STRUTHERS — The memory of Alexander Frankfort, the city’s last Civil War veteran, was brought to life Saturday at Alexander Frankfort Day at the house he built in 1884 that now houses the Struthers Historical Society.

The festivities, celebrating Alexander Frankfort (originally Frankforther), took place at the Frankfort House at 50 Terrace St., which he built for his wife, Louisa and his daughter, Alma. Alma Frankfort would later reside at the house for 93 years until her death at the age of 100. Her heirs then donated the house to the Struthers Historical Society, which restored the home in 1989.

Alexander Frankfort enlisted and served in the Civil War from Hocking County in 1862.

According to Linda Skrinyer, president of the Struthers Historical Society, he was the only person from Struthers to enlist from there, as he was working in Logan at the time. Skrinyer also mentioned that his brothers also enlisted and went to different regiments. They all came back alive, she said.

Frankfort fought in 27 engagements from Aug. 12, 1862, until June 21, 1865. These battles would take him all over the North, marching 800 miles over the course of the war. He did not have a horse, although Skrinyer believes he occasionally took the train.

According to Skrinyer, despite that these were full battles, Frankfort called them “skirmishes” in his journal.

Everyone at the event had different reasons for being there.

Stefon Jones, a local historian and retired Civil War re-enactor, was there to talk about Holt Collier, a former slave and central figure of the Reconstruction South. Collier was a noted bear hunter and even served as a tracker for President Theodore Roosevelt during his famous Mississippi bear hunt of 1902 that eventually resulted in the former president’s moniker of Teddy. Holt Collier National Wildlife Refuge in Mississippi is named in his honor. He died in 1936 and is interred in Greenville, Miss.

Jones said he has been giving these talks for the last two to three years, but faulted COVID-19 as part of why he hasn’t done more.

“COVID really knocked everything out,” Jones said.

For John Paguta of Struthers, he has driven past the Frankfort House a multitude of times and figured it would be a good idea to stop in at some point.

“I drive past this place every day; I figured I’d drop in before I drop,” he said.

Joe Markota of Poland is a former resident of Struthers, and he was there because he hasn’t been at the house since he was a paper boy, so the house has some sentimental value for him.

For visitors of the event, full access was given to the 130-year-old house, with tours given by Skrinyer.

The day also included a Civil War history with infantry demonstrations, American Indian displays, a rope walk, and hands-on demonstrations. Speakers were Traci Manning, curator of education for the Mahoning Valley Historical Society, members of Boy Scout Troop 101 of Struthers and Sons of the Union Veterans and Sons of the Confederate Veterans.