Col. Friedrich K. Hecker Camp #443 (SUVCW)

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Col. Friedrich K. Hecker Camp #443 (SUVCW) The only SUVCW Camp south of Springfield, Illinois, covering the "Little Egypt" part of the state. Louis Metro-East (St. Civil War.

Any individual who attends any event or any other function that our Camp , Department or National order of the S.U.V.C.W. host or their emblem is used, by their attendance has given this organization permission to use their likeness on our social media. Being the only SUVCW Camp in Southern Illinois (Little Egypt); we have a large area of responsiblity; however due to restrictions we focus on the St. Clair & Madison Counties), but are more than willing to travel. We are looking for new "recruits" who have a geniune interest in the U.S. We excel in the areas of gravesite dedications, memorial services, living histories, parades & various other projects.

02/11/2026
02/11/2026
01/11/2026

Are you a student looking for a fall semester internship? Consider the Missouri Civil War Museum! We offer internships focused on historic site maintenance, building restoration, and guest relations. We are especially looking for those with experience in historic preservation, construction, and video production. If you are interested, please give the museum a call at (314) 845-1861 today!

G.A.R. at 160: Illinois native builds group for brothers in arms(Above) Drawing of Dr. Benjamin F. Stephenson. (Photo so...
30/10/2026

G.A.R. at 160: Illinois native builds group for brothers in arms

(Above) Drawing of Dr. Benjamin F. Stephenson. (Photo source Wikipedia) By Gerald Sonnenberg, Hecker Camp 443Dept. of Illinois Patriotic Instructor, editor This year was unique in that we celebrated the Nation’s 250th birthday. In addition, 2026 was also the 160th anniversary of the establishment of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR). It was in Decatur, Illinois, on April 6, 1866 that Illinois native Dr....

(Above) Drawing of Dr. Benjamin F. Stephenson. (Photo source Wikipedia) By Gerald Sonnenberg, Hecker Camp 443Dept. of Illinois Patriotic Instructor, editor This year was unique in that we celebrate…

28/10/2026

GERMANTOWN, ILLINOIS — THE MAN WHO BUILT A FORT, STONE BY STONE

Out in the countryside near Germantown stands a limestone fort with a surprising beginning.

Eversgerd’s Civil War Fort is a modern replica, begun in 1984 by Bob “Bobby” Eversgerd. His fascination with the past became a remarkable building project that continued for decades.

He selected and placed stones by hand. Some came from old 19th-century buildings; others were gathered from nearby fields. Gradually, those individual stones became walls enclosing a space approximately 338 feet long and 275 feet wide.

Above the entrance, Eversgerd placed a replica Civil War cannon he fashioned from scrap metal.

Inside, the project grew beyond the fortifications. Log cabins, a one-room home, a jail, and a livery helped create a setting for exploring earlier ways of life. Straw mattresses, wash tubs, and antique furnishings added everyday details to the scene.

The craftsmanship also appears on a much smaller scale. Displays include miniature local churches and other buildings, with some churches containing thousands of tiny bricks and stained-glass windows.

The story here is one of patience, skill, and a personal fascination made tangible—one stone, one wall, and one building at a time.

The fort is listed at 6251 Shoal Creek Road near Germantown. Visits are by appointment; call 618-523-4749 to confirm arrangements.

Have you visited Eversgerd’s fort? What impressed you most?

Images are for illustration only and are not actual photos.

26/10/2026

On August 5, 2002, a massive, rust-covered gun turret broke through the Atlantic’s surface for the first time in 140 years, revealing a haunting piece of American Civil War history. The USS Monitor, a revolutionary ironclad warship that famously fought the CSS Virginia in the first battle between two ironclads on March 9, 1862, had spent decades resting on the ocean floor after sinking in a violent storm off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Designed with a deck just 18 inches above the water and a 20-foot rotating turret carrying two 11-inch guns, the Monitor was a technological marvel—but its low profile proved disastrous in the open sea.
https://bicnews.com/after-140-years-beneath-the-atlantic-the-uss-monitors-rusty-gun-turret-finally-returned-to-daylight/

26/10/2026

Party like it's 1865!

Whether you are young in years or young at heart, all are welcome to have a good time at the Original Civil War Ball.

When Lee was defeated and the Boys in Blue (and their families) celebrated the end of conflict and the promise of reunion, celebrations such as this sprung up all over the Union.

Come and participate in the revelry and live as they would have done. Even if dancing is not your thing, to experience first hand the same sights and sounds that would have occurred at these celebrations over 160 years ago will make history alive.

Tickets can be bought online at https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/the-original-civil-war-ball-2

20/10/2026

This is cute.

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