Missouri Congressman Pushes for National Park Status at Newtonia

[Dignann]

Blunt wants study of Civil War battlefields

Columbia Daily Tribune
January 16, 2007

NEWTONIA (AP) - Rep. Roy Blunt is again seeking congressional approval of a plan to study whether two Civil War battlefields in Newton County should become part of the National Park Service.

The U.S. House approved the plan last month, but the Senate did not consider it in the final days of its last session.

Blunt, R-Mo., has reintroduced the proposal, which calls for a study to evaluate the national significance of the 1862 and 1864 battlefields at Newtonia.

"The educational process has been started," Blunt spokesman Dan Wadlington said. "Now, it’s up to Congress."

The goal is to create either an independent unit of the national park system or a satellite of Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield near Republic.

"That has been an idea of ours for the past 10 years," said Larry James, president of the Newtonia Battlefields Protection Association.

However, he said, "This is the first time it was introduced on a national level."

James said members of the association currently handle the site’s maintenance, mainly through donations.

"If this eventually goes all the way through, we wouldn’t have to concern ourselves with the details of day-to-day operations," he said.

If the battlefields were to become part of the national park system, the association could apply for federal grants for which it currently isn’t eligible, James said.

The Newtonia Battlefields Protection Association owns 26 acres, including the Ritchey Mansion, which served as a hospital during the Civil War.

http://www.columbiatribune.com/2007/Jan/20070116News017.asp

Eric

[Michael Comer]

Re: Missouri Congressman Pushes for National Park Status at Newtonia

Mr. Blunt has a great interest in history and the Civil War so I am not surprised to see him trying to get this land saved through this avenue.

As a Missourian I am glad to see this effort but I have my doubts about the significance of the battles fitting whatever criteria the NPS uses for taking property under their wing.

There have been past attempts to make this land a state park also but we already have several facilities that address the Civil War. We usually don't take new properties unless it fills an interpretive gap in the system and that is not the case with Newtonia.

During the first battle in 1862 both sides had Indian troops involved which would be of some significance from an interpretive point of view. I'm not sure if that would be enough to swing it though since the NPS already interprets those troops at Pea Ridge. Time will tell.

[MissouriStateGuard]

Re: Missouri Congressman Pushes for National Park Status at Newtonia

I will echo Michael's comments about Newtonia: interesting history and a challenge to interpret two different battles two years apart. National significance- not really, much stronger support for regional significance. From what I have seen there isn't a wealth of primary source material, either, further compounding interpretive difficulties. This is the time to preserve the site; while it is still a rural area it is only a matter of time before it sees an increase in residential development.

What I think is troubling if the effect this would have on the operation of Wilson's Creek, which is understaffed for interpretation as it is. The recent addition of the Sweeney museum and collection was a fantastic accomplishment, but without a permanent increase in staff its operation pulls personnel away from park interpretive programs.

Without the long term increase in park budget and staff this Action would be, without a doubt, detrimental to Wilson's Creek. Land can be added to the National Park Service by congressional action, but from my understanding it’s a harder row to hoe to secure long term funding. "Congressman Increases Federal Spending" does not have the same positive constituent impact as "Congressman Saves Local Battlefield for Future Generations." Nevertheless, in the long run, fighting for operation funding is just as important as preservation. Without it the interpretive and landscape restoration programs at Wilson's Creek will suffer.

For its first decade of existence Wilson's Creek was a satellite of George Washington Carver National Monument. During that time it languished as a red-headed stepchild, with no on-site staff, subject to vandalism, and the subject of many inquiries of "Why doesn't the Park Service do anything with this land?"

Congressman Blunt should be congratulated on and supported for his preservation efforts. I do hope, however, that as much attention is given to an increase in operating budget for Wilson's Creek.

V/R,
Kip Lindberg

[Dignann]

Re: Missouri Congressman Pushes for National Park Status at Newtonia

Battlefield study measure passes House

By Todd G. Higdon

The Neosho Daily News
March 6, 2007

NEWTONIA - Members of the Newtonia Battlefields Protection Association received some good news on Monday, as the House passed House Resolution 376 and now is heading toward the Senate.

The resolution, which is sponsored by Seventh District Congressman Roy Blunt, is to require the National Park Service to conduct a study to determine the best method of protecting the 1862 and 1864 Civil War battlefields in Newtonia.

“I am pleased to see the House give this bill quick and bipartisan approval a second time,” noted Blunt. “The area around the Civil War battlefields at Newtonia needs federal protection from future pressures of residential and commercial expansion. I will work with Senators Bond and McCaskill to see this effort fulfilled.”

The original bill, introduced in the latter months of the congressional session in 2006, won House approval, but was never considered in the Senate.

If the resolution is passed in the Senate, the next step would be to have the park service conduct the feasibility study.

Blunt proposes preservation of the Newtonia battlefields as a new park or managed by the National Park Service at Wilson's Creek Battlefield, near Springfield and Republic. A study by the Department of the Interior would determine which plan is best.

“My guess would be that the feasibility study would come back and the park would be with the Wilson's Creek Battlefield,” said Larry James, Newtonia Battlefields Protection Association president. “They would have up to three years for the study to be complete.”

“A lot of the homework has already been done,” said Connie Langum, Wilson's Creek Battlefield historian and Midwest Coordinator for the American Battlefields Protection Program. “Once the study is complete, in my opinion, I would like to see Newtonia become a satellite of Wilson's Creek. It would make the most sense.”

Either way, the park would have to staff a couple of employees. Currently, the Ritchey Mansion has caretakers of the house.

The National Park Service rated the 1864 battle site a Priority I and the neighboring 1862 battle as a Priority II for protection from developers. The 1862 battle was unprecedented in the number of Native American units that fought on both sides.

“The first, at the end of Sept. 1862, involved 8,000 troops and saw regimental American Indian units - Union and Confederate - fighting each other,” Blunt said. “It was the largest of the rare engagements where Native Americans fought on both sides in the Civil War.”

The 1864 battle was the last battle fought in Missouri, a state that had more Civil War battles than any other state besides Virginia and Tennessee. Furthermore, the Ritchey Mansion in Newtonia and the surrounding property served as a headquarters and hospital during the two battles.

“We are very excited about hearing that the resolution passed the House,” James noted. “We are now on a wait and see to see what the Senate will do with it. We are quite hopeful that the study will be done early.”

The local association, which has been in existence for the past dozen years, has spearheaded preservation efforts at Newtonia. In 2002, the association acquired 11 acres of the battlefield along with the Ritchey Mansion, which is on the National Register of Historical Places, for nearly $300,000. In 2003, Blunt delivered a $146,050 ceremonial check from the American Battlefield Protection Program to reimburse the Newtonia Battlefields Protection Association for nearly half of the purchase price of the property. The rest of the financing came from private loans.

The association manages 26 acres, which include the Civil War Cemetery, which was recently deeded to the group from the Newton County Commission.

http://www.neoshodailynews.com/articles/2007/03/06/news/01newtonia.txt

Eric

[Campjacksonboy]

Re: Missouri Congressman Pushes for National Park Status at Newtonia

I am certainly glad that Newtonia could be another battlefield that we don't have to worry about. However after reading Kip's comment's I can't help but think of the Schaeffer house outside Port Gibson. If the park service get's it we can only hope they take better care of Newtownia than they did there.

There are Missouri battlefields arguably of greater significance that could also use the attention Newtonia is getting but pleas for help often fall on deaf ears.
On second thought maybe we should just be glad that a Missouri battlefield is getting attention.
Frank Aufmuth

[Dignann]

Re: Missouri Congressman Pushes for National Park Status at Newtonia

Measure passes Senate

By Todd G. Higdon

The Neosho Daily News [Neosho, Mo.]
April 15, 2008

One step closer.

That is the news that Newtonia Battlefields Protection Association (NBPA) received Monday, as the U.S. Senate approved legislation Southwest Missouri Congressman Roy Blunt first drafted in 2006 to study the best means for protecting and preserving the Civil War battlefields at Newtonia.

“Having been approved by the House on two separate occasions, I was pleased to see this important legislation clear the Senate,” Blunt said in a prepared statement.

“Because a few small changes were made there, the House will have to vote on the final package one more time before the president can sign the bill into law. But barring the unforeseen, I expect this legislation to be formally approved and passed into law in short order.”

NBPA president Larry James expressed his excitement upon hearing the news.

“This is very, very exciting,” said James. “This is what we have been working for several years now. I am just extremely pleased with it.”

During the Civil War, Newtonia — located about 15 miles east of Neosho on Missouri Highway 86 — saw two battles. The first battle at was in 1862 and saw an unprecedented number of Native American units fight on both sides. The second battle in 1864 battle was the last one fought in Missouri, a state that had more Civil War clashes than any other beside Virginia and Tennessee. Approximately 350 soldiers were either killed or wounded in 1862, and 650 casualties were reported in the 1864 battle.

“It’s long been my view that the area around the Civil War battlefields at Newtonia is a state and national treasure — worthy of our continued support and active protection,” Blunt said. “The first step in securing that protection will be realized once the president signs this important bill into law, and I want to thank Sen. Bond and others for shepherding it through that chamber.”

The original bill, introduced in late 2006, won the support of the House, but was never considered in the Senate.

Blunt’s legislation would authorize a study by the National Park Service (NPS) to determine the feasibility of either creating a new Civil War battlefield at Newtonia, or bringing those battlefield lands under the management of the Wilson's Creek National Battlefield near Springfield. The NPS has previously rated the 1864 battle site a “Priority I” location, and the neighboring 1862 battle area a “Priority II” for protection from development.

With the Senate having approved the Newtonia legislation 91-4 last Thursday, the bill will now be sent back to the House for final preparations, before being delivered to the president. Blunt will then go to Congress’ appropriations committee to find funding for the measure.

“It has to go back through the House again, but I don’t think that there will be any problem at all getting it passed there,” James said.

For more than a decade, the Newtonia Battlefield Protection Association has led efforts to preserve the venue. The NBPA purchased 11 acres and the two-story Ritchey Mansion, which served as both a headquarters and a working hospital during both battles. An additional eight acres donated by the Weems family and five acres of the Old Civil War Cemetery deeded to the NBPA, for a total of 24 acres.

http://www.neoshodailynews.com/homepage/x900163945

Eric

[Dignann]

Re: Missouri Congressman Pushes for National Park Status at Newtonia

Preservation fight marches on

By Greg Grisolano

The Joplin Globe [Joplin, Mo.]
April 15, 2008

NEWTONIA, Mo. — Newtonia’s Civil War battlefields are one step closer to national recognition and protection, but local supporters said they still see work ahead.

“It’s a long journey,” said Kay Hively, a founding member of the Newtonia Battlefields Protection Association. “This basically signals that everybody agrees the study should be done.”

A bill sponsored by U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., that aims to determine the best way to preserve the sites, was approved last week by the U.S. Senate. It awaits final approval from the House as early as next week.

The bill authorizes the National Park Service to conduct a study to determine if the sites could be made a separate unit of the National Park Service or brought under the management of Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield near Springfield.

“The big issue that people forget is all this bill does is give NPS permission to make the study,” Hively said. “Now we have to go and get funding to hire the researchers.”

The Civil War Sites Advisory Commission ranked protecting the 1864 battle site as Priority I, and the neighboring 1862 battlefield as Priority II.

The first battle at Newtonia in 1862 saw American Indian units fight on both sides. The 1864 battle was one of the last ones fought in Missouri. About 350 soldiers were killed or wounded in 1862, and 650 casualties were reported in the 1864 battle.

For more than a decade, the Newtonia Battlefields Protection Association led efforts to preserve the area, including purchasing 11 acres and the two-story Ritchey Mansion, which served as a headquarters and a field hospital during both engagements.

Hively said Senate passage of the bill should provide a boost for Saturday, when members of the Civil War Preservation Trust are scheduled to tour the Newtonia battlefields.

“I definitely think it will help create that awareness that we have pristine battlefields (west of the Mississippi River),” said Connie Langum, a member of the Newtonia group and the historian at Wilson’s Creek.

The Civil War Preservation Trust is the nation’s leading private preservation group.

Langum said the trust will be holding its first-ever convention west of the Mississippi River when it meets in Springfield starting Thursday. The group has planned tours of nearby Civil War battlefields.

Tours are open to trust members only, but Langum said some activities, including history lectures and a book show, will be open to the public this weekend at University Plaza Hotel in Springfield.

Langum said she didn’t know how much a study at the Newtonia sites would cost, but she said she believes it will not be as expensive as similar studies at other sites.

“We’ve done two archaeological studies and a preservation plan already,” she said. “We’ve really got our ducks in a row.”

For her part, Hively said she hopes the Newtonia sites will follow the path that Wilson’s Creek took. That park initially was under the auspices of George Washington Carver National Monument before it became its own entity.

“That’s my dream, that we prosper and grow enough to be recognized on our own,” she said. “But that’s down the road someplace.”

Blunt honored

U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., will offer some remarks at an awards ceremony at 7 p.m. Friday at the University Plaza Hotel in Springfield during the Civil War Preservation Trust’s national convention. Blunt is scheduled to receive two awards: the National Park Service’s Top Hat Award and the Civil War Preservation Trust’s National Leadership Award.

http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/local_story_106163942.html?start:int=0

Eric