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Museum buys photo of The museum has acquired thousands how Hampton discovered Bronson of Civil War photos of Wisconsin wasn't simply a Wisconsin soldier Civil War soldier who soldiers and regularly seeks to add to who fought in the Iron Brigade, but a saw Abraham Lincoln its collection of original images. guy who saw Booth leap from This purchase was particularly Lincoln's theater box. assassinated important because, of all the "For a history nerd, it was one of By Meg Jones, Madison Journal eyewitness accounts of the first those 'Oh my gosh' moments," Sentinel, April 13, 2014 assassination of an American Hampton said. Madison — Like most in Ford's president, Spencer Bronson's is one It isn't known what happened to that Theatre that night 149 years ago of only a handful that include a original letter written the day after today, Spencer Bronson figured the translation of the words John Wilkes Lincoln died, and the envelope with 3- gunshot he heard was part of the Booth screamed in Latin. cent stamp addressed simply to Miss play. When Kevin Hampton, curator of Amanda Bronson, Fall River, Since enlisting in Company B of the research and public programs, Columbia Co., Wisconsin. The last Wisconsin 7th Infantry, he had heard noticed photos were being auctioned anyone heard of it was when it was many gunshots. Bronson fought in December of Spencer Bronson and sold at an auction of Civil War valiantly throughout the Civil War with his brother, Manley Bronson, he memorabilia in 1973 between the Iron Brigade — he was captured researched the Fall River brothers. unknown collectors. at Gettysburg, wounded in several Hampton originally became interested Somehow, however, a photocopy of battles and still carried a bullet in his in them because of a family the letter and envelope became part right hip when he was sent to a connection — he's a descendant of of a collection of Lincoln memorabilia hospital to convalesce. That's how he an Irish immigrant named John of the Lincoln Financial Group in ended up in Washington, D.C., at the McMahon, who fought with the Indiana. When the company's Lincoln end of the war. Bronson brothers in Company B. museum in Fort Wayne closed in When Bronson read in a newspaper Hampton began searching the 2008, part of the collection found its that President Abraham Lincoln, Internet for Spencer Bronson and way to the Allen County Public General Ulysses S. Grant and their found military records. Library in Indiana. Hampton wives were going to see "Our He also noticed that the 1996 book contacted the library and got copies American Cousin" at Ford's Theatre "We Saw Lincoln Shot: One Hundred of the photo of the actual letter, as that evening, April 14, 1865, Bronson Eye Witness Accounts" included a well as a typed version. bought a ticket and walked three letter by S.H. Bronson. He wasn't In his letter to his sister, Spencer blocks from the hospital to the sure that was the same Spencer Bronson describes the chaotic scene theater. Bronson whose photo he was trying as people shouted "hang him" and In chilling detail Bronson wrote to his to acquire. "shoot him" after Booth fled through sister Amanda Bronson back home in the backstage to a horse waiting Fall River, Wis., what happened next: outside. "A clang takes place, a dark form is He saw a distraught Mary Todd seen to fall from the private box, his Lincoln and heard her screams as spurs catching in the flag as he men hoisted water and spirits to the descends. A second & he recovered box to be given to the dying & (arising) in a tragical attitude he president. draws a dagger & with his white face It was a couple of days before towards the crowd he repeated in newspapers printed the name and Latin 'So be it ever to tyrants.'" photo of the assassin. But Spencer The Wisconsin Veterans Museum in Bronson, a regular theatergoer, knew Madison recently purchased at Photo Wisconsin Veterans Museum Eventually, he noticed Bronson's immediately who killed Lincoln. auction an original photo of Bronson, handwriting on the back of his photo He wrote his sister: dressed in his uniform dating from was the same as the letter, and both "I will also send you a paper with the around 1865 — the only known photo were signed S.H. Bronson. That's full account of the affair & also a good of him from the war.

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THE “OLD LINER” NEWSLETTER portrait of the murderer who I am shot in the chest at the Battle of the department chair at Notre Dame until shure is J. Wilkes Booth who I have Wilderness, among other events, was retiring in 2012, and E. Susan Barber, seen before... the city is mad with sold at auction for $14,500. his former student who is now a excitement at the act. Three men Spencer Bronson's photo likely will be faculty member. have been shot dead by soldiers for displayed next year at the museum, Beginning in 1998, Ritter and saying they were glad the president and it can be seen by the public in the Barber’s journey took them from the was dead. Thus far the murderer has archives. Maryland Historical Society to the not been caught." What makes the Spencer Bronson Library of Congress and the National He also enclosed a handbill photo unusual is he chose to put his Archives, where they transcribed advertising the play and asked his Iron Brigade black hat on a table next more than 400 trial transcripts of sister to save it. to him when he sat for a Racine Union court-martials that are found in "It shows that perhaps not everyone photographer. the papers of the Judge Advocate was aware at the time it was John Many soldiers were photographed General of the U.S. Army. Wilkes Booth," Hampton said. "For without their hats, but for the Iron They read diaries of women from the Spencer Bronson it was the Brigade, the distinctive black hats time who described the assaults, realization, 'Hey, I've seen that guy were a source of pride. using such words as “ravaged” and before.'" The photo, called a carte de visite, referring to the attack as the Spencer Bronson returned to cost Spencer Bronson 3 cents. “outrage.” Wisconsin after the war and became Because they were so cheap, pretty The researchers often had to read a merchant and Fall River's much every Civil War soldier had his between the lines to discover what postmaster. He eventually settled in picture taken to send to families and had happened to a woman or a girl South Dakota, got married, had four sweethearts back home. and then study court testimony. children and was elected to the state “Finding this is a lot of work. Much of Senate. He died in 1930. Notre Dame historians it was anecdotal language, digging Jo Ann Welton of Rochester Hills, through cases, finding file numbers, Mich., is a descendant of Spencer give voice to victims of and every case was handwritten,” Bronson's older brother, Edward, a long-ago crimes said Barber. “These are 19th-century chaplain in Company K of the 32nd By Frederick Rasmussen, Baltimore documents, and sometimes there Wisconsin Infantry. Welton knew her Sun, March 28, 2014 was no attention to punctuation or ancestors had fought in the Civil War, Two Notre Dame of Maryland spelling. At times, it was daunting.” but it wasn't until the Wisconsin University history professors have They also combed through census Veterans Museum contacted her that toiled among faded and nearly records. she learned her great-great-uncle had forgotten documents and court cases A 2009 essay they had written, been at Ford's Theatre. for 15 years, trying to illuminate the “Physical Abuse … and Rough "That was news to all of us. We knew shocking story of the sexual assault Handling: Race, Gender and Sexual that he had been in a lot of Civil War of women by Union soldiers during Justice in the Occupied South,” battles and was decorated, but we the Civil War and the response by the appeared in the book “Occupied didn't know he was at Ford's military justice system. Women,” published by Louisiana Theatre," Welton said. "I was really They will travel to The Hague, State University. surprised. I just couldn't believe it." Netherlands, next month, where they The authors decided to press on and Iron Brigade memorabilia — photos, will present a lecture on the subject, expand their essay into a full-length letters, documents, uniforms — is “Dangerous Liaisons: Working book, “Sexual Justice in the American highly prized by collectors. Women and Sexual Justice in the Civil War,” which they believe is the In 2008 a collection of 55 original ,” before a first comprehensive study of Civil letters by Spencer Bronson meeting of the European Association War-era sexual assault. They hope to describing eloquently the battle of for American Studies. have it published by LSU in 2015. Antietam, where his brother Eli was The project brought together Charles “Sexual violence in war has been a killed, being taken prisoner on the F. Ritter, who during his 45-year constant, from the rape of Lucretia in first day of Gettysburg and getting career was a professor and 510 B.C. to the rape of Muslim

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THE “OLD LINER” NEWSLETTER women in the Bosnian War of the On May 18, 1864, he entered Once the park is established, non- 1990s,” they wrote in a book proposal Kirksey’s home, gagged her with a divers will also be able to view the to LSU. “The American Civil War was leather strap and raped her. The next shipwreck through brochures and the not exempt from this reality.” day, he returned and sexually Museums in the Sea website, the Cases examined and tried included assaulted her again. proposal stated. rape, gang rape and rapes that “During the American Civil War, As stated in the 2011 proposal, the progressed to murder. They also nearly four hundred white and black project to create a new historical included crimes of sexual intimidation women and girls ranging in age from attraction would involve cooperation such as when a woman was stripped 5 to 82 brought charges of rape, among state, county and city officials, naked and forced to stand before attempted rape and other crimes of the U.S. Navy, local organizations soldiers, who poured cold water over sexual intimidation against Union and individuals. her. soldiers and civilians contracted to The USS Narcissus will be unique It wasn’t until 1863 that the military perform services for the Union Army,” among 's underwater declared rape by soldiers a crime that the authors wrote. archaeological in some cases was punishable by preserves because it is U.S. death. Sunken Civil War boat Government property, the proposal “Some 24 were executed [between states. Under the Sunken Military 1863 and 1865]. Others were set to become Gulf of Craft Act of 2005, the U.S. Navy will punished while some returned to their Mexico 'shipwreck continue to own the ship. units,” said Barber. Built in 1863 during the Civil War, in Ritter said that “one of the great park' East Albany, N.Y., the ship was moments of discovery was finding By Carol Christian, commissioned as USS Narcissus at court transcripts at the National Houston the in February Archives because you could really Chronicle, April 1864, according to the preservation feel the testimony of the women and proposal. visualize the incident, and sometimes 14, 2014 children were witnesses, and their All 27 crew members on the USS direct testimony was very moving.” Narcissus died when the venerable Several years ago, Ritter visited the steam tug sank during a violent winter site where Grace Barnes, who did storm in January 1866 off the coast of washing for Union troops stationed at Florida. a camp near Norfolk, Va., was raped Now, the shipwreck in 15 feet of the morning of April 28, 1864. water near Tampa is set to become The authors wrote that Barnes was a an underwater archaeological “free woman of color.” As she made preserve, the St. Petersburg Tribune her way home with a load of dirty reported. laundry, six soldiers from the 20th The wreck of the U.S. Navy ship lost New York Cavalry “dragged her into Jan. 4, 1866, off Egmont Key, Fla., the bushes and took turns raping has been nominated to become her.” Florida's 12th "shipwreck park," The attack was so violent, Barnes according to a 2011 proposal from later said in her testimony, that she the Florida state archaeological suffered an injury to her bladder. research bureau. In another case, Charles Hunter, a "The designation is expected to make private in the 7th Kentucky Cavalry, the wreck a destination for scuba visited the home of Mary Kirksey, a divers and boost the tourist trade laundress who sold milk and eggs to along Pinellas County beaches and in Union troops to help support herself local dive shops," the Tribune and young son. reported. Photo By South Eastern Archaeological Services, Inc.

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Isaac S. Bradbury, the acting ensign and final Landmarks are protected and cannot big events across the country, plans commander of the USS Narcissus be made public." to use hundreds of acres of fields for parking but is still working on In August 1864, the ship served at Appomattox prepares for transportation options with the Fort Morgan during the Union victory county. at the Battle of . In Civil War spotlight "We're not an area used to getting December 1864, Narcissus hit a By Katrina Koerting, The Richmond tens of thousands of people on a torpedo during a storm and sank, but News & Advance, April 12, 2014 daily basis," said Ernie Price, the no lives were lost and all the About 149 years ago today, chief of education and visitor services ammunition and weapons were thousands of people from around the at the park. removed, the proposal stated. country descended on Appomattox Schools already have scheduled On Dec. 7 of that same year, while on dressed in uniforms of blue and gray. spring break for that week, which picket duty at Dog River Bar, Mobile Officials are preparing for a crowd of should reduce traffic and will allow Bay, Narcissus struck a torpedo while at least that size to visit the area this their parking lots to be used for the paying out her anchor line during a time next year in recognition of the event. A Civil War ball is set for April fierce storm. The mine caused an same thing - the end of the Civil War, 10 at Appomattox Primary School, explosion that left a large hole in the America's bloodiest conflict. and a lecture is set for the high starboard side of the hull amidships. With the 150th anniversary of Gen. school earlier that day. Although the vessel sank in 15 Robert E. Lee's surrender to Gen. One difficulty facing the team is minutes, no lives were lost and all Ulysses S. Grant less than a year deciding how to park and shuttle ammunition and arms were removed. away, county, town and Appomattox everyone without knowing the It was taken to the Pensacola Naval Court House National Historical Park number of people coming. Visitation Yard for repairs and remained there officials are deeply involved in the numbers are difficult to predict through the rest of the Civil War. It planning process, along with state because of factors, such as weather was on its way north for and local law enforcement, and competing events, but one decommissioning when it sank in community members and staff from estimate is 30,000 people per day - 1866, the proposal stated. local businesses and attractions. twice the county's current population. The Narcissus was investigated The National Park Service is "We expect there's going to be a lot during the Tampa Bay spearheading the events - set for of people," said Jeff Taylor, the Historic Shipwreck Survey by the April 8 to 12 - with other local entities county's economic development Florida Aquarium, the proposal supplementing the park's activities. director. "We want to make this an stated. The three-year project was Some of the other groups hosting event that people will remember for conducted 2006 to 2009 under programs during the week are the the rest of their lives." the archaeological direction of South Museum of the Confederacy, the Visitors will come from around the Eastern Archaeological Services, Inc. park's friends group and the county's globe. Texas also has a marine archaeology historical society. "People across the world have program operated through the Texas Appomattox County Parks, studied this war," said Robyn Snyder, Historical Commission but does not Recreation and Tourism Director deputy public information officer for have shipwreck preserves Anne Dixon estimates about 75 the sesquicentennial. "It's a real comparable to those in Florida, said percent of the planning work is draw." Amy A. Borgens, the state's marine completed. A mostly finalized Planning for years archaeologist. schedule of events has been posted Discussions about the "We also don't have the type of to the county's website for six sesquicentennial have been occurring visibility in our state waters that would months. The only thing left to finalize for several years with formal make recreational diving on these are logistics with the park service, meetings beginning in 2011. There is types of sites desirable (usually less including traffic control and shuttles an annual committee of 25 people than 6 inches or zero-visibility)," for the crowds. The National Park made up of representatives from the Borgens said by email. "The locations Service's incident command team, park, county, town, chamber of of submerged archeological sites the group that orchestrated the considered State Antiquities sesquicentennials so far and other

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THE “OLD LINER” NEWSLETTER commerce, community organizations The weather is the biggest challenge wireless coverage for the week. The and businesses. facing the park service, because most command team and staff plan to use Members of the National Park of the events happen outside. email and cell phones to Service's incident command team "We all remember April 9ths that communicate with each other and the met in Appomattox from March 31 to were 80 degrees and sunny and we public. April 4. Their visit included tours of all remember April 9ths when the There's a social media team that the park to familiarize themselves ground was covered in snow," Price wasn't possible 25 years ago, and the with the land and their assignments, said. team will encourage the guests to and they met with the committee and Wet weather, coupled with the share their experiences, too, law enforcement. number of visitors expected, could something that could pose a "We know what the questions are damage the grounds. challenge if temporary wireless and from this week, now we've got to go "We have to be careful about when cell towers aren't brought in for the forward and get answers," said Mike and where we do things because we week. Litterst, public information officer for want people to enjoy the event but we "It's a different world than it was 25 the command team. also want the park to be in good years ago," Litterst said. A common concern people have is shape when it's done," Price said. Programs moving people quickly on the area's Previous anniversaries People are already describing the roads, which are mostly two-lane Throughout the preparation, it's sesquicentennial as a bigger event highways. Last year's Lockn' music impossible to avoid reminiscing about than the centennial and 125th festival in Nelson County was on the the surrender's 100th and 125th anniversary, which were only held at minds of state police throughout the anniversaries, especially for those the historical park. discussions. They directed thousands who were in attendance. Next year, a number of other of people off U.S. 29 and visitors Several committee members organizations are offering additional complained about being stuck in attended as children and still treasure programs. traffic for hours. photos of them wearing period dress "I think we've got a lot of cooperation The incident command group has at the centennial and mementos from going on around Appomattox," Price experience with getting people in and the event, Price said. said. out of the parks on two-lane highways He said he hopes to create similar By overlapping programs throughout efficiently, Litterst said. lasting memories for everyone in the area, it should spread the crowd Park staff, including Price, attended attendance next year. out among the various sites. other sesquicentennials to prepare for Price estimated about 10,000 visitors "Hopefully, when it's over and they Appomattox. Like these events, an and 4,000 re-enactors attended the find out the total number of people, it additional 110 to 115 park rangers 125th anniversary of the surrender. doesn't feel like that because it's well will join the park's 22 employees for Appomattox County Historical Society spread out and organized," Price the week. member Wayne Phelps remembered said. "Appomattox has the benefit of going the large crowds from the centennial. The historical society will be putting last," Litterst said in reference to the "I expect it just about shut the county on the fifth and final installment of the multiple Civil War commemorative down," he said. "Long Road Home" program, an events of the past several years. About 12,000 people attended the annual weekend-long re-enactment Regardless of the preparations, "It's one-day centennial, while next year's focusing on events leading up to the going to be congested," Taylor said. commemoration will span five days, surrender in 1865. Multiple plans making it hard to draw visitation Phelps, the field director for this Several possible plans are in the estimates from previous year's re-enactment, said he works to accommodate various anniversaries, Litterst said. anticipates next year will be even aspects, including the weather and Another difference is the technology bigger. This year, about 450 re- dignitaries. that wasn't around 25 or 50 years enactors filled up the industrial park. "You have to plan for just about every ago. An information technologist has He said he couldn't even begin to contingency," Taylor said. visited the park a few times to figure guess the number of re-enactors and out how to improve the cellular and guests who will attend next year.

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Linda Lipscomb, the Appomattox site From 1862 to 1865, more than Friends and Descendants of Johnson director for the Museum of the 10,000 Confederate inmates were Island Civil War Prison, and director Confederacy, said she hopes all of held in the Johnson Island Civil War of Heidelberg University's Center for the park's visitors stop by the Prison. Some never left: about 250 Historic and Military Archaeology, museum, which will feature its own white stones — a few with the stark work has progressed slowly to dig up programs and events. engraving "unknown" — mark the and identify old objects buried there. "We hope to expose a lot of people to nearby cemetery where men from Bits and pieces pulled from the the Museum of the Confederacy and Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, ground tell parts of the Civil War expose them to some history," she Tennessee and other southern states story: Nails, medicine bottles, ceramic said, noting the museum houses found their final resting place. plates and mugs, chimney bricks, Lee's sword and outfit worn during Save for a modest plaque designating chamber pots, and pieces of hard the surrender. the National Historic Landmark, there rubber carved by prisoners. Established Civil War authors and are few obvious traces of the nearly This season, archaeological work will historians from Virginia colleges and 17-acre former prison on the island's continue at Block 8, a former housing universities, including Virginia Tech eastern side. block where about 250 prisoners and the University of Virginia, already But when the weather warms, were held. are booked for the week. Planning for schoolchildren, college students and A two-story wooden building the 150th anniversary began last year researchers restart the painstaking measured about 125 feet by 29 feet, at the museum, Lipscomb said. archaeological excavation begun and through its wooden-floorboard There will be Grant and Lee re- more than two decades ago. gaps fell debris researchers now try enactors who will deliver monologues First, volunteers are needed to clear so carefully to collect. or recreate scenes from history that branches felled during the harsh After the war, the prison site was week. Guests can dine with the winter and start work on a trail along farmed until about 1950, then generals April 10. the property. Saturday marks the abandoned. Trees took root and the "These are both wonderful re- ninth year the prison site has prison's precise spot faded from enactors," Lipscomb said. "They both participated in the Civil War Trust's memory until Bush began his understand the men and how to Park Day, an event that draws research. portray them." thousands of volunteers to help A white tent stretches over the site The museum has musical maintain about 100 war sites across where archaeological digging will take performances and vendors lined up, the country. place this season, beginning next as well as the 2nd Virginia Cavalry re- "A lot of these places have fairly week with a program for middle and enactors, who will camp at the small staff, and coming out of a high school students and, in the museum the whole week with 30 to winter, especially one like this past summer, a five-week field school. 60 horses. one, you have really major needs for Bush and a couple of Heidelberg upkeep and capital-improvement students worked Wednesday to ready Volunteers excavate projects," said Mary Koik, spokesman the area. They traipsed over a mud- for the Civil War Trust in Washington. splotched tarp spread beneath the Ohio Civil War "Something like this really gives you tent, sorting buckets and preparing island prison the bodies to be able to do a new the site. By VANESSA McCRAY, The walking trail or repair your fences." Seeing youngsters learn about (Toledo) Blade, April 11, 2014 The island-work bee attracts about 80 archaeology is a highlight for Felicia JOHNSON ISLAND, Ohio (AP) — volunteers from northern Ohio and Konrad, a Heidelberg senior from Civil War history hides under a grassy even some surrounding states, and North Baltimore majoring in history field tucked amid barren trees on the military prison site is the only and archaeology. Johnson Island, a patch of land in Ohio location participating in this "I've seen so many little kids find Sandusky Bay where captured year's Park Day. something and be like, 'Oh, this is Confederate prisoners were confined Under the watchful eye of David really cool,' even if it's just a piece of 150 years ago. Bush, chairman of the nonprofit window glass," she said. historic preservation organization

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For Bush, the site's allure traces its Trees planted in honor of rich history, preserved in both written accounts and in the dirt to be scraped Civil War soldiers away and examined. Herald-Mail, April 8, 2014 "It's just that every year we discover WILLIAMSPORT — As part of the more interesting things," he said. "It's Town of Williamsport’s annual Arbor got a great historical record; it's got a Day celebration, more than 100 great archaeological record." community members gathered at The Union located the prison there Springfield Barn to help plant 120 because the island was easier to trees. defend than a mainland site, but it The trees will not only benefit the was close to Sandusky for access to environment, but they are connected supplies. Originally intended to house to the town’s rich Civil War history Confederate enlisted men as well, it through the Journey Through soon held only officers. Hallowed Ground Partnership’s Living Prisoners captured in battles such as Legacy Project. Gettysburg and Vicksburg were The project was created to brought to Johnson Island by train commemorate the Civil War’s 150th and boat. The prison's population anniversary by planting or dedicating peaked at more than 3,200 men one tree for each of the 620,000 during the latter stages of the war. soldiers who died, as a living Preserving the history and educating memorial for their individual and combined sacrifices. Princess America Maryland Teen 2014 Kat Spillane people about the site's importance is helps plant the first ceremonial tree during the the aim of the Friends and For Williamsport, the Arbor Day tree Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership’s Descendants group, which will be planting and tree dedication were Living Legacy Project event with the Town of recognized during the Park Day event among the biggest tree-planting Williamsport. with a Heritage Award from the Ohio events to date, and were made The 120 trees, which were planted Civil War 150 Advisory Committee. possible through the support of the along the fence line at Springfield The committee, formed to recognize Maryland Forest Service. Barn at Byron Memorial Park, were the war's milestone anniversary, will dedicated to fallen soldiers who died give out three such awards this year. during the Civil War. Through this The site's role in Civil War history collaboration, soldiers who died in intrigues Bob Minton of Fostoria, an Williamsport during the Civil War, and advisory committee member and soldiers who were from Williamsport trustee for the Friends and and died during the Civil War were Descendants group. He will present part of the dedication ceremony, as the award Saturday. well as unknown fallen soldiers. "It's fascinating to me because, first of Trees planted as part of the project all, we know that in that area, for will eventually stretch along the several years, several thousand Journey Through Hallowed Ground Confederate officers were there; and National Scenic Byway, a 180-mile a lot of these guys were the cream of swath of land that runs from southern society," he said. "They Gettysburg, Pa., to Thomas were walking that very ground every Jefferson’s Monticello in single day, and to me that makes it Charlottesville, Va. very unique." The partnership is engaged in raising funds to complete the $65 million initiative. Individuals, businesses,

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THE “OLD LINER” NEWSLETTER schools and community groups can contribute to the project. The partnership is seeking $100 contributions to support and plant each tree. Donors can select a soldier to honor, as the trees will be geotagged to allow smartphone users to learn the story of the soldier, providing an educational component to engage interest in the region’s historical heritage and literally bring the tree to life.

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