2nd Saturday Civil War Series: The George Spangler Farm’s Critical Role in the Battle of Gettysburg with Ron Kirkwood

In Person in the Lincoln Gallery at ACFL&MH

Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9370579279
Meeting ID: 937 057 9279

Award-winning author and Murrysville-area resident Ron Kirkwood has spent nine years researching the George Spangler farm in Gettysburg and has written two books on it: “Too Much for Human Endurance”: The George Spangler Farm Hospitals and the Battle of Gettysburg, which was published in 2019, and the sequel “Tell Mother Not to Worry”: Soldier Stories from Gettysburg’s George Spangler Farm, in 2024.

Militarily, Kirkwood argues that George Spangler owned the most important farm to the Union victory in the Battle of Gettysburg with its location, roads, size and Powers Hill. Additionally, the farm was of critical importance medically with two major hospitals on the property caring for a total of almost 3,000 men. His presentation focuses on both aspects of the farm, including the heroism and suffering of the men and women in the two hospitals.

Kirkwood received the prestigious 2025 Bachelder-Coddington Distinguished Book Award of the Civil War Roundtable of Gettysburg for “Tell Mother Not to Worry” while “Too Much for Human Endurance” is on the Gettysburg National Military Park’s recommended reading list for anyone studying to be a Licensed Battlefield Guide.

Kirkwood is retired after a 40-year career in newspapers and magazines including USA TODAY, Baltimore Sun and Harrisburg (PA) Patriot-News. Ron edited national magazines for USA TODAY Sports, was NFL editor for USA TODAY Sports Weekly and managed the Harrisburg copy desk when the newspaper won a Pulitzer Prize in 2012. He has returned to his alma mater Central Michigan University as guest speaker to journalism classes as part of the school’s Hearst Visiting Professionals series.