Annual Meeting September 27, 2026
SHAF usually holds its annual meeting in the spring. This year the annual meeting has been moved to Fall to align with and celebrate the 40th anniversary of SHAF’s first meeting. The 2026 Annual Meeting will be held on Sunday, September 27 which coincides with Shepherd University’s annual Civil War seminar and Antietam Institute’s annual meeting. SHAF will be partnering with the Civil War Center to commemorate its 40 years of Antietam Battlefield preservation. Several speakers who have participated in Antietam Battlefield preservation will be featured, as well as speakers from several other battlefield preservation groups. The site of SHAF’s meeting will be, weather permitting, at 2:30 Sunday Sept. 27 afternoon at the Grove Farm, just west of Sharpsburg to commemorate our founding. We will return to Sharpsburg for the annual elections, financial report and other business. More details will be posted on our website and disseminated by email soon.
Boyer House, 111E. Chapline Street Sold
Tashiana and Alec Cherke purchased the “Boyer House” 111 E. Chapline Street in Sharpsburg from SHAF for the same amount that we paid for it. SHAF placed legal protections on the property before the sale to assure that its historic character will be preserved in perpetuity. SHAF is holding the mortgage on the property for three years, but will be paid in full at the end of the three year period.
The Cherkes are making great progress in restoring the house and making it livable. SHAF plans to place an interpretive tablet along the sidewalk near the house to highlight its historical significance. This has been a
New Reproduction Cannon to be Installed
The reproduction cannon that SHAF commissioned for placement on SHAF’s Harpers Ferry Road property has been stored in board member Bill Maharay’s garage. SHAF has had a concrete pad, approximately 8 feet by 10 feet installed at the site on which to secure the cannon. We plan to install the cannon soon, and also place an interpretive sign near to explain the relation of this site to the latter part of the battle of Antietam.
Harper’s Ferry Road Property
SHAF continues to purchase properties along Harpers Ferry Road. The houses on the properties have been demolished. However, the house on the most recent purchase has been renovated recently and is in good condition. SHAF prefers to sell the house to a buyer who would move it to another location. We are working with the resident to inspect the house
Workday
There was no spring workday at the Battlefield this year. Antietam National Battlefield is understaffed and could not assign anyone to manage volunteer workers. For the fall workday, SHAF may focus on cleaning up of the Harpers Ferry Road properties that SHAF owns. Plans will be announced soon, if we can make this happen.
Sad News
With great sadness, SHAF reports the passing of long-time board member Dr. Gordon Dammann, DDS, of Lena, Illinois. Gordy was instrumental in the founding of the Civil War Medical Museum in Frederick, Maryland, and also served many years as a SHAF board member. He was a strong supporter in both the Medical Museum and battlefield preservation, and will be greatly missed.
