorms on the campus of Gettysburg College while attending a Gilder Lehrman Institute on Lincoln, I came across this sign in the laundry room. This is way too cool - you can log in and check on the status of your washing machine or how much time is left on the dryers? Wow. This would have saved me some considerable time in college as I would run down the steps of my dorm to see if I could use the person who was using the dryer had finished. The other cool thing about this laundry room, which I'm sure many campuses now have, is the ability to pay for the washing machine and the dryer using a campus credit card.

Anyway, I thought it was pretty cool.

Podcast #105 - Walking Pickett's Charge at Sunrise in Gettysburg

Hello. Saturday was our last day at the Gilder Lehrman Institute on Lincoln located on the campus of Gettysburg College. Basically all we had to do on Saturday is eat breakfast and check out of the dorm rooms that had been our home for the past week. Earlier in the week Terry had mentioned that he wanted to get up early one morning and walk the location of Pickett’s Charge on the Gettysburg Battlefield – this was our last chance. Four of us – Terry, Chris, Steve and I – rustled ourselves out of bed early to reach the start of Pickett’s Charge at 6:00 AM. On the way to the battlefield Steve read the famous passage from Faulkner and it set the perfect mood.

The sun was just starting the rise of the eastern horizon as we looked out over the open plain before us. It was perfect. The sun was poking through the top of the trees, a light and misty fog hung close to the ground. The only sound to break the pristine morning was that of songbirds in the trees, and that was a welcome interruption. Chris noted that if you listened carefully you could hear the morning drums of a nearby reenactment camp preparing for the large activity later in the later outside of Gettysburg. It was the kind of moment that you knew you would carry with you for a long time. After taking some pictures we set out to walk up the field before us just as the confederates had on that afternoon 144 years ago. We talked about what it must have been like on that hot afternoon and the placement of regiments and cannons.

It’s almost as if there were no winners or losers here. The sacrifice for both sides was heavy and yet the outcome helped forge a nation dedicated to democracy we all benefit from today. It was a spiritual morning, my farewell to Gettysburg.

You can comment to this podcast by posting a comment to this blog or by e-mailing me directly at speakingofhistory@gmail.com

Direct link to Podcast #105 – Gettysburg Day 5 – Walking Pickett’s Charge at Dawn – MP3 Format – 7:41 minutes

You can subscribe directly to the Speaking of History podcast on i-Tunes here

Podcast #105 Show Notes:

- Pickett's Charge - Wikipedia

Podcast #104 - Gettysburg Day 3 and 4 - Evergreen and Gettysburg Cemetery

Hello. Our work at the Lincoln institute on the campus continued on Wednesday and Thursday with some more excellent lectures and a field trip to the Evergreen Cemetery and Gettysburg Cemetery. The Evergreen Cemetery was already established at the time of the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863. We toured the cemetery and the Gatehouse - a famous historical landmark featured in many early photographs taken after the battle, including the few pictures remaining from Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. Listen to podcast for details of our tour of these Gettysburg cemeteries.

Direct link to Podcast #104 - Gettysburg Day 3 and 4 - Evergreen and Gettysburg Cemetery - MP3 Format - 10:48 Minutes

You can subscribe to the Speaking of History podcast directly in i-Tunes here

If you would like to comment on this post, or the podcast in general, please leave a comment on this post or e-mail me at speakingofhistory@gmail.com

Podcast #103 - Gettysburg Day 2 - A Trip to Washington DC and Eating Period Food

Hello. Day 2 at the Gilder Lehrman Institute on Lincoln was a field trip to Washington DC. We loaded up the bus with the 30 or so teachers participating in the workshop and headed off to visit a few specific Lincoln sites in the nation’s capital. Sites included the White House, the Soldiers Home and Lincoln Memorial. The Soldiers Home was basically Lincoln’s summer White House and I plan to do a future podcast on this site, which will open to the public in February of 2008.

I also ate an authentic Civil War era dinner at the Historic Farnsworth Inn in Gettysburg, picked up a few items to bring back to the classroom and walked through the cemetery at sunset. It was a full day to say the least. We also saw President Bush – sort of – and his entourage. Listen to the podcast for more details.

Direct link to Podcast #103 – Gettysburg Day Two – A Trip to Washington DC and Eating Period Food – MP3 Format – 15:17 minutes

You are welcome to leave a comment on the blog in the form of a comment or e-mail me at speakingofhistory@gmail.com. You can also register to win a book in the Listener Appreciation Give Away – see episode #100.

You can subscribe to the Speaking of History podcast directly in i-Tunes here

Podcast #103 Show Notes:

- Soldiers Home (Lincoln's Summer White House) - Official Site

- Lincoln's Sanctuary - Abraham Lincoln and the Soldiers' Home - book by Matthew Pinsker

- Lincoln Memorial - Wikipedia

- Farnsworth House Tavern in Gettysburg

Podcast #101 - Gettysburg Day 1 - Battlefield Tour

Hello. Today's podcast is about an incredible opportunity I had while here in Gettysburg at the Gilder Lerhman American History Institute on Lincoln. We listened to some amazing lectures on Lincoln and then in the afternoon had some time to visit the Gettysburg Battlefield site. It was extra special because Monday was the 144th anniversary of the battle. The day was beautiful - mid 70s with a blue sky and slight breeze. We sat on Little Roundtop at the exact time of day that the Union took the position. It was a spirtual experience. I discuss the day in this podcast. I have also included some of the pictures I took on the battlefield.

Direct link to Podcast #101 - Gettysburg Day 1 - Battlefield Tour - MP3 File

You can subscribe directly to the Speaking of History podcast on i-Tunes here.

Podcast #101 Show Notes:

- Gettysburg National Park Official Site

- Battle of Gettysburg Wikipedia Site

- Battle of Gettysburg Map with links to Photos

Podcast #100 - Listener Appreciation Book Give Away

Hello. Today is a very special podcast for me - #100! I would have never imagined almost exactly two years in 2005 when I started this podcast that I would one day have 100 episodes. This is a a very short podcast but from a very historic site - Gettysburg. I am in Gettysburg for the week attending a Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History this week and taking an in depth look at Lincoln and Race. I will have more on what will be a very exciting and full week in Gettysburg but today I just wanted to say thank you to all that listen to this podcast. The topics vary greatly from show to show and often there is little reason to the topic selected other than it somehow relates to education, technology or history. Thanks for all the e-mails - I try to answer them all and am still working through a few. This podcast has been a sort of audio journal for me over the past couple of years and I thank you for going along with me.

Direct link to Podcast #100 - Listener Appreciation Book Give Away in Gettysburg - MP3 File - 6:06 Minutes

As a small, very small, token of my appreciation I will be giving away two great books to listeners of the Speaking of History podcast - Manhunt - The 12 Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson and an author autographed copy of Guerrilla Season by Pat Hughes. Manhunt is a favorite of mine and of course Guerrilla Season is the basis for our book blog project and I'll actually be visiting Pat next week when I'm in Philadelphia for a Constitution Center workshop.

To enter the drawing all you need to do is send me an e-mail at speakingofhistory@gmail.com and include your name and city. I will accept all names and cities until August 1, 2007. On August 1st I will place each name on an index card, lay them all out on my living room floor and have my 3 year old daughter select two cards as the winners. I will then announce and contact the winners to obtain their mailing address so that I can send them their book. I have no idea how many people will send in their name but hey, if there aren't many names you have a great shot at winning a great book for free.

Thanks again for listening to the podcast. I have a ton of fun doing it and I look forward to continuing the produce it. I hope to have some great episodes over the next two weeks from Gettysburg and Philadelphia.