Old Baldy Returns To First Home
By Herb Kaufman
(May 2010 Civil War News)

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — An air-conditioned, cushioned-ride moving van recently arrived on the narrow Philadelphia street that is the home to the Grand Army of the Republic Civil War Museum and Library (GAR Museum).

Several men exited the truck and began gingerly moving a large white crate up the steps and into the museum. The crate was soon settled into a corner of the museum’s first floor, and with that Old Baldy had returned to his previous home.

Since the mid-1970s, Old Baldy, the head of Gen. George G. Meade’s favorite horse, had been on display at the center city Philadelphia museum founded by members of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS).

This museum, now know as the Civil War Museum of Philadelphia (CWMP), was forced to close in October 2008. The closing resulted in the storage of the museum’s singular collection of Civil War artifacts and memorabilia including Old Baldy.

As reported in previous issues of Civil War News, the GAR Museum recently successfully concluded negotiations with CWMP staff, resulting in the return of General Meade’s warhorse to the GAR Museum.

Old Baldy was displayed at the GAR Museum for many years until it was moved to the original MOLLUS museum in the mid-1970s.

Negotiations between the two Philadelphia museums resulted in an agreement that Old Baldy would be returned to the GAR Museum for a designated period of time, pending the reopening of the CWMP.

Eric Schmincke, president of the GAR Museum, said that all          members of the museum and the entire Civil War community were eagerly anticipating the opportunity to again see Old Baldy on display.

The museum is in the process of building a state-of-the-art exhibition case designed especially for Old Baldy. It was made possible through donations from members of the GAR Museum and a $1,000 donation from the Delaware Valley Civil War Round Table.

Schmincke said that an entire room of the museum would be devoted to General Meade and Old Baldy. The exhibit will include Old Baldy’s original reins, General Meade’s Gettysburg camp chair and personal Bible and other Meade memorabilia from the museum’s collection.

Also on display will be an original color drawing of Old Baldy, given to Grant Army of the Republic Meade Post 1 when Old Baldy was first placed in the post hall in 1883.