A few scoops of history

Published 6:40 am Thursday, August 11, 2016

: TITUS MOHLER | HERALD Wayne Knipping, left, of Rice, receives his bowl of ice cream from Alice Garnett, of Rice, and Maggie Lam, far right, of Amelia County.

A small group of people from near and far gathered at the Sailor’s Creek Battlefield Visitor Center on Sunday afternoon to enjoy the center’s annual Ice Cream Sundays lecture series.

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Kristie Knox, left, and Franklin Knox, of Nelson County, have some refreshments after their bike ride to the visitor center from Farmville.

It was the first in the free, family-friendly series covering various topics, continuing each Sunday during the month of August. All-you-can-eat ice cream sundaes were available during the presentation for visitors willing to make a donation of $2 to the “Friends of Sailor’s Creek Battlefield” volunteer support group.

Jim Godburn, education specialist for Sailor’s Creek Battlefield Historical State Park, treated guests to a history of Union General Philip H. Sheridan during Sunday’s lecture.

“These are opportunities for us to do research and to present the public information in detail about things that we perhaps wouldn’t talk about ordinarily here,” Godburn said. “So, this one, for example, gives us a chance to delve deeply into the career of one of the participants in this battle here.”

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Sebastion Amole, of Concord, goes for an additional helping of ice cream.

Sheridan and his troops were at Sailor’s Creek Battlefield for less than 12 hours before moving on through Farmville and then out to Appomattox, but Godburn was able to share details of Sheridan’s life spanning his entire career, from the time he was 22 years old until his death in August 1888.

Godburn said he was pleased with how the lecture went and fielded some questions during the session from attentive guests.

Blair Garnett, president of the Friends of Sailor’s Creek Battlefield volunteer support group, said the group was able to make some money from ice cream sales.

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There were a variety of options for those who wanted to dress up their ice cream sundaes.

“August is a slow time, and it’s a great time to have a series like this that’s indoors, a little ice cream and some history, and we think this was a great start,” he said. “The Friends obviously support the educational efforts of the museum. That’s what we’re all about.”

The Ice Cream Sundays lecture series continues next Sunday at the Sailor’s Creek Battlefield Visitor Center, 6541 Saylers Creek Road in Rice.

For more information, call the visitor center at (804) 561-7510 or email sailorscreek@dcr.virginia.gov.

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Jim Godburn delivers his lecture on the career of Union General Philip H. Sheridan.

TITUS MOHLER | HERALD From left in the foreground, Paul Germain, Jack Huber and Champe Burnley, of Richmond, pause from their conversation for a photo after having biked the High Bridge Trail from Farmville to Rice.