Tweet
Washington Township supervisors are prepared to make the site of Pennsylvania's second-largest battle of the Civil War open to the public.
The Battle of Monterey Pass was little more than an interesting footnote in Civil War history books until about five years ago when Pennsylvania and Maryland began promoting their smaller skirmishes of the war.
The Battle at Monterey Pass followed the Battle of Gettysburg. Union troops intercepted Confederates retreating from Gettysburg at night in a thunderstorm at present day Blue Ridge Summit. About 1,500 troops were injured or killed. The Union took 1,360 prisoners.
All of the land at Monterey Pass is in private hands.
Township supervisors have a sales agreement to buy about an acre of ground where an interpretive area would be created. The township would match a $50,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
"It was hallowed ground," Township Manager Michael Christopher said. "If we can get the property, we tear down the stuff and have it in grass so they can do small re-enactments."
It could have a shelter where people would pick up brochures and view outdoor maps. Volunteer interpreters dressed in period costume could explain things on weekends.
"When people come up here they are having a hard time understanding how this battle was fought in four counties and two states," said John A. Miller, a Civil War author and interpreter from Waynesboro.
"In the last 10 years, Civil War trails have become very popular," Miller said. "People are after the whole picture. They actually want to get out and explore these areas."
Tourism is Pennsylvania's and Franklin County's second largest industry, behind agriculture.
"A lot of people who study the Civil War are older people," Miller said. "The average couple ready to retire makes $60,000 to $70,000 a year. When they come to a Civil War site, they learn and want to explore the county. They buy gas and souvenirs and stay the night. This would help boost tourism, to bring the Civil War (heritage) to Waynesboro where on parts of Main Street every other building is unoccupied."
Since PCN videotaped a walking tour of the battlefield in 2006, battlefield tours have become part of the local Mountain Top Heritage Days. Historical signs have gone up on both sides of the Mason-Dixon line.
The Monterey Pass Battlefield Association is meeting in May with Ed Bearss, the Civil War expert retired from the National Park Service. The association is seeking his advice on preservation and how to finance it, Miller said.
The fledgling preservation group of 20 volunteers have taken more then 10,000 people on tours of the battlefield since 2006, Miller said. Twice a year the Franklin County Historical Society also sells out a charter bus tour of the battle.
The battle has a reputation as the "forgotten battle."
One Blue Ridge Summit family didn't know anything about the battle in their backyard until their 6-year-old daughter saved up her money for a metal detector and went looking for buried treasure. She found round things instead.
After a little family research at Gettysburg, they were identified as pistol balls and canister shot. The Battle of Monterey Pass was less than a mile away.
Miller said he sees tourists light up when they learn about the Monterey Pass while visiting the neighboring South Mountain State Battlefield in Maryland, where he is a history interpreter.
"Our tourism numbers this month are competing with what we normally see in June," he said.
Tourists of the Civil War follow a favorite time period or favorite campaign in the war.
"We want them to explore the Cumberland Valley and the rich Civil War history," he said. "With all of these sites linked, they can stay in this area for a week and still not see it all."
Outdoors tourism can accompany historical tourism. Bird watchers walk trails in battlefields. Washington Township Happel's Meadow Wetland Preserve is next door to Monterey Pass.
Miller sees using the Monterey Pass story as a way for history interpreters to introduce the Civil War to local schools.
"That's where you really start to make headway educating people," he said.
----------
Jim Hook can be reached at 262-4759 and jhook@publicopinionnews.com.
Trust fund to help preserve history
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP -- The Monterey Pass Battlefield Association and Washington Township have developed a trust fund for the Monterey Pass Battlefield, the only Civil War battle to have taken place on both sides of the Mason-Dixon Line and in four counties.
Tax-deductible contributions are being accepted for this preservation effort.
All proceeds will go directly toward the purchase and interpretation of the Monterey Pass battle site.
To learn more about the battle, visit the association's website at http://www.emmitsburg.net/montereypass.
For details on how to donate to the cause, visit Washington Township's website at http://www.washtwp-
The Battle of Monterey Pass was little more than an interesting footnote in Civil War history books until about five years ago when Pennsylvania and Maryland began promoting their smaller skirmishes of the war.
The Battle at Monterey Pass followed the Battle of Gettysburg. Union troops intercepted Confederates retreating from Gettysburg at night in a thunderstorm at present day Blue Ridge Summit. About 1,500 troops were injured or killed. The Union took 1,360 prisoners.
All of the land at Monterey Pass is in private hands.
Township supervisors have a sales agreement to buy about an acre of ground where an interpretive area would be created. The township would match a $50,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
"It was hallowed ground," Township Manager Michael Christopher said. "If we can get the property, we tear down the stuff and have it in grass so they can do small re-enactments."
It could have a shelter where people would pick up brochures and view outdoor maps. Volunteer interpreters dressed in period costume could explain things on weekends.
"When people come up here they are having a hard time understanding how this battle was fought in four counties and two states," said John A. Miller, a Civil War author and interpreter from Waynesboro.
"In the last 10 years, Civil War trails have become very popular," Miller said. "People are after the whole picture. They actually want to get out and explore these areas."
Tourism is Pennsylvania's and Franklin County's second largest industry, behind agriculture.
"A lot of people who study the Civil War are older people," Miller said. "The average couple ready to retire makes $60,000 to $70,000 a year. When they come to a Civil War site, they learn and want to explore the county. They buy gas and souvenirs and stay the night. This would help boost tourism, to bring the Civil War (heritage) to Waynesboro where on parts of Main Street every other building is unoccupied."
Since PCN videotaped a walking tour of the battlefield in 2006, battlefield tours have become part of the local Mountain Top Heritage Days. Historical signs have gone up on both sides of the Mason-Dixon line.
The Monterey Pass Battlefield Association is meeting in May with Ed Bearss, the Civil War expert retired from the National Park Service. The association is seeking his advice on preservation and how to finance it, Miller said.
The fledgling preservation group of 20 volunteers have taken more then 10,000 people on tours of the battlefield since 2006, Miller said. Twice a year the Franklin County Historical Society also sells out a charter bus tour of the battle.
The battle has a reputation as the "forgotten battle."
One Blue Ridge Summit family didn't know anything about the battle in their backyard until their 6-year-old daughter saved up her money for a metal detector and went looking for buried treasure. She found round things instead.
After a little family research at Gettysburg, they were identified as pistol balls and canister shot. The Battle of Monterey Pass was less than a mile away.
Miller said he sees tourists light up when they learn about the Monterey Pass while visiting the neighboring South Mountain State Battlefield in Maryland, where he is a history interpreter.
"Our tourism numbers this month are competing with what we normally see in June," he said.
Tourists of the Civil War follow a favorite time period or favorite campaign in the war.
"We want them to explore the Cumberland Valley and the rich Civil War history," he said. "With all of these sites linked, they can stay in this area for a week and still not see it all."
Outdoors tourism can accompany historical tourism. Bird watchers walk trails in battlefields. Washington Township Happel's Meadow Wetland Preserve is next door to Monterey Pass.
Miller sees using the Monterey Pass story as a way for history interpreters to introduce the Civil War to local schools.
"That's where you really start to make headway educating people," he said.
----------
Jim Hook can be reached at 262-4759 and jhook@publicopinionnews.com.
Trust fund to help preserve history
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP -- The Monterey Pass Battlefield Association and Washington Township have developed a trust fund for the Monterey Pass Battlefield, the only Civil War battle to have taken place on both sides of the Mason-Dixon Line and in four counties.
Tax-deductible contributions are being accepted for this preservation effort.
All proceeds will go directly toward the purchase and interpretation of the Monterey Pass battle site.
To learn more about the battle, visit the association's website at http://www.emmitsburg.net/montereypass.
For details on how to donate to the cause, visit Washington Township's website at http://www.washtwp-