Civil War Medicine

WASHINGTON COUNTY - It was a dark and rainy night, and the Pry House certainly looked as though it should be haunted. As we turned off Md. 34 in the area of Antietam National Battlefield, two well-lighted houses were visible from the road, and we hoped one of those was the building where we had arranged to spend the night. But no such luck. Those were people's homes. Nice, warm, probably-not-haunted homes. Our destination was farther down the dark lane. The Pry House was a Civil War-era home that served as a hospital during the Battle of Antietam and was rebuilt after a fire in the 1970s.

WASHINGTON COUNTY It was a dark and rainy night, and the Pry House certainly looked as though it should be haunted. As we turned off Md. 34 in the area of Antietam National Battlefield, two well-lighted houses were visible from the road, and we hoped one of those was the building where we had arranged to spend the night. But no such luck. Those were people's homes. Nice, warm, probably-not-haunted homes. Our destination was farther down the dark lane. The Pry House was a Civil War-era home that served as a hospital during the Battle of Antietam and was rebuilt after a fire in the 1970s.

HAGERSTOWN - Hagerstown resident George C. Wunderlich said he was low on money when, from out of the blue, he received a telephone call from Hollywood. A representative from the 2000 film "Songcatcher" was on the other end of the line, he said. She needed three of his custom-made banjos within 1 1/2 weeks to use as props in the film. Wunderlich, who builds working replicas of 19th-century banjos as a hobby, said he spent quite a few sleepless nights to meet the order. Since then, he said he has made banjos that have been used in several movies, including "Cold Mountain," "Gods and Generals," "Ride with the Devil" and "Gangs of New York.

WASHINGTON COUNTY - A common misconception about the Civil War is that wounded soldiers didn't receive proper anesthesia before they underwent surgery, said Dr. Robert Slawson, an associate of the National Museum of Civil War Medicine in Frederick, Md. Slawson and other Civil War re-enactors gathered Saturday at the Pry House at Antietam National Battlefield as part of this weekend's festivities leading up to Monday's 145th anniversary of the...

A common misconception about the Civil War is that wounded soldiers didn't receive proper anesthesia before they underwent surgery, said Dr. Robert Slawson, an associate of the National Museum of Civil War Medicine in Frederick, Md. Slawson and other Civil War re-enactors gathered Saturday at the Pry House at Antietam National Battlefield as part of this weekend's festivities leading up to Monday's 145th anniversary of the Battle of Antietam....

Theater holds auditions GETTYSBURG, Pa. - Auditions for the Gettysburg Stage production of Abe Polsy's "Devour the Snow," directed by David Deal, will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 16, and 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 17, at Keefauver Center, 157 Lefever St. Auditions are open to everyone. Roles are for seven men, ages mid-20s to mid-40s. One male role is for a large mountain-man type. Three roles are for women, two between 25 and 45, and one early to mid-teens. Bring a resume.

FREDERICK, Md. - Join the National Museum of Civil War Medicine in Frederick, Friday, Oct. 12, Saturday, Oct. 13, and Sunday, Oct. 14, as it presents its 15th annual Conference on Civil War Medicine. Highlights of the conference include 10 lectures; a social hour Friday evening, a bus tour Saturday; and a dinner Saturday evening. Conference attire is casual; however period clothing is welcome at the Friday and Saturday evening events. Lodging and lectures will be held at the Holiday Inn Holidome & Conference Center in Frederick.

Club meetings Leitersburg Senior Citizens WAYNESBORO, Pa. - Monday, July 2, 11:30 a.m., Mountain Gate Family Restaurant. Hagerstown Lionesses Thursday, July 5, 6:30 p.m., Cortland Mansion, 19411 Cortland Drive, Hagerstown. The program will be provided by Hagerstown Lion/Lioness Liaison Dick Hershey, who will portray Benjamin Franklin with a July 4 patriotic theme. All guest reservations and all cancellations must be made no later than Sunday, July 1, by calling the attendance chair, 301-790-0913.

Chamber of Commerce The Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce announced that Susan Murray has joined the Chamber staff as director of membership. Murray graduated from Greencastle-Antrim High School and has taken business and marketing classes at Hagerstown Business College and Hagerstown Community College. Murray has been in the marketing and sales field for more than 17 years, most recently working for retirement communities in Maryland and Pennsylvania.