quarterly newsletter page 10

WCHPS board member Mary Jo Blythe has generously
offered a means by which we can add to our
cemetery fund. She is donating the Civil War print
shown above for a raffle. The 36' x 30" numbered
print (304 of 950) is framed in cherry and has a brass
nameplate. Mary purchased the print in 1997.
The picture depicts a Philadelphia scene of 1861.
General John Fulton Reynolds and Catherine Mary
Hewitt had secretly engaged to be married before
Reynolds left to rejoin the Army of the Potomac. He
didn't want to marry her and risk leaving her a
widow; she promised that if he were killed, she
would never marry. Reynolds was killed on the first
day of the Battle of Gettysburg. He was the highest
ranking officer killed at the battle. His family found
out about the engagement only when Ms. Hewitt
came to view the body and to return his West Point
ring which he had given her as an engagement ring.
True to her vow, she never married, choosing to become
a nun instead of a wife. She died less than a
decade later of consumption. General Reynolds, a
native Pennsylvanian, is buried in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Catherine Mary Hewitt's grave has never
been found.
The WCHPS is raffling the print for $3.00/chance
or 2 chances for $5.00. Only 500 chances will be
sold and the drawing will be held at the Civil War
event at Mountwood Park, on Sunday, May 25.
Any board member can answer questions, or call
Bob Enoch @ 485-8655 or Paul @ 424-6503

The Arch Project - They are up and they are
magnificent! There are now beautiful wrought
iron arches crossing he streets at the four entrances
to the Julia-Ann Square Historic District. There
have been many little obstacles in the road to completion,
but through great efforts of many, donations
from the City of Parkersburg, the Wood
county Commission, help from artisans, and several
grants, the arches now adorn our neighborhood.

While the arches are a district project, it is
really one tenacious, historic-minded Association
President, Lillian McCrary, who has done all the
leg-work, helped to design the arches and followed
through on coordinating the many factions to allow
the beautiful accents to become a reality.

The eight pillars that support the four arches
will be wrapped in brick. The District Association
is taking orders of anyone who would like to have
two lines engraved on a brick for a donation of
$50.00. For information call Lillian at 422-2687.
For her efforts on the arch project and her diligent
work to make Julia-Ann Historic District a tourist
destination, Lillian was the recipient of a 2008
West Virginia "History Hero Award". Congratulations
Lillian!

Spring Home and Garden Tour - On June 6
& 7, the Julia-Ann Square will host the Annual
Victorian Garden Tour & Tea. This year both gardens
and home interiors will be featured. The
plant sale and Tea will be held on the lawn of the
Wix Castle on Ann Street. This new format will
satisfy the interests of gardeners and historic home
enthusiasts. For more information call the Tour
chairman, Deborah Shaffer at 428-8536.

Bus Tours - Historic home enthusiasts from
other areas are starting to include Julia-Ann Square
on their bus tour itineraries. We have three groups
who have booked for home and garden tours.
They have requested that lunch be included to
round out their Victorian experience. We are excited
to accommodate and share our "grand old
ladies"!