Atlanta Historical Society donates gun carriage to ASU

It was an offer that was too good to pass up.

The curator from the Atlanta Historical Society called Dr. Kathy Hamrick, special coordinator for academic and master planning, earlier this year and offered to donate a gun carriage to Augusta State University.

“I’m not sure how they knew we wanted it,” she says. “But I said immediately, 'yes'.” Plans were made in early May for the transfer of the 250 pound, wooden carriage from Atlanta to Augusta, and Dr. Hamrick said the university has plans to store the carriage either by the Guardhouse Museum or on the History Walk. But first, the wooden carriage will have to be treated for outdoor usage.

A metal carriage needs to be purchased, but according to Dr. Hamrick, metal carriages cost over $15,000. So for now, the carriage will be wooden.

“We’re going to treat it (wooden carriage) until we get a metal one, and then put it back in the guardhouse or on the History Walk,” Dr. Hamrick said. The university has five pieces of ordnance dating to the era of the War Between the States, one of which will be mounted on the carriage.

“Your gun carriage would allow us to present (and preserve) these artifacts more effectively,” Professor of History Mark C. Fissel wrote in a letter to the Atlanta Historical Society’s curator.

In appreciation to the Atlanta Historical Society, Dr. Hamrick says a plaque will be placed on the wooden carriage acknowledging their donation. “We really appreciate this, and it was a very nice gesture on their part,” she says.

Other News: A Day | Student Convocation | Teresa Cole Exhibition | Gun Carriage | New Faculty | Campus Notables | Photos | ASU Spotlight | Office Visit | Calendar | Birthdays | Quiz