Post by lozwinter on Oct 5, 2005 7:20:44 GMT
Name and location:
Drum Barracks, Wilmington California
Description and Era:
Building began in 1862 and completed in September 1863. The buildings were prefabricated in the eastern United States and then shipped round to California for construction as it was felt there weren't adequate building materials in the local area for a fort of this size. The cost was approximately 1 million dollars. The original camp consisted of 60 acres containing about 22 buildings.
History:
- The Drum Barracks is the last remaining Civil War military facility in the Los Angeles area. The Museum is housed in the last remaining wooden building of the barracks, it used to be the junior officer's quarters of the camp.
- The land the camp was built on was sold to the Army by Phineas Banning and B.D Wilson who each received one dollar, with the agreement that the land would revert back to them once the camp closed.
-The camp was named after Lt. Colonel Richard Coulter Drum (Born May 25th 1825 - Died October 15th 1909), assistant Adjutant General of the Department of the Pacific who provided major assistance in establishing the facility. It was originally called Camp Drum.
- It served as the Union Army Headquarters in the Southwest (Southern California and the Arizona Territory) from 1861-1871 and was used for Civil War operations from 1861-1865.
- It was the main staging, training and supply base for military operations in the area. The camp also included the most important medical facility in the western states.
- Over 8,000 men passed through the barracks on their way to camps in Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona and Utah.
- The first commanding officer of the camp was Lt. Colonel James Freeman Curtis. It was home to the California Column, formed and commanded by Colonel James Henry Carleton.
- Troops from the barracks kept California in the Union, protected much of the Southwest and protected the territory that is now Arizona and New Mexico for the Union.
- Troops from the California Column fought in the battle of Picacho Pass (on the way to Santa Fe), the westernmost battle of the Civil War. Colonel Carleton successfully marched them through some of the most inhospitable terrain in the US without a single loss of life, three soldiers were killed and 2 wounded in the skirmish. This was the only time members of the "California Column" engaged Confederate Troops.
- 1865-1871 - Troops were fighting Geronimo and his Apache warriors in Indian Wars in Arizona.
- 1871-1873 - The Camp was closed but the hospital remained in operation for two more years.
- After the hospital closed Banning went to Washington and had a bill passed so that the land reverted back to him and B.D Wilson. The buildings were auctioned off but any buildings not bought by either Banning or Wilson had to be moved.
- Banning bought most of the buildings including the current museum building.
- B.D. Wilson bought the hospital and the commanding officers quarters and donated them to the Methodist Church who began Wilson College in 1874, the first co-educational school west of the Mississippi, but it closed after only 2 years.
- 1890 - The current museum Building was used as a High School for the Wilmington Township.
- 1910 - The High School was moved and the building was sold to a Mr Cary.
- The building was then purchased by Thomas F. Keavany for use as a private residence and boarding home.
- 1962 - The building was due to be torn down but the citizens of Wilmington saved it.
- 1977-1980 - Complete programme of restoration took place.
- 1987: It opened as a museum
Ghost ratings and Spooky experience:
- Most of the staff have smelt pipe smoke.
- Noises and footsteps are heard almost on a daily basis.
- Two guides, both called Yvette recently heard chains dragging.
- Apparently a lady was accosted at the front of the barracks by four local blokes. She was very scared and cried out. At her shout some men in uniforms rushed out of the barracks and chased the men away. When she turned to thank them they'd vanished. The next day she came back and that was when she found out that it was a museum and no uniformed men had lived there for over 100 years.
- Images of a man, woman and children have been seen.
- Apparitions of apache scouts have apparently also been seen.
- Odd shadows are often seen around the entire barracks.
- Visiting psychics and mediums say that they see and feel the most activity in the Model Room, Armory and Upstairs Bedroom.
- Outside near the well, a lady possibly called Mary or Maria has been seen wearing an old fashioned hooped skirt (it is known that someone fitting this description once lived at the barracks). A small boy has also been seen here bending to pick up an object.
- In the model room, things have been heard moving around the room (but not seen), steps are heard, the smell of tobacco is detected and lavender and violet perfume is also randomly smelled.
-At the top of the stairs, noises are often heard by many of the staff, as if a ball is being bounced against a wall. - People have 'sensed' a young boy in this area.
Drum Barracks, Wilmington California
Description and Era:
Building began in 1862 and completed in September 1863. The buildings were prefabricated in the eastern United States and then shipped round to California for construction as it was felt there weren't adequate building materials in the local area for a fort of this size. The cost was approximately 1 million dollars. The original camp consisted of 60 acres containing about 22 buildings.
History:
- The Drum Barracks is the last remaining Civil War military facility in the Los Angeles area. The Museum is housed in the last remaining wooden building of the barracks, it used to be the junior officer's quarters of the camp.
- The land the camp was built on was sold to the Army by Phineas Banning and B.D Wilson who each received one dollar, with the agreement that the land would revert back to them once the camp closed.
-The camp was named after Lt. Colonel Richard Coulter Drum (Born May 25th 1825 - Died October 15th 1909), assistant Adjutant General of the Department of the Pacific who provided major assistance in establishing the facility. It was originally called Camp Drum.
- It served as the Union Army Headquarters in the Southwest (Southern California and the Arizona Territory) from 1861-1871 and was used for Civil War operations from 1861-1865.
- It was the main staging, training and supply base for military operations in the area. The camp also included the most important medical facility in the western states.
- Over 8,000 men passed through the barracks on their way to camps in Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona and Utah.
- The first commanding officer of the camp was Lt. Colonel James Freeman Curtis. It was home to the California Column, formed and commanded by Colonel James Henry Carleton.
- Troops from the barracks kept California in the Union, protected much of the Southwest and protected the territory that is now Arizona and New Mexico for the Union.
- Troops from the California Column fought in the battle of Picacho Pass (on the way to Santa Fe), the westernmost battle of the Civil War. Colonel Carleton successfully marched them through some of the most inhospitable terrain in the US without a single loss of life, three soldiers were killed and 2 wounded in the skirmish. This was the only time members of the "California Column" engaged Confederate Troops.
- 1865-1871 - Troops were fighting Geronimo and his Apache warriors in Indian Wars in Arizona.
- 1871-1873 - The Camp was closed but the hospital remained in operation for two more years.
- After the hospital closed Banning went to Washington and had a bill passed so that the land reverted back to him and B.D Wilson. The buildings were auctioned off but any buildings not bought by either Banning or Wilson had to be moved.
- Banning bought most of the buildings including the current museum building.
- B.D. Wilson bought the hospital and the commanding officers quarters and donated them to the Methodist Church who began Wilson College in 1874, the first co-educational school west of the Mississippi, but it closed after only 2 years.
- 1890 - The current museum Building was used as a High School for the Wilmington Township.
- 1910 - The High School was moved and the building was sold to a Mr Cary.
- The building was then purchased by Thomas F. Keavany for use as a private residence and boarding home.
- 1962 - The building was due to be torn down but the citizens of Wilmington saved it.
- 1977-1980 - Complete programme of restoration took place.
- 1987: It opened as a museum
Ghost ratings and Spooky experience:
- Most of the staff have smelt pipe smoke.
- Noises and footsteps are heard almost on a daily basis.
- Two guides, both called Yvette recently heard chains dragging.
- Apparently a lady was accosted at the front of the barracks by four local blokes. She was very scared and cried out. At her shout some men in uniforms rushed out of the barracks and chased the men away. When she turned to thank them they'd vanished. The next day she came back and that was when she found out that it was a museum and no uniformed men had lived there for over 100 years.
- Images of a man, woman and children have been seen.
- Apparitions of apache scouts have apparently also been seen.
- Odd shadows are often seen around the entire barracks.
- Visiting psychics and mediums say that they see and feel the most activity in the Model Room, Armory and Upstairs Bedroom.
- Outside near the well, a lady possibly called Mary or Maria has been seen wearing an old fashioned hooped skirt (it is known that someone fitting this description once lived at the barracks). A small boy has also been seen here bending to pick up an object.
- In the model room, things have been heard moving around the room (but not seen), steps are heard, the smell of tobacco is detected and lavender and violet perfume is also randomly smelled.
-At the top of the stairs, noises are often heard by many of the staff, as if a ball is being bounced against a wall. - People have 'sensed' a young boy in this area.