The COURIER Vol. xlvii, no. 2 Tennessee Historical Commission, Nashville, Tennessee June 2009 THC Welcomes New Chairman n February, Sam Elliott of Signal elect in June, 2009 and President in June, 2010. He and his wife Karen IMountain became the new chairman of have two daughters, Mary Claire and Sarah Anne. the Tennessee Historical Commission. Mr. Mr. Elliott is the author or editor of two books on Tennesseeans in the Elliott succeeds Norm Hill of Civil War, Soldier of Tennessee: General Alexander P. Stewart and the Murfreesboro, who completed three terms Civil War in the West (1999) and Doctor Quintard: Chaplain C. S. A. and as chair. Appointed to the Commission in Second Bishop of Tennessee (2003). Mr. Elliott’s third book, Isham G. 2005, Mr. Elliott is a member of the Harris of Tennessee: Confederate Governor and United States Senator, Chattanooga law firm of Gearhiser, Peters, will be published later this year. Chairman Elliott looks forward to Lockaby, Cavett & Elliott. Elliott is a continuing to develop the programs of the Commission in the next two former President of the Friends of the years. Regarding his election, Mr. Elliott stated: “I am grateful to my Chickamauga and Chattanooga National fellow members of the Tennessee Historical Commission for the great Military Park, and is a member of the board of the Tennessee Civil War honor of succeeding our colleague Norm Hill as chairman. Together, we Preservation Association. Mr. Elliott is also Vice President of the will continue to work with our dedicated staff to preserve, protect, and Tennessee Bar Association and will succeed to the offices of President- interpret the history of our great state for our present and future citizens.” FEDERAL PRESERVATION and thematic surveys based upon existing historic study units produced by the SHPO. This program receives Federal funds GRANTS In addition to historic surveys, assistance is from the National Park Service. available for other types of historic preservation Regulations of the U.S. Department of The Tennessee Historical Commission is projects. These may include preservation the Interior strictly prohibit unlawful accepting grant applications for historic planning studies for towns, neighborhoods, and discrimination in departmental federally preservation projects for the 2009-2010 fiscal historic districts, the preparation of nominations assisted programs on the basis of race, year. These grants, which are federally funded, to the National Register of Historic Places, color, national origin, age or disability. will be available after October 1, 2009. The planning or pre-development work necessary to Any person who believes he or she has precise amount of funds which will be available been discriminated against in any in Tennessee for such grants will not be known undertake restoration of an historic property, and restoration of historic properties (for program, activity or facility operated by until Congress has passed the FY 2009-2010 a recipient of Federal assistance should budget; however, it is expected to be in the restoration or restoration pre-planning, properties must be listed on the National write to: Director, Equal Opportunity range of $400,000. After review, applications Program, U.S. Department of the will be rated and ranked. Decisions on those to Register of Historic Places). Unless appropriations are significantly increased, funds Interior, National Park Service, P.O. Box be funded will be made when the exact amount 37127, Washington, D.C. 20013-7127 of the allocation is known. This may be as late for restoration projects will be limited; however, as next spring depending on when the Congress THC always encourages quality applications of completes work on the FY-2010 Budget. this type. Applications for projects to prepare As in the past, the selection process will nominations to the National Register of Historic emphasize projects for the conducting of Places are a priority and are also encouraged. The Tennessee Historical Commission architectural, archaeological, and historic site The grants are matching grants and will pay will meet on June 12, 2009, 9:00 a.m. at surveys. Such projects are designed to identify for up to 60% of the costs of approved project and record historic districts, sites, buildings, work. The remaining 40% must be provided by Historic Cragfont, Sumner County. The structures, and objects significant to Tennessee's the grantee as matching funds. meeting is open to the public. history and built before 1960. Surveys may be Applications for grants are available from for a specific geographic area or for sites the Tennessee Historical Commission, 2941 You can find this issue of The associated with themes or events significant in Lebanon Road, Nashville, Tennessee 37243- COURIER and back issues dating from the state’s history, such as the development of 0442. For further information or for an October, 2003, at the Tennessee Historical railroads in the nineteenth century, or the application, contact the Tennessee Historical Commission’s web page at development of motor tourism in the twentieth Commission at (615) 532-1550. Applications www.state.tn.us/environment/hist. Click on century. Priorities for funding survey projects may also be downloaded from the Tennessee the State Programs Menu to find the will include areas which are experiencing rapid Historical Commission Website, newsletter. For information on the Civil War growth and development or other threats to www.tdec.net/hist/federal/presgrnt.shtml. in the Volunteer State visit cultural resources, areas where there are serious Completed applications must be submitted by www.tennessee.civilwarsourcebook.com. gaps in knowledge regarding cultural resources, SEPTEMBER 1, 2009. THE COURIER, Vol. XLVII, No. 2 June 2009 TENNESSEE WARS COMMISSION ACTIVITIES’ REPORT Fred M. Prouty, Director of Programs SUMMARY OF SELECTED PROJECTS historic sites in the Castilian Springs, Tennessee complete the purchase of 643 acres of endangered UNDERTAKEN BY THE TENNESSEE WARS area. Wynnewood State Historic Site, Castilian Battlefield property at Davis Bridge in Hardeman COMMISSION IN 2008. Springs Mound Site, Bledsoe’s Fort, and and McNairy County. The THCTF grant was The Tennessee Wars Commission has Hawthorne Hill are discussed at length in the matched by project partners the American completed another successful year of service. The report and included an “action plan.” The plan Battlefield Protection Program ($864,500), and following report highlights several milestone forms the basis for historic tourism development the Civil War Preservation Trust ($200,000), for a events of our 14th year. in the area and has the potential to develop an total of $1,929,000. With the addition of this The Tennessee Wars Commission was interpretive “park” atmosphere, explaining the property, approximately 98 percent of the original awarded Federal Enhancement Funding from area’s historic resources ranging from 10,000 Governor Phil Bredesen totaling $3,019,840. The years ago to early frontier settlements. battlefield acreage is preserved and contains over funds will facilitate preservation and interpretation Wars Commission Director Prouty and 860 acres of “hallowed ground.” On February 7, projects at Fort Donelson Battlefield in Dover, Executive Director Dan Brown of the Tennessee 2008, the Tennessee State Lands Acquisition Tennessee, Shiloh National Military Park in Preservation Trust (TPT) met with officials of Committee approved a $61,000.00 Wars Hardin County, Davis Bridge Battlefield in H.C.A. Hospitals to discuss the possibilities of Commission funding request for administrative McNairy and Hardemen Counties, and Parker’s preserving Spring Hill Battlefield viewsheds and costs connected with the Davis Bridge Battlefield Crossroads Battlefield in Henderson County. green space near the proposed HCA Spring Hill property acquisition of 643 acres. This brings the A new Wars Commission publication hospital site, located to the east of battlefield total 2007-2008 Tennessee Wars Commission entitled, Ready to Die for Liberty, is ready for property. HCA, Wars Commission, and TPT requested grant funding to $1,990,000. publication. It tells the story of Tennessee African officials discussed the battlefields sensitive Additionally, an urgent plea was made to the Americans before, during, and after the Civil War. viewsheds and ways to preserve them. The Civil Tennessee Heritage Conservation Trust Fund A “student friendly” edition should be ready for War Preservation Trust again named Spring Hill’s (THCTF) on behalf of the Parker’s Crossroads publication in 2009. battlefield to its annual list of sites facing the Battlefield Preservation Association to help secure The Wars Commission is now delivering its greatest threat of being lost to development. 87 acres of endangered core battlefield property new Tennessee Civil War Trail Brochure, “A Path In 2008 the Tennessee Wars Commission Divided, Tennessee’s Civil War Heritage Trail” to agreed to hold conservation easements on land for sale at the Battlefield in Henderson County. all Tennessee State Welcome Centers. Over acquired at Fort Donelson through the efforts of The request for $300,000 was approved and 125,000 brochures have been printed and for the Civil War Preservation Trust (CWPT) and the matched by $400,000.00 obtained from the distribution during 2009. The Path Divided National Park Service, American Battlefield Tennessee Lands Acquisition Fund and $100,000 brochure is the most requested state brochure at Protection