Hilltop Historical Society Statement

In the wake of the tragic events at Charlottesville and the ensuing national discussion, the Hilltop Historical Society issues the following statement:

Our organization abhors racism, bigotry, and violence and condemns it in the strongest possible terms.  There is no place for hatred in any discussion, especially one surrounding the history of our great nation.  As we reflect on the achievements—and imperfections—of  those who came before us, it is important that we consider multiple points of view, including those different from our own, so that we may learn from our past to move toward a brighter future together.

The HHS has sponsored the annual Camp Chase Confederate Cemetery Memorial Ceremony for nearly a quarter of a century.  The event itself traces back to 1895, when Union Colonel William Henry Knauss organized the first memorial ceremony here at Camp Chase.  In the 1902 dedication of the arch in the center of the cemetery, Judge D.E. Johnson stated, “And above all things else, we must not forget that in that great contest we were and are still all Americans, and that the splendid courage gallantry, heroism, and valor displayed by the men who sleep here are the common heritage of our American people.”  Four years later, in his 1906 History of Camp Chase, Colonel Knauss wrote, “With no thought but that of pride and admiration for the great American people, regarding no North or no South, but a land rich in memories of its brave dead, this volume is offered.”  It is in this spirit that the HHS conducts this event.

The purpose of the current ceremony is to remember those who served here and those who are buried here.  Camp Chase, of course, served both as a Union soldier training facility and a Confederate POW camp during the Civil War.  At our event, we remember both a Confederate soldier buried here and a Union soldier who had a significant experience here via a brief biography of both.  For example, we recently recounted the experiences William McKinley had here as a young Union enlistee.  He, of course, later served our country as its President from 1897 to 1901.  We also provide those in attendance with performances of Civil War era music, including the National Anthem as it was sung then, played on period instruments.  Many individuals come dressed in period military uniforms and civilian apparel, adding to the day’s authenticity.  The local American Legion post provides a 21-gun salute to conclude the program.  This solemn occasion is meant simply to instruct the audience about those who passed through here, of which some 2,260 remain buried here today.  We make no political statements.

The Camp Chase Confederate Cemetery is administered by the National Cemetery Association, which is an arm of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and has jurisdiction over the land, gravesites, and events that occur here.  The cemetery’s statue remembers the individual soldier, not the Confederacy or its leaders or any philosophy they espoused.  The HHS conforms to all of the NCA’s requirements and regulations regarding the conducting of our event.  For the record, by a 1958 act of the U.S. Congress, Confederate soldiers are recognized as United States military veterans. 

The HHS’s purpose is to preserve and promote the history of our west Columbus community.  We are proud that we hold this portion of our country’s past here in our community, that Camp Chase played an important role in the American Civil War, and that we can provide this event every year.  We are cognizant that there are many heartfelt and compelling points of view about our nation’s history and we also understand that each American citizen experiences our nation differently.  We also realize that it may difficult to view individuals’ thoughts and actions based on the norms of their day as opposed to our more perfect knowledge today.  We ask everyone who cares about our community and nation to consider carefully the many points of view that are expressed and to listen thoughtfully and with an open mind, especially to those with whom we may not agree.  We must realize that we are more alike than we are different and that we share common aspirations.  Ultimately, we must determine how all of us move forward together to continue to build a stronger community and nation.

Pictured here are(From left) Dave Dobos, President of the Hilltop Historical Society and Earl (Wimpy) Potts the HHS honoree. Next is Joe Mellenbaugh, the American Legion honoree with Bernie Brogan the Post Commander of Don Gentile American Legion Post 532.

Cayla Wright ’19, Matthew Wolford ’19, Ken Mahan ’48, Dick DeRoberts ’48, Dave Dobos ‘73,Monty Chase ’66, Pat Mahan ’48, Ginger Thrush ’79, Sandy Chase Doutt ’64, Stanton Prior ‘46. ora Yank ’83, Chad Brown ’71, Chanell Brown-Sanchez ‘93’ Linda Hessinger Hoffman ‘65, Sandra Beatty Gentry ’69, Jim Lawrence Davidson ’41, Kevin Wolford ’17, Rita Elliott Stethem ‘53, Gabe Pritchett ’19, Cristopher Santos ‘18

Highlighted in red are the names of the class mates of Donn Eisele and the names in blue are relatives of Fellow hall of Fame inductee Carl Brown Sr.

We have lost one of the founders of the Hilltop Historical Society. She was the historian of the Hilltop

Lois Ann Neff

Born: April 22, 1938
Died: March 16, 2016

                                     Special Event

The Ohio National Road Association unveiled a Camp Chase Interpretive sign in front of the Westgate Masonic Temple at 2925 West Broad Street on September 6th. This is the site of the main entrance to Camp Chase.