Historic Wallpaper Specialties

When Johnny Doesn’t Come Marching Home                           Installation photo's

As the Civil War drew to a close, Clara Barton was not ready to end her war work. She loved being useful and serving those in need. She had to find a new way to help. Her solution was the Missing Soldiers Office located in Washington D.C.  Tens of thousands of men were missing. Their friends and families wrote to Clara, asking, have you seen Wilber? Joseph? Thomas? Clara Barton and her small staff received over 63,000 requests for help. They were able to locate over 22,000 men, some of whom were still alive.

Of the 22,000 men located by the Missing Soldiers Office, 13,000 were in one place:Andersonville Prison. These men were located due to the cunning and courage of another soldier: Dorence Atwater, Atwater had been imprisoned in Andersonville. As a prisoner, he was responsible for burying the men who passed away, and keeping a list of their names and the locations of their graves for the Confederate government. Atwater secretly kept a duplicate list for himself. When the war ended, he wanted to publish the list. He ultimately turned to Barton to do so. Together they not only published the list naming 13,000 men who died in Andersonville, they ensure each of the 13,000 men’s graves were marked. Visit Clara Barton Museum.

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In 2014, Historic Wallpaper Specialties, under contract to Evergreene painting, installed 1860's reproductions within the apartment Clara Barton used as an office. The office was located on the third floor above a storefront.  The installation team included Jim Yates, Frank Yates and Marva Hereford.