Custer Observance celebrates the Civil War general in his hometown of New Rumley

General George H. Custer was born in New Rumley, Ohio, where he is honored with an annual Custer Observance on the first Saturday of June. This year activities start on June 4 with music by J.T. Thompson of Scio at 11 a.m. by the monument. Members of the Jewett Veterans of Foreign Wars General George Armstrong Custer Post 3071 will raise the flag.

Dr. Mandal Haas of Carrolton returns with his Civil War cannon along with artillery and infantry reenactors to explain the equipment and give demonstrations of their use. Kevin Haney will have his collection of muzzleloaders on display featuring Ager rifles.

After lunch, Civil War music will be provided by Steve and Lisa Ball at the New Rumley United Methodist Church. Not only are their songs entertaining, but the stories they tell of their historic significance are always a crowd-pleaser.

An auction of Civil War and wild west-related items will follow in the sanctuary. The day's events culminate with remarks from General Custer portrayed by Rick Williams. Visitors can view the museum packed with memorabilia and the historic signs in the pavilion near the monument.

The General Custer Museum has a collection of memorabilia from Custer as well as general Civil War artifacts. One of the most impressive items are the swords that were used during the Civil War.

Another impressive piece is a document with the signature of General George H. Custer from 1873, when he was stationed in Memphis, Tennessee. On this particular document, it says he inspected the horses for the cavalry.

Dave Rose, president of the Custer Museum, has a long interest in the Civil War as he has his great-great-grandfather's Civil War jacket. Rose served in the U.S. Army Cavalry and said they didn't ride horses but tanks. He spent twenty-four years in Germany serving our country.

When asked to describe General Custer, Rose said, “He was brave...a fighter and hunter.”

Custer grew up in a family with several brothers and one sister. He had an attraction to a young lady, whose father was a judge. The judge didn't like Custer's drinking and forbid his daughter to see him. From that time on, he never took another drink as he wanted to marry Elizabeth.

Custer attended West Point and taught school before finally marrying Elizabeth, who went with him wherever he was sent. Often she stayed in a tent with the military or nearby in a fort.

Custer served in the Civil War as brigadier general and later was assigned to the Southern Cavalry as field commander.

In 1932, the town of New Rumley decided to honor its local hero with a statue. Elizabeth Custer then lived in New York and was unable to attend but through the amazing world of technology, even at that early date, she gave a speech from New York that was heard at the dedication ceremony in New Rumley.

Today information boards have been added in a pavilion that tell the history of the general with many pictures throughout the years. It is on the same ground where his birthplace was located and the outline of the bricks shows where the actual house stood.

Visit the Custer Museum in New Rumley on the last Sunday of each month from now until September. The museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the first Saturday in June during the Custer Observance. Enjoy a day learning more about the Civil War and General Custer.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Custer Observance celebrates the Civil War general in his hometown