The War Between the States has always been of great interest to me. As a history major at Jacksonville State University, I took any history course that covered that period of history in our country's short life.

This war destroyed more than 600,000 American lives and continues to affect this nation. Trying to find answers to how and why this war was fought is more complex than anyone can imagine.

In my studies I have had four companions — my uncle, Ray Barron, and my cousins Mitchell Barron and Jamey Moore. We shared that passion of finding why our ancestors went to war, what happened to them during that time and how that has affected this nation almost 150 years later. And to be more precise, how it has affected us as Southerners.

The four of us have walked battlefields at Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Shiloh, Kennesaw and Stones River with detours to more minor skirmishes than you can count.

All four of us had ancestors who fought in this massive upheaval and visiting battlefields and studying about those battles and leaders helped us gather a better understanding about that era.

Time has taken its toll on this foursome. Both my uncle Ray and my cousin Mitchell have passed on, leaving a void in my life as well as Jamey's. Last Saturday, I felt the four of us were together again.

Jamey and I had the privilege of attending the dedication of the Janney Furnace Civil War and Indian Artifact Museum that was held Saturday in Ohatchee. We were among about 300 people that included many Calhoun County officials.

Included in the dedication of the new facility was a portion with books donated from the collection of Ray and Mitchell. Their pictures hang over the collection of almost 200 books dealing with the Civil War.

Nancy Barron, the widow of Ray, lives in Gadsden. Bobbi Barron, the widow of Mitchell, is a native of Oxford and now resides in Knoxville, Tenn. They were also at the dedication and, for a brief moment, it seemed like old times, talking about Ray and Mitchell and their dedication to the study of that era in American history.

I can't say enough for the opportunity the Janney Furnace museum has given my family to remember two of our clan who loved to study a time that changed our history. The museum is a treasure Calhoun County should be proud to have.

Not only are there artifacts from the Civil War, including weapons and memorabilia from that period, but half of the museum is dedicated to the Indian culture which has also affected most Southerners, including my family. In doing research I found that my great-great grandmother was a Cherokee Indian.

At the dedication, Stan Long, who is the principal chief of the Cherokee Tribe of Northeast Alabama, gave a moving speech about his people and how they were linked to the Confederacy. Many Cherokee, Chickasaw, Creek and Choctaw Indians fought in the war, most for the Confederacy.

It was good to see Larry Lee again. Lee is a retired general and commander of the Ten Island Camp Sons of Confederate Veterans. He spoke at the dedication and his knowledge of that era always amazes me.

Of course, Eli Henderson was the master of ceremonies. Henderson has done so much to preserve all aspects of the history of Calhoun County. State representative Lea Fite was on hand as was county commissioners Rudy Abbott and J.D. Hess. Probate Judge Alice Martin gave the invocation. There were also Ohatchee officials present.

I don't think the people in this area realize what a treasure we have in Janney Furnace and it continues to grow. The Confederate Memorial Wall is a must see. The memorial contains almost 5,000 names of Confederate soldiers from Calhoun County, including black Confederate soldiers. It contains the name of almost 1,000 men who died on battlefields across the nation and never returned to Calhoun County.

Now the museum and gift shop is open. When you have a chance, head down Highway 144 in Ohatchee, follow the signs and take a trip back in time.