Honoring history

The Lucy Knox Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution threw a 30th birthday party at the Memorial Building in Mount Vernon.

Nearly 100 people were on hand to celebrate a generation of growth and success in Knox County. It was May 11, 1996, when 20 women gathered in Mount Vernon to establish a local DAR chapter, dedicated to historic preservation, education, and patriotism. The chapter was named in honor of Lucy Flucker Knox, wife of Gen. Henry Knox, for whom Knox County was named. Lucy Knox is remembered for her steadfast support of the American cause during the Revolutionary War.

Sandy McCann was one of the original organizing members of the Lucy Knox chapter, 30 years ago.

"We brought DAR back to Mount Vernon,” McCann said. “From 1912 until sometime in the early ‘60s, there was a Kokosing Chapter here, but they disbanded. So, we brought the DAR back. There were several DAR members in the area who were traveling to Columbus, Mansfield, or other areas, to attend the meetings because there wasn't a local chapter and that was really the impetus behind this. There were seven DAR members who were already members of other chapters. They changed their membership to ‘member at large,’ so they could form this chapter. Then, we recruited 13 more so, we organized 20 members and we had our meetings at the Russell-Cooper House, which was a bed-and-breakfast at the time.”

McCann finds working with the veterans to be the most rewarding part of DAR.

“I think we help with history,” she said. “We keep history alive. We participate in the Memorial Day parade. We work with anything to do with veterans. We help with donuts for veterans. We go to nursing homes and we do Christmas cards and birthday cards. We are very active with anything for veterans.”

Since its founding, the chapter has played an active role in preserving local history and promoting civic education throughout Knox County. Early on, members established participation in the American History Essay Contest for local students, a tradition that continues today. The chapter also recognizes outstanding high school seniors through the DAR Good Citizens program and honors local Junior ROTC cadets.

The Lucy Knox Chapter has contributed significantly to historic preservation by researching and marking the graves of Revolutionary War patriots buried in the region and by publishing Revolutionary War Patriots of Knox County, Ohio. Members also support veterans’ projects, celebrate Constitution Week annually, donate educational materials to local schools, and recognize community service leaders. Through these efforts, the chapter continues its mission of honoring America’s heritage while serving the Knox County community.

Cindy Sperry has been a DAR member for 25 years, and serves as regent of the Lucy Knox Chapter.

"DAR is a service organization, and we are all descended from someone who gave service in the American Revolution,” said Sperry. “That doesn't mean they fought. Maybe they provided something else. Perhaps they provided a side of beef for the troops, or quartered their horses.”

Nationally, DAR was founded in Washington, D.C., in 1890. Over the course of its history, DAR has had about a million members. Some of the original members in the 1890s, were granddaughters of Revolutionary War veterans. Some soldiers married late in life and a few of their daughters lived long enough to join DAR in the 1890s. They were called "real daughters."

For Sperry, the best part about DAR would be in the friendships that she has made, working on community projects and fundraisers.

"It has been one of the most exciting things to meet the women I have met, who do so much in their communities,” Sperry said. “The ladies in our chapter have various roles in the community, as well as in our organization, statewide, and nationwide. There's a lot of women who are just pillars in their community, with the things that they do. That service is very important, but to me, it's the fun and friendship I've had, doing things like this, and we've had a lot of interesting events over the years. One of the things we did was sponsor an onstage performance of (the play) '1776,' with a local cast. That got us some national recognition. That was a fundraiser and we cleared $6,000. Some of that went to local veterans, and some went to the World War II memorial fund because they were still building it back then. That took place in 2001.”

Kathy Gamble, the Vice Regent of the Lucy Knox chapter, has made it a part of her lifelong dedication to learning.

“DAR has shown me that there are other people who have the same interests I do,” said Gamble. “Things like history and preservation, as well as patriotism. I found that there are a lot of people that are interested in those things."

Sharing that knowledge and love of history with others has helped Gamble to gain historical insight.

"I've learned that the revolutionary war was actually a Civil War,” said Gamble. “You had the Patriots and the Loyalists back then. It was brother against brother, and before that, I never really thought of it that way, until I joined DAR, but it was like America's first Civil War."

It is through the reading and discussing of history that Lucy Knox comes alive in the present.

"She was really a character," said Gamble. "I don't think she was afraid of anything. Her parents were loyalists and they did not like her being involved with Henry Knox and the Patriots. Not at all.

"He was a bookseller. He wasn't anything that anyone thought would turn into a soldier, but Henry Knox turned into one of Washington's most prominent officers.”

Lucy Knox followed her husband throughout the revolution. After he escaped from Boston. Lucy smuggled his sword to him in the lining of one of her coats, giving him his sword, when she reached Cambridge.

“She was known for throwing great parties and fun to be around,” said Gamble. “She was Martha Washington's friend. She even lived with Martha Washington for a while, as they were following their husbands in the Revolutionary War, so she was quite a character."

To become a member of DAR, please contact Cindy Sperry at lucyknoxdar@gmail.com.