The Whitefield Historical Society plans to hold its Memorial Day celebration at 10 a.m. Monday, May 29, at the Town House, 36 Townhouse Road.

The program will focus on Whitefield’s Cpl. Christopher Erskine, who was killed at Gettysburg during the Civil War. Erskine, whose ancestors came to America from Londonderry, Ireland, was born in Whitefield. He married Abigail and they had eight children.

After he was killed at Gettysburg, his wife and her children were taken in by her in-laws, Moses and Melissa Erskine on the Head Tide Road. The Grand Army of the Republic’s Erskine Post No. 24 was named for Christopher Erskine, according to a news release from Sue McKeen with the society.

The GAR built the hall in 1885 as a memorial to the veterans of the Civil War. It has also served as a grange hall and is now the home of the Whitefield Library.

The Whitefield Historical Society plans to have a brass plaque made and installed at the library building as a memorial to the Veterans of the Civil War. The inscription on the plaque will read: Grand Army of the Republic Hall, Erskine Post #24, Named in honor of Cpl. Christopher Erskine, dedicated as a memorial to the Veterans of the Civil War, and built in 1885.

There are many descendants of Christopher Erskine in the Lincoln County area. All to invited to the Memorial Day celebration to share their knowledge about the man for whom the Grand Army of the Republic was named.

For more information, call McKeen at 207-446-7473.

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