Chester County Parks & Recreation provides conservation, management, maintenance, education and recreation services to residents, businesses and visitors so that they may experience open space and understand the natural, cultural and historic resources of the county through our six parks, county-wide programs and trail network. Hibernia County Park located off Route 82 north of Coatesville and its iron heritage will be the focus of our Sesquicentennial celebration with programs throughout August 2011.

Hibernia Mansion Tours 1 - 4 p.m.; $3.00/adults, children under 12 free Tour the furnished 19th century ironmaster's residence redesigned in the early 20th century to emulate an English country estate. "A Civil War Heroes Honor Roll" will be featured as part of each tour.

Town Tours and Village Walks Tour Hibernia Mansion, the ironworks ruins and a stop at a Civil War camp site. Learn about northern Chester County's role in the Civil War. Refreshments. For reservations call 877-442-2476 #110. Free.

Civil War Living History Civil War regiments from the infantry, cavalry and artillery will camp at Hibernia County Park and provide living history demonstrations of military life. Free.
Email: kmarshall@chesco.org

Principal Eleanor Moore and faculty ministered to children attending the Historic Yellow Springs: Pennsylvania Soldiers' Orphan School established at Yellow Springs 1868-1912. The children, under age 16 and dependent on public charity due to the death or maiming of their fathers while serving in the Civil War, received lodging, meals, clothing and most important a quality education. Uniformed students followed strict schedules with a military-like structure designed to raise their academic, moral and physical attributes.

Civil War exhibit at Yellow Springs - opens July 29 through August 31

Answering the Call: Phoenixville and the Civil War, a special exhibit opens on Friday, June 3rd and will run through September. It will feature photographs, documents and artifacts relating to Phoenixville's active involvement in the Union cause. The exhibit will include the cannon manufactured by Phoenix Iron Company, the men who served in the Union Army and the community's support of the war effort. The exhibit will also feature the founding of Post 45 of the G.A.R. following the war and the building and dedication of the Soldier's Monument located in Morris Cemetery.

Hopewell Furnace showcases an early American industrial landscape from natural resource extraction to enlightened conservation. Operating from 1771-1883, Hopewell and other "iron plantations" laid the foundation for the transformation of the United States into an industrial giant. The park's 848 acres and historic structures illustrate the business, technology and lifestyle of our growing nation.

When the Confederacy fired on Fort Sumter and the Civil War began, Hopewell Furnace responded quickly providing both men and material to the Union war effort. Hopewell's Henry Miner joined Captain James McKnight and his Ringgold Light Artillery, one of the first volunteer units to reach the front. Roughly a dozen other furnace workers followed Miner's lead and five of them gave their lives to the cause. Ironically, Hopewell worker Isaac Cole was denied the right to fight until the formation of the United States Colored Troops in 1863. Then, at the age of 40, Cole joined Company H, 32 Regiment U.S. Colored Troops and saw action in the south.

On the home front, the furnace virtually ceased production of its signature Hopewell Stoves and turned to producing pig iron for the war effort. This iron went to nearby forges and was turned into rails to keep Union trains running. Individuals at Hopewell contributed by sending supplies to the army, knitting socks and scarves for soldiers, and rolling bandages for the increasing numbers of wounded.