Open House for New Volunteers at Ellwood Manor

An Open House has been scheduled to introduce potential volunteers to various volunteer positions for the 2020 season at the historic structure Ellwood on the Wilderness Civil War Battlefield. From 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, on Saturday, February 15, 2020, Friends of Wilderness Battlefield (FoWB) will hold the Open House at Ellwood, located at 36380 Constitution Highway (Rt. 20), Locust Grove, VA.
At Ellwood, the only Civil War era structure remaining on the Wilderness Battlefield, volunteers may choose to become an interpreter, providing guided tours inside the house and around the grounds, or to become a member of the Ground Force, maintaining the beautiful grounds surrounding the manor. We are also seeking volunteers interested in assisting with various programs/projects on the battlefield, community outreach events, and historical research.
FoWB, in conjunction with the National Park Service, will provide an all-day training session for new volunteers interested in becoming interpreters at Ellwood. That session will be held on Saturday, February 29, at Ellwood, located at 36380 Constitution Highway (Route 20), Locust Grove, VA 22508. Then both new and returning interpreters will need to attend one of two identical training sessions, offered on Saturday, March 14, and Thursday, April 2. Lunch and snacks will be provided for all sessions.
Interested parties may contact either Don Shockey or Bob Lookabill to express their interest or ask any questions regarding the training. Don’s phone number is (540) 729-2885 and his email is shockeydl@comcast.net. Bob’s phone number is (540) 972-5668 and his email is ellwood@fowb.org. Both will be happy to visit with you.
Ellwood is a c1790 house that once stood at the center of a vast plantation sustained dominantly by enslaved people. During the Civil War, the house served as a headquarters for Union generals and as a hospital for the Confederates. The family cemetery is also the burial site of Confederate General “Stonewall” Jackson’s amputated arm. Ellwood is a component of Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, and the Friends of Wilderness Battlefield work in partnership with the National Park Service to preserve and interpret the site.