Invitation from the Irish Embassy to a reading: "The Washington Arsenal Explosion: Civil War Disaster in the Capital" When Thursday, 20th June 6.30-8.30pm Where Embassy of Ireland 2234 Massachusetts Ave. NW Washington DC 20008 The Embassy of Ireland invites you to a reading by Erin Voorheis from the book "The Washington Arsenal Explosion: Civil War Disaster in the Capital", on Thursday, 20th June, from 6.30-8.30pm. Brian Bergin is the author of this book and Erin is his daughter. Please see a description below. In 1864, residents of Washington, D.C., mourned together at the largest funeral the district had ever seen. In the midst of the Civil War, the poor Irish neighborhood of the Island lost twenty-one mothers, sisters and daughters. On June 17, dangerous working conditions and a series of unfortunate events led to the deadly explosion of a Federal arsenal at Fort McNair, where the young women made cartridges to assist the war effort. In the wake of the horrific event, a monument was erected at Congressional Cemetery to honor those who were lost. Author Brian Bergin similarly memorializes these women through his book, detailing the poor working conditions, the investigation into the avoidable events leading to the tragedy and the reaction of a community already battered by the Civil War. Guests must rsvp in advance. There is limited seating. For security reasons, guests will not be admitted without confirmation of their reservations. Please click on the link below to register.
Posted on: Mon, 10 Jun 2013 23:49:50 +0000