One hundred years ago, in its first major projection of military power overseas, the United States was marshalling the force that President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed would “make the world safe for democracy.” Eventually, some two million Americans would enter combat in the “Great War” in Europe, helping to break a four-year stalemate and drive the Allied cause to victory.
Carlisle was an optimistic town on the move in the early 1900’s and as the new century dawned it was welcomed with “Such a clanging of bells, blowing of whistles, shooting of guns, etc., as was never heard before, even on mornings of the glorious fourths.”12
On April 6, 1784, in the county courthouse in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, the Board of Trustees of the fledgling Dickinson College met and asked two of its members, John Dickinson and Benjamin Rush, to devise a seal for the college.
On June 8, 1833, the Honorable John Reed, President Judge of the Cumberland County Court of Common Pleas, wrote a letter to the Trustees of Dickinson College in which he proposed opening a law school under his tutelage that would have “some nominal connection with the College.”
In May 1757 Colonel‑Commandant John Stanwix led five companies of his first battalion of the Royal American Regiment to Carlisle. He also took over command of the colonial forces of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, all of whom were hard‑pressed by attacks of pro‑French Indians. His senior subordinates were colonels George Washington of Virginia and John Armstrong of Pennsylvania.
Interview of Tony Verenna for the Elizabeth V. and George F. Gardner Digital Library. Verenna discusses his time in the United States Army including his time at the Army War College.
Interview of Chris Morton for the Elizabeth V. and George F. Gardner Digital Library. Morton discusses his Army career from West Point to his retirement as an Aviation Officer.
J. Mark Frey (1880-1958) and his wife, Miriam Anna Dum (G: Thommen) (1891-1988), raised their family on South Hanover Street, Carlisle from the early 1930s forward. Mark, as he was called, was born to a confectioner living in Allentown, about seven miles west of Bethlehem.
Interview of J. Matthew Lissner for the Elizabeth V. and George F. Gardner Digital Library. Lissner discusses his time in the United States Army and in the Army Reserves.