Though more than 150 years separates them, a group of Albion Middle School students Saturday, October 8, felt very close to a local Civil War soldier who died during the Battle of Gettysburg.
Students in Tim Archer’s service learning classes lead a program to unveil a historical marker at Hillside Cemetery in Clarendon in honor of Herbert Charles Taylor, the only known Civil War soldier from Orleans County to die at Little Round Top on July 2, 1863, when Company A of the 140th New York Volunteers relieved the 16th Michigan Infantry.
The project actually began last year when Archer’s then 7th graders, “researched Civil War soldier from Orleans County,” Archer explains. “In our research, we discovered that Herbert Charles Taylor of Holley fought and died at Gettysburg.We think he is the only one from Orleans County to do so. As such, we petitioned the Pomeroy Foundation for a grant to cover the cost of a historical marker. It arrived in July.”
The fact the maker arrived over the summer meant that the students had to wait until this fall for the dedication.
Archer says students did several projects related to their Civil War research.
“The project gave students a chance to learn history, personalize the characters, and gain a sense of appreciation for the severe cost many gave so that we can enjoy our unique freedoms as Americans. It gets them to think outside of themselves and see the bigger picture.”
Orleans County Historian Matthew Ballard and Town of Clarendon Historian Melissa Ierlan were both involved in the project.
“It’s nice to see the kids taking an interest in history,” Ierlan says. She explains that she visited the class last year to discuss the project and noted the students were “very engaged” in the process which enabled them to “get their hands” on the project and “get some results.”
“It’s been awesome to work with the kids,” Ierlan says. “The sign will be there and they can show their children and grandchildren. It’s nice to get them interested when they are this age.”
Herbert Charles Taylor was only 20 years old when he died. He is buried at Hillside Cemetery.
The dedication ceremony on October 8 included remarks by Melissa Ierlan and Matthew Ballard, a Memorial Poem, Earl Schmidt of the Orleans County Veterans Services Agency, Fjolla Bela of the Pomeroy Foundation and a gun salute by members of the American Legion and the 140th Volunteer Infantry Re-enactment Group.
