Family-friendly event will honor Struthers Civil War veteran

By Sarah Lehr

slehr@vindy.com

STRUTHERS

Alexander Frankfort was a survivor.

Frankfort, the city’s oldest Civil War veteran who died in 1930, made it through 27 battles of the Civil War without permanent wounds.

His memory will live on next Saturday at the Struthers Historical Society, 50 Terrace St.

The Alexander Frankfort Day celebration, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., will include tours of the society’s headquarters, homemade ice cream, an American Indian display, music and Civil War re-enactors. Local Boy Scouts will participate in a ropewalk, which involves making rope by hand.

The free event also will mark 40 years since the historical society’s founding and 30 years since the acquisition of its headquarters, which once was Frankfort’s home.

Frankfort had the house built on land that he had purchased from Thomas Struthers, the city’s namesake, in 1884 for $190. His daughter, Alma, lived there for 93 years and donated the property to the society in 1986.

Alma, who died at age 100, appears to have inherited her father’s longevity. He was 88 when he died. A local newspaper headline at the time declared, “Death Sounds Taps for Last Civil War Vet.”

Though, Frankfort received a military burial at a Midlothian Boulevard cemetery, his grave no longer has a veteran’s marker. The Struthers Historical Society hopes to rectify that in the future.

Society researcher Denise Collingwood described Frankfort as a “big story-teller,” who marched in local parades for years and laid American flags on the graves of his fellow veterans.

Collingwood said it’s difficult to determine exactly how many area residents fought for the Union Army because Struthers was not incorporated as a city during the 1860s and because record-keeping was less robust at the time.

“Paper was at a premium,” said Marian Kutlesa, society founder. “It was very expensive.”

The historical society hopes attendees will leave Alexander Frankfort Day having learned something new. Members, however, know that most people will come seeking fun rather than edification.

“It’s going to be hands-on,” said Linda Skrinyer, society secretary. “In my opinion, that’s the best way to teach history.”