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The Hopewell News.com
Historic sites damaged by ATVs, dirt bikes
By Becky Robinette Wright
News Correspondent
The Ware Bottom Church Civil War site has been under attack. The site, in the Bermuda Hundred area, has been experiencing damage from dirt bike-type vehicles and ATVs, and those who have been inflicting the damage continue even after "no trespassing signs" have been posted. Within days after the signs were posted, the chairman of the Civil War Sites for Chesterfield County, reported the signs were torn down, and dirt bikes had been driven across the former Confederate camp.
The land is important to the history of the area, and George Fickett has been working for years to protect it. However, the grounds which are well-preserved with its batteries and earthworks, fun seekers are destroying the park's 10 acres. Chesterfield County and the Chesterfield Historical Society have taken some steps to prevent further damage.
On May 20, 1864, Confederate troops attacked the Army of the James (Union) and pushed them back into their main lines. This site is where the Confederate troops dug in and built what is known as the Howlett Line. There were about 10,000 troops who were involved in this action, and about 1,500 casualties resulting from the attack.
The Chesterfield Historical Society stepped in to assist in the site's preservation. Markers, explaining the sites historical value, are now in place. "The sign was designed in my department and ordered from a private company," said Fickett, an employee of Chesterfield Geographic Information Services (G.I.S.) and Chairman of Civil War Sites for Chesterfield Historical Society. "The cost of the sign is around $300. The money for the sign comes from donations made to the Civil War Site Committee of the Chesterfield Historical Society. The sign is to let the public know how the County obtained the land.
Through donations by owners Courtney Wells and G. E. Miles, and a matching Federal Grant of $175,000, the site was purchased without a single dollar from the county. It will all be under the management of the County Parks and the Civil War Site Committee.
"On the site, we have had dirt bikes and 4-wheelers, and they are causing erosion problems and tearing down the earthworks," Fickett said. "We installed 'no trespassing' signs and 'no motorized vehicles' signs on the site to tell them to keep off the historical site."
Now that signs have been posted, unauthorized visitors can be arrested for trespassing and destruction of historical property. The County of Chesterfield now owns the property. It is a historical resource that has been obtained to be preserved.
Fickett says no one has been arrested on the site yet, but problems arose nearby. "At Parkers Battery, Richmond National Battlefield Park (RNBP) in the Bermuda Hundred area, just to the north of this site, there have been arrests for vandalism and destruction of property," the history specialist said, "and they were under Federal Laws. We will arrest anyone who rides off-road vehicles on the site after this weekend. It will be the first time the site has been posted."
After a "no trespassing" or "no unauthorized vehicle" sign has been posted, trespassers can be arrested; this does not mean normal park visitors or local residents who wish to come and walk the designated trails.
"Trespassing is a Class I Misdemeanor," said Desk Officer Madsen of Chesterfield County Police Department. "The law 18.2-134 states penalties, if convicted, can be up to $250,000 or a year in jail or both."
© 2000 AnyTime News All Rights Reserved.
Historic sites damaged by ATVs, dirt bikes
By Becky Robinette Wright
News Correspondent
The Ware Bottom Church Civil War site has been under attack. The site, in the Bermuda Hundred area, has been experiencing damage from dirt bike-type vehicles and ATVs, and those who have been inflicting the damage continue even after "no trespassing signs" have been posted. Within days after the signs were posted, the chairman of the Civil War Sites for Chesterfield County, reported the signs were torn down, and dirt bikes had been driven across the former Confederate camp.
The land is important to the history of the area, and George Fickett has been working for years to protect it. However, the grounds which are well-preserved with its batteries and earthworks, fun seekers are destroying the park's 10 acres. Chesterfield County and the Chesterfield Historical Society have taken some steps to prevent further damage.
On May 20, 1864, Confederate troops attacked the Army of the James (Union) and pushed them back into their main lines. This site is where the Confederate troops dug in and built what is known as the Howlett Line. There were about 10,000 troops who were involved in this action, and about 1,500 casualties resulting from the attack.
The Chesterfield Historical Society stepped in to assist in the site's preservation. Markers, explaining the sites historical value, are now in place. "The sign was designed in my department and ordered from a private company," said Fickett, an employee of Chesterfield Geographic Information Services (G.I.S.) and Chairman of Civil War Sites for Chesterfield Historical Society. "The cost of the sign is around $300. The money for the sign comes from donations made to the Civil War Site Committee of the Chesterfield Historical Society. The sign is to let the public know how the County obtained the land.
Through donations by owners Courtney Wells and G. E. Miles, and a matching Federal Grant of $175,000, the site was purchased without a single dollar from the county. It will all be under the management of the County Parks and the Civil War Site Committee.
"On the site, we have had dirt bikes and 4-wheelers, and they are causing erosion problems and tearing down the earthworks," Fickett said. "We installed 'no trespassing' signs and 'no motorized vehicles' signs on the site to tell them to keep off the historical site."
Now that signs have been posted, unauthorized visitors can be arrested for trespassing and destruction of historical property. The County of Chesterfield now owns the property. It is a historical resource that has been obtained to be preserved.
Fickett says no one has been arrested on the site yet, but problems arose nearby. "At Parkers Battery, Richmond National Battlefield Park (RNBP) in the Bermuda Hundred area, just to the north of this site, there have been arrests for vandalism and destruction of property," the history specialist said, "and they were under Federal Laws. We will arrest anyone who rides off-road vehicles on the site after this weekend. It will be the first time the site has been posted."
After a "no trespassing" or "no unauthorized vehicle" sign has been posted, trespassers can be arrested; this does not mean normal park visitors or local residents who wish to come and walk the designated trails.
"Trespassing is a Class I Misdemeanor," said Desk Officer Madsen of Chesterfield County Police Department. "The law 18.2-134 states penalties, if convicted, can be up to $250,000 or a year in jail or both."
© 2000 AnyTime News All Rights Reserved.
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