Historic Sandusky won three regional Emmy® awards on June 16 for its documentary film, Hunter’s Raid: The Battle for Lynchburg, which included roles for several LC faculty, staff, and students. The film won for Best Documentary, Best Director, and Best Editing.
University of Lynchburg announced a partnership with the nearby Civil War site in December 2011.
The film was nominated in four categories. Writer/director Greg Starbuck was nominated for “Documentary – Historical” and “Director – Post Production.” Andrew Prasse was nominated for “Audio” and “Editor – Program (Non-News.)” View the trailer.
The winners were announced by the National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences at the 54th Emmy® Awards event in Washington, D.C.
Written and directed by Historic Sandusky Executive Director Greg Starbuck, the 55-minute documentary describes the tense days in June 1864 when Gen. David Hunter and his army of 18,000 Union soldiers are ordered to capture Lynchburg. The Sandusky house was commandeered by Hunter as union army headquarters, but Hunter was driven out of Lynchburg by Confederate Gen. Jubal Early, saving the Hill City from major destruction.
“The awards are an honor and a testament to the community support Historic Sandusky received in making this film,” Starbuck said. “We could not have made such a quality film without the intensive involvement by hundreds of local citizens. It was also memorable that we premiered the film at University of Lynchburg and that numerous LC faculty, staff, and students appeared in the production.”
The development of the non-profit partnership between Sandusky and LC will honor the mission of the Historic Sandusky Foundation, which is to preserve and interpret the Sandusky site as a public museum and to collect, preserve and disseminate information about the history of Sandusky, its inhabitants, and the role of Lynchburg in the Civil War.
Starbuck continues his role as executive director of Historic Sandusky while Barbara Rothermel, director of LC’s Daura Gallery, and Dr. Clifton Potter, professor of history, serve on the Foundation Board of Historic Sandusky.
Sandusky is a registered Virginia Historic Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The house is one of the finest examples of Federal style architecture in Virginia’s Piedmont region and is on the Civil War Trails tour.
