Ringgold Gap Battlefield

[LWhite64]

In a way it amazes me how preservation efforts are so different in two neighboring states. Over the past few weeks I have watched with amazement how folks in the little Tennessee town of Franklin argue the heritage merits of a Country Club, yet once again a small town in Georgia does the right thing. The following is from the May 20th edition of the CHATTANOOGA TIMES FREE PRESS and written by Ronnie Moore:

"STATE FUNDS USED TO BUY PART OF BATTLEFIELD", "RINGGOLD, GA.-

Several more acres of the Ringgold Gap Battlefield will be preserved since Catoosa County commisioners agreed to purchase tracts with state Greenspace funds. "The money for this came from the state in 2002, and we must use it by the end of June or send it back," Commission Chairman Winford Long said, "It seems foolish to do that when we can save part of an historic site."

County Economic Development Authority Executive Director Olney Meadows said the area being purchased with state Greenspace funds is considered par of the Ringgold Gap Battlefield.

"This site is part of 300 to 500 acres overall that constitutes the Ringgold Gap Battlefield," he said. "The Ringgold Gap Battlefield has been listed in at least one study as a priority one battlefield."

County Attorney Clifton "Skip" Patty said the commissions vote Tuesday night was to purchase three tracts of land with approximately four to five acres in each parcel for a total price of about $80,000.

"There are two more tracts of about the same size that will be purchased as soon as the details can be worked out," he said. "The land purchased with Tuesday's vote is at the base of White Oak Mountain."

Mr. Long said the Greenspace land purchase is on the opposite side of U.S. Highway 41 from the current markers and picnic area commemorating the Battle of Ringgold Gap.

Catoosa Chief Financial Officer Carl Henson Jr. said the total of Greenspace funds prior to Tuesday's purchase was $129,000.

In early April, the County Commission authorized Commissioner James Emberson and Mr. Meadows to negotiate to purchase the land."

The counties that make up this corner of North Georgia seem to have their act together a couple of years ago neighboring Whitfield county, purchased a large portion of the Rocky Face Ridge Battlefield and are planning to purchase more when funds are available. The town of Chickamauga is working on several small projects as well. Sad that the folks in Franklin did not have the vision that all of these folks do.

Lee

[dusty27]

Re: Ringgold Gap Battlefield

Great news, Lee. Thanks for sharing the story.

[Daryl Black]

Re: Ringgold Gap Battlefield

Lee,

This is very good news. I assume this is an outgrowth of some of the work Keith did several years ago? I'll be in Chattanooga next weekend and will try to stop by. Are you going to be around?

Daryl

Daryl, please sign all posts with your full name - Mike Chapman

[marlin teat]

Re: Ringgold Gap Battlefield

In a way it amazes me how preservation efforts are so different in two neighboring states. Over the past few weeks I have watched with amazement how folks in the little Tennessee town of Franklin argue the heritage merits of a Country Club, yet once again a small town in Georgia does the right thing. The following is from the May 20th edition of the CHATTANOOGA TIMES FREE PRESS and written by Ronnie Moore:

"STATE FUNDS USED TO BUY PART OF BATTLEFIELD", "RINGGOLD, GA.-

Several more acres of the Ringgold Gap Battlefield will be preserved since Catoosa County commisioners agreed to purchase tracts with state Greenspace funds. "The money for this came from the state in 2002, and we must use it by the end of June or send it back," Commission Chairman Winford Long said, "It seems foolish to do that when we can save part of an historic site."

County Economic Development Authority Executive Director Olney Meadows said the area being purchased with state Greenspace funds is considered par of the Ringgold Gap Battlefield.

"This site is part of 300 to 500 acres overall that constitutes the Ringgold Gap Battlefield," he said. "The Ringgold Gap Battlefield has been listed in at least one study as a priority one battlefield."

County Attorney Clifton "Skip" Patty said the commissions vote Tuesday night was to purchase three tracts of land with approximately four to five acres in each parcel for a total price of about $80,000.

"There are two more tracts of about the same size that will be purchased as soon as the details can be worked out," he said. "The land purchased with Tuesday's vote is at the base of White Oak Mountain."

Mr. Long said the Greenspace land purchase is on the opposite side of U.S. Highway 41 from the current markers and picnic area commemorating the Battle of Ringgold Gap.

Catoosa Chief Financial Officer Carl Henson Jr. said the total of Greenspace funds prior to Tuesday's purchase was $129,000.

In early April, the County Commission authorized Commissioner James Emberson and Mr. Meadows to negotiate to purchase the land."

The counties that make up this corner of North Georgia seem to have their act together a couple of years ago neighboring Whitfield county, purchased a large portion of the Rocky Face Ridge Battlefield and are planning to purchase more when funds are available. The town of Chickamauga is working on several small projects as well. Sad that the folks in Franklin did not have the vision that all of these folks do.

Lee

The whole of NW Ga. is hopefully getting on the bandwagon. This is a recent editorial from the Rome News-Tribune (with permission of the editor):

Lock, load and fire


IT IS GOOD to see the City of Rome get started on developing its remarkable historical and physical resources on Jackson Hill into a major public park. While the initial outlays are small — $50,000 — and will first concentrate on removing overgrowth and developing the roads/trails necessary for public access, the overall plan is sound. The big things, such as preserving and fixing up the old waterworks at a projected cost of more than $1.7 million, will be left for last or for public support through approval of it as one of the projects on the next special-purpose, local-option sales tax (SPLOST). By the way, when is the county citizens’ committee going to be formed and begin discussions on what to include? The easier things will come first and that is fortuitous, as the easier things happen to also be the most important. Those are allowing viewing of remnants of the Civil War fortifications, which are unique mainly because of their continued existence in a time where developers have paved over so much of the history of that time. CITY OFFICIALS say they hope that the completion of each phase will increase community interest and support in doing the rest of what, in cumulation, is a major project. The creation of a series of trails on the lower part of Jackson Hill, where the most visible remains of Fort Norton are located, along with interpretative markers should certainly be No. 1 on the to-do list as well as the most likely to grip the imagination. The city should also remember that Washington recently voted increased funds for the preservation of Civil War sites and battlefields. Let’s hope a grant application is already in the mail. This first step would also have major tourism implications, as this newspaper has repeatedly pointed out, and particularly so if there were replica cannon placed on the site with a daily demonstration firing. Atop Lookout Mountain the big deal, besides the stunning view, is during the summer when a park ranger dressed in butternut shows how a Civil War rifle was loaded and fired. At the bang, all the tourists go “Oooh!” and “Ahhh!” Imagine the “Wow!” of hearing a cannon — or a whole battery of them — go off. GIVEN THE NUMBER of Civil War buffs in this nation, and indeed around the world, the pulling power of such a daily event could well be considerable. And the support for such an influx of tourism is already in place since Jackson Hill/Fort Norton happen to rise above a string of hotels and restaurants. The city is correct in wanting to do this project at a measured pace. However, that does not preclude starting it off with a bang.