Thaddeus Stevens Chronicles No. 45

Please help keep Thad's Place open forever

September 2024

By Ross Hetrick

Since opening in March, Thad's Place, home of the Thaddeus Stevens Museum in Gettysburg has had hundreds of visitors who have learned about one of the most important figures in American history. We are now trying to build our endowment fund to make sure people will be able to enjoy this museum for generations to come.

The Thaddeus Stevens Society is participating in the Adams County Giving Spree on November 7 and our goal is to significantly boost the museum's endowment fund that is held by the Adams County Community Foundation. Information about the Spree is at this link: 

https://www.adamscountycf.org/accf2/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Giving-Spree-24-v6-GUIDE-FOR-WEB.pdf

The Thaddeus Stevens Society is number 103 in the list of organizations participating in the Spree and we are asking for donors to make "Forever" gifts that will build up the museum's endowment fund. 

Three types of people have visited the free museum: people who know nothing about Stevens, know a little about Stevens or are great admirers of Stevens. People in the first group are often amazed that they have not heard about this very important historical figure. They are surprised when they are told about how Stevens orchestrated the barring of ex-Confederates from Congress on December 4, 1865, thus setting the United States on a course towards a more equal society. "Why weren't we taught this in school," is a common reframe 

Those who are more familiar with Stevens, are delighted to find letters written by him and cast iron stoves made at his two iron furnaces in Fairfield and near Chambersburg. They also get to see a variety of other artifacts associated with Stevens.

Stevens admirers are absolutely thrilled to find the museum. People have come in who were named Thaddeus in his honor and others who were so inspired by Stevens that it influenced their choice of careers. They are very grateful that they have found a place that details Stevens's long struggle to bring about a more equal society.

The sad aspect of the museum is that it was not opened 100 years ago. There are thousands of museums across our country to both major and minor figures, including criminals like John Dillinger and Ma Barker, Stevens, a towering figure in American history, has had no museum.

So please participate in the Adams County Giving Spree to build up the Thaddeus Stevens Society "Forever" fund to insure that the Thaddeus Stevens Museum will be around for the next 100 years for people to learn about this great man.

Ross Hetrick is president of the Thaddeus Stevens Society, which is dedicated to promoting Stevens's important legacy. More information about the Great Commoner can be found at the society's website: https://www.thaddeusstevenssociety.com/.