the “old liner” newsletter - civil war roundtablebcwrt.nalweb.net/pages_02-10.pdf ·...

THE “OLD LINER” NEWSLETTER

BALTIMORE CIVIL WAR ROUNDTABLE

Preservation Groups Declare Opposition to New Gettysburg Casino Proposal Proposal poses direct threat to National Park and America’s most famous small town (Gettysburg, Pa.) – In a letter dated January 26, 2010, a coalition of state and national preservation groups conveyed to Adams County, Pa., businessman David LeVan their decision to oppose his effort to open a casino a half-mile to the south of Gettysburg National Military Park. In the letter, the Civil War Preservation Trust, National Parks Conservation Association, National Trust for Historic Preservation and Preservation Pennsylvania cited the location’s proximity to the battlefield as a direct threat, noting that the potential development and traffic impacts place the National Park at further risk. After thanking LeVan for his outreach to the preservation community in this matter and his generosity to various local philanthropic causes, the four groups stressed that their position does not stem from any opposition to gambling, but, rather, from “our longstanding commitment to ensuring that singular and significant historic sites like the Gettysburg Battlefield are treated with the respect and consideration they deserve.” “Some places are just too important to be treated with anything less than the greatest respect, and Gettysburg is one of those places,” said Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “Anyone who has visited the battlefield in recent years can attest to the fact that commercial development is threatening the visitor experience at Gettysburg, and this proposed casino

would greatly exacerbate the problem. A new casino located so close to this sacred soil is simply unacceptable.” After preliminary plans for the casino became public in late 2009, each preservation organization performed its own independent due diligence investigation, including meeting with Mr. LeVan personally, before reaching the same conclusion: the site’s proximity to the hallowed ground of Gettysburg creates an inappropriate juxtaposition damaging to the national park. “We remain committed to protecting our national icon—Gettysburg National Military Park” said Tom Kiernan, president of the National Parks Conservation Association. “A casino conflicts with the heritage-based economy of Gettysburg, with its meaning in American history today, and with its future relevance.” If licensed, the casino would be incorporated into the existing Eisenhower Resort and Conference Center, just one half-mile from the boundary of Gettysburg National Military Park. The site is also within the historically sensitive “study area” of the battlefield, as defined by the American Battlefield Protection Program (the battlefield preservation arm of the National Park Service). Not only is this proposal significantly closer to the park than the 2006 Crossroads Gaming Resort and Spa plan, it also lies along the Emmitsburg Road, at the heart of the Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Scenic Byway (created in October 2009) and Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area (signed into law in May 2008). Such designations are not undertaken lightly and, according to the letter, “reinforce our belief that this is a region of tremendous historic

significance that we have a duty to safeguard for future generations.” “I remember four years ago when our organizations joined a dedicated group of local activists to defeat this short-sighted scheme the first time. No matter where I went, anywhere in the country, people were astounded at the very idea of a gambling casino at Gettysburg,” said CWPT president James Lighthizer. “There was a near-universal agreement that locating and marketing a gambling facility at Gettysburg unavoidably conflicts with the essential meaning of this place in American history.” A. Roy Smith, chairman of the board of Preservation Pennsylvania, reiterated that the fundamental reasoning behind his group’s opposition to a Gettysburg-area casino has not changed. “We remain steadfast in our opposition to any casino proposed in close proximity to the Gettysburg National Military Park. Preservation Pennsylvania’s reasons for including this sacred place on the 2006 Pennsylvania At Risk listing have not changed — a casino near this highly significant site, in any location, is inappropriate.” In addition to the proposal’s proximity to the national park, the letter outlined additional concerns with the project, including potential impact on the region’s vibrant heritage tourism industry. Citing current visitation statistics and scientific economic impact analysis, the groups concluded that “the combination of Civil War preservation and the family friendly nature of Adams County has created a proven, winning formula for the park and its neighboring communities. A casino will conflict with this proven economic engine—heritage tourism, and development compatible with and respectful of that heritage.”



The letter further noted that the portion of Cumberland Township where the casino would be located predominantly features residential dwellings and agricultural operations, with limited and generally small-scale commercial development occasionally intermixed. The groups expressed the opinion that the facility would “have the potential to significantly increase traffic through the area, generate more incompatible large-scale development, and would likely necessitate the kind of eye-catching signage that would be out of place in what has up to now been a relatively undeveloped area.” Va. battlefield superintendent to take reins at Gettysburg York (Pa) Daily Record, January 9, 2010 Bob Kirby will begin in March. He replaces John Latschar, who was reassigned after the discovery of evidence he had downloaded sexually explicit images on his office computer. After nine years in charge of the battlefield at Petersburg, Va., Bob Kirby has been named the new superintendent of Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site. He is expected to assume his new post in March. Acting superintendent Mel Poole will return to his position as superintendent of Catoctin Mountain Park in Thurmont, Md. Kirby said Friday he expected preparations for the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg in 2013 would be a major focus for him early on. Though he said he'd been given "some latitude" in pursuing his own goals under the General

Management Plan, he didn't expect major changes in park policy. Petersburg's General Management Plan was modeled in some respects on Gettysburg's, and Kirby said his experience there would serve him in good stead. The Virginia park has restored key battlefield sites in recent years, developed its infrastructure, and is in the process of acquiring a train station, much like the Gettysburg battlefield, he said. The Petersburg job, like Gettysburg, also included the management of a national cemetery.

NPS photo "Bob is a seasoned veteran who combines demonstrated leadership skills with experience in managing an important Civil War site", National Park Service Northeast Regional Director Dennis R. Reidenbach said in a news release. "As we look ahead to the 150th anniversary of the conflict, Bob is the right individual to oversee both the best known Civil War park in the national park system, and to manage a significant presidential site." Asked about declining visitation at Gettysburg, Kirby said it was up to superintendent and staff to see to it a park was relevant to visitors.

For example, he said, Petersburg has been working to make the story of the battle there more relevant to the local black community. "Telling the story of weapons and logistics and tactics is only part of it," he said. "Battlefields are great classrooms." In a Park Service news release, he described historic sties as "rich classrooms where we can explore our development as a nation." "Few other nations openly reveal their history - the good and the bad - as we do here in the United States," he continued. "That alone makes managing the national treasures in Gettysburg a profoundly humbling and vastly rewarding experience." KIRBY'S BACKGROUND Bob Kirby was appointed superintendent of Petersburg National Battlefield in Virginia in 2001. He previously served as assistant superintendent at Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, a 70,000-acre park in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Kirby's prior assignments include chief of interpretation at Lowell National Historical Park, Lowell, Mass, 1990-95; environmental protection specialist, Defense Logistics Agency, Ogden, Utah, 1986-90; outdoor recreation director with the Department of the Army in West Germany, 1983-86; and assignments as a district ranger, sub-district supervisor and interpretative ranger at Golden Gate National Recreation Area in San Francisco from 1974-83. He has a bachelor's degree in Recreation and Leisure Studies and a master's degree in Recreation and Park Management from San Francisco State University.



Gettysburg will remove modern intrusions from Devil’s Den NPS Press Release, February 10, 2010 Gettysburg National Military Park and the Gettysburg Foundation will be working together this spring to remove modern intrusions from Devil’s Den on the Gettysburg battlefield. The Gettysburg Foundation has raised funds to remove the restroom as well as the intrusive utility lines that provide power to it. The Foundation will also bury intrusive overhead utility lines in several areas in the southern part of the battlefield near the historic Althoff, Slyder, and Trostle farms. Initially, the Park had asked the Foundation to raise funds to bury the intrusive power lines to the Devil’s Den restroom but concerns about potential environmental impacts to the floodplain and the geology, as well as the expense of burying the lines in a boulder field, led to the decision to remove the restroom altogether, in favor of returning more of the area to its battle era appearance. “The building is in a sensitive location for the environment and for the historic scene,” said J. Mel Poole, interim superintendent for Gettysburg NMP. “We think we can offer comfort facilities for the visitors elsewhere and do a better job with preserving the historic battlefield here.” The boulders of Devil’s Den and the nearby stream known as Plum Run are significant “major battle action areas” of the Gettysburg battlefield. Benning’s and Law’s Confederate brigades advanced across the area while attacking the lines of the Union army on July 2, 1863. The restroom

building dates to 1935 and does not contribute to the national significance of the park, as documented on the National Register of Historic Places. The current roadways, visitor parking, and paths at Devil’s Den, as well as the pedestrian bridge over Plum Run, will stay. Visitors will be directed to use other park restrooms nearby, such as at the South End Guide Station on Emmitsburg Road and next to the Pennsylvania Memorial. The project is part of a long term plan to return the major battle action areas of the park to their appearance at the time of the fighting in July 1863. The Gettysburg Foundation is funding and managing the project on behalf of the National Park Service. Prior to making the decision to remove the restroom building, the National Park Service consulted with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. CWPT ANNOUNCES FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN TO PROTECT HALLOWED GROUND AT GETTYSBURG CWPT Press Release, January 20, 2010 Privately held land lies along the Emmitsburg Road, at the heart of the Gettysburg Battlefield (Gettysburg, Pa.) – The Civil War Preservation Trust (CWPT), America’s largest nonprofit battlefield preservation group, today announced a fundraising campaign to preserve a crucial in-holding on the Gettysburg Battlefield. Originally part of the historic Philip Snyder farm, the property lies directly along the Emmitsburg Road and today is entirely surrounded by Gettysburg National Military Park. The two-acre

parcel, located only a half mile from Little Round Top and due west of Devil’s Den, has been a top land acquisition priority for historians and preservationists for many years. “Virtually everyone who has ever come to Gettysburg, seeking to walk the fields of the Civil War’s greatest battle, has passed by this land,” said CWPT president James Lighthizer. “As significant as the protection of large swaths of historic land can be, getting critical in-holdings like this one under protection of the National Park Service cannot be overemphasized. I am proud that we have been able to assist the park in ensuring the future of this historic landscape.” Purchasing this land has been such a priority for the National Park Service that it already had funds on hand, approved by Congress, for the effort. But in late 2009, when the landowners expressed a desire to sell, the property, which also includes two modern homes, appraised well beyond the park’s ability to pay. Acting quickly, before a new private landowner could purchase and further develop the property, CWPT stepped in and put it under contract. After closing, CWPT will in turn sell the land to the National Park Service for $300,000, the sum initially allocated by the federal government. Transferring such historic land to a responsible stewardship entity, like the National Park Service, is always CWPT’s ultimate goal when it secures a significant section of the battlefield. And in this case, finally taking possession of this land will be a long-anticipated victory for the park, allowing for greater interpretation and access along this portion of the battlefield. According to interim superintendent J. Mel Poole, “This will help the National Park Service restore the Phillip Snyder farm, the



scene of Confederate battle lines and the advance on the Union positions at Devil’s Den on July 2, 1863.” Lighthizer further stressed the land’s historic pedigree. “Nearly a third of the Union Army marched right by — and likely across — this property as they double-quicked up the Emmitsburg Road into Gettysburg on July 1, 1863. They had no idea they were rushing headlong into the bloodiest battle of the entire war. The next day, this land stood just a few dozen yards from the Confederate line, and saw the beginning of the assaults that would end in blood at the Wheatfield and Devil’s Den. It is not often – if ever – that we who care about saving America’s Civil War battlefields get the opportunity to save something so important.” Discovery of Appomattox Station battlefield provides historical missing link By Duffie Taylor, Lynchburg News, January 31, 2010 Longtime Civil War historian Chris Calkins began looking for the lost battlefield of Appomattox Station in the early 1970s. Back then, he and many other Civil War buffs feared the site of the April 8, 1865, battle was buried somewhere under asphalt in the Town of Appomattox. “We have always assumed the battle was up near the Triangle Shopping Center (in Appomattox) and they had already bulldozed that area so we couldn’t test it,” Calkins said. Still, he continued his search — first, through a store of written archives and then, on the grounds of Appomattox, with a copy of a Union soldier’s sketched map and a metal detector.

Calkins’ work paid off when he located the battlefield years later on a 47-acre tract owned by Jamerson Trucking Company. Luckily, Calkins said, the site was largely undeveloped and he was able to verify his discovery through the artillery remnants that he unearthed on the property. This month, Calkins’ quest came full circle when the 47-acre tract was purchased by The Civil War Preservation Trust, a national organization devoted to preserving old battlefields. The trust’s spokeswoman, Mary Koik, said that the battlefield’s preservation would not have been possible without Calkins. “I give Chris Calkins credit for combing through that tremendous amount of information and finding the battlefield,” she said. “Popular wisdom was that it had been lost.” A Detroit native, Calkins said his fascination with the Civil War began early. At 20, he took a seasonal job in the Appomattox Court House National Historical Park, where he played a Union soldier in the park’s living history program. The summer job turned into a lifelong stay when he was introduced to his future wife at the town’s Dairy Queen. “They say you’re either a Virginian by birth, marriage or choice,” Calkins said. “Well, I’m a Virginian by the latter two.” Calkins has since devoted his life to the study of the Civil War, with a particular focus on the war’s last two battles in Appomattox. Now the park manager of Sailor’s Creek Battlefield State Park, Calkins has written several books on how the two battles shaped the war’s end. He said that discovering the battlefield of Appomattox Station

provided the missing link in the events leading up to General Robert E. Lee’s surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia on April 9, 1865. The battle between the Union Cavalry, led by General George Custer, and Confederate Artillery, headed by General Lindsey Walker, “was another nail in the coffin” for the Confederates and, ultimately, paved the way to the battle of Appomattox Court House and Lee’s surrender the following day, he said. Before the discovery, the story of the Civil War’s end was incomplete, said Appomattox County Tourism Director Anne Dixon. “Your visitors were missing the middle piece,” she said. “This piece of the story completes it.”

Civil War Preservation Trust photo An 1865 photo of Appomattox Station, where Gen. George Custer captured three Confederate supply trains. Calkins said that Custer’s destruction of three Confederate supply trains and the battle that ensued from it were directly accountable for Lee’s surrender. “That was Lee’s last chance to get out of it,” he said. Koik said that the trust eventually plans to turn over the battlefield to a steward that will maintain its preservation and spur visitors’ interest in the site.



The National Park Service is a likely candidate, she said. Securing the historical site in time for the 150th anniversary of the Civil War is an important achievement for the area, said the town’s tourism director, Will Simmons. “(It) provides a tremendous impetus for people to preserve this land while they still can,” Simmons said. “Soon, the opportunity will be gone.” Chris Calkins inadvertently stumbled upon the lost battlefield of Appomattox Station while searching for what he believed was a Union army campsite. He was led there by a sentence in the Official Report of Brig. Gen. Alfred Gibbs: “The brigade camped for a night (April 9) at a wood near Martin’s house, one mile in the rear of Appomattox Court House.” Calkins then referred to a 1867 topographical map of the “Appomattox Court House and Vicinity” and identified two houses next to each other, each named Martin. Armed with this information, Calkins looked at a present-day map of the area and, surprisingly, found that the two houses were still there, tucked away behind a school and trucking company in the town of Appomattox. Calkins then went to scout out the property with a metal detector and, to his surprise, began turning up iron canister rounds and other artillery remnants. It turned out that the camp Calkins had originally sought was in another area entirely and misidentified by Gibbs as “Martin’s” when, in fact, the house was named “Morton’s.” The mishap, however, led Calkins to the lost battlefield of Appomattox Station, which he later confirmed with the aid of a diary sketch by Union cavalryman Roger Hannaford.

Related Info The history The battle of Appomattox Station began about 4 p.m. on April 8, 1865. Union cavalry, led by Gen. George Custer, arrived at the Appomattox train station ahead of Gen. Robert E. Lee’s army traveling from Farmville. Lee and his men were desperate for the supplies that had been sent from Lynchburg and awaited them at the station. Custer and his men captured three Confederate supply trains at the station and proceeded southwest about a mile toward Gen. Lindsey Walker’s camp, where the Confederate’s reserve artillery was situated. When Walker received word of the approaching cavalry, he and his artillerymen assembled their cannon in a hollow circle along a slight ridge and began to fire. After a nearly four-hour battle and numerous attacks by Union cavalry, Custer captured between 24 to 30 cannons and about 1,000 Confederate prisoners. Total Union casualties from the battle were 5 killed, 40 wounded and 3 missing. Confederate casualties remain unknown. Virginia Senator Webb Introduces Legislation to Strengthen Preservation of Petersburg National Battlefield CWi, January 28, 2010 A longtime advocate for Civil War battlefield preservation, U.S. Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) introduced Tuesday the “Petersburg National Boundary Modification Act,” to protect an additional 7,200 acres of historic battlefields. The expansion would make the Petersburg National

Battlefield the largest military park in the United States. The legislation would give the National Park Service (NPS) authority to acquire 12 battlefields, totaling 7,200 acres, surrounding Petersburg National Battlefield. This expansion of the park was recommended in the National Park Service’s Final General Management Plan in 2005. Much of this historic land is currently susceptible to industrial and residential development. “Petersburg saw nearly one quarter of the Civil War fought in its surrounding area, and the preservation of these battlefields is important for future generations to understand and appreciate the significance of our nation’s history,” said Senator Webb. “Additionally, investing in historic landmarks benefits the Commonwealth’s tourism sector,” continued Senator Webb. “154,000 visitors come to Petersburg National Battlefield each year, generating more than $9 million in local revenue. For this reason, the legislation is important to our continuing efforts to spur tourism and new jobs in Petersburg and the surrounding communities.” Since entering the Senate in 2007, Senator Webb has been a strong voice for historical and natural preservation. In 2009, he championed the “Civil War Battlefield Preservation Act,” which renewed The America Battlefield Protection Program and continued the successful federal partnership that has saved nearly 7,000 acres at 17 battlefields sites in Virginia. Additionally, in October, Senator Webb introduced legislation to establish a Commission to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.



Pa. Historical Society Digitizing Its Civil War Collections By Karin Phillips, KYW News Radio, January 25, 2010 The Historical Society of Pennsylvania is launching a massive project to make its collections available online. On Monday, an archivist was setting up a special digital camera acquired by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania which will digitize thousands of letters, photographs, artwork, and other documents from the Civil War era. It's the pilot project of the Digital Center for Americana, a new branch of the society's archives department that will make its collections available on line. Project archivist Cathleen Miller says some interesting things have already crossed her desk: "A group of documents that basically detailed, blow by blow, the leadup to the Wounded Knee massacre in South Dakota. (It's) a huge find for us because we didn't realize it was in the collection." The Civil War material is getting digitized first because of the war's sesquicentennial, coming up in 2011. AT&T Gives $100,000 to Foundation for the National Archives Grant to Support Discovering the Civil War Exhibition WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AT&T has contributed $100,000 to the Foundation for the National Archives in support of the National Archives Experience's upcoming exhibition Discovering the Civil War. AT&T's contribution will be used to enhance the educational components

of the exhibition through the development of public programming, online content, publications, and outreach materials. "We are pleased to partner with the Foundation for the National Archives to share the often-overlooked stories of everyday men and women from vastly different backgrounds whose lives were dramatically altered by the Civil War," said Laura Sanford, assistant vice president of AT&T Corporate Contributions. "AT&T also applauds the exhibition's goal to teach critical thinking and research techniques to students, as these skills are critical to success, not only in school and in the workforce, but also in life." "This generous contribution from AT&T will enable the National Archives to leverage the Civil War exhibit by bringing the exciting discoveries to millions of people beyond the confines of the exhibition itself," said Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero. "Anyone interested in the Civil War will have the opportunity to discover new insights and new perspectives based on National Archives documents." "We are grateful to AT&T for its leadership as we embark on our largest and most ambitious traveling exhibition to date," said Ken Lore, president of the Foundation for the National Archives. "We thank AT&T for sharing our commitment to civics education and innovative learning techniques and our belief in the power of original records to bring history to life for visitors of all ages." Discovering the Civil War – created by a public-private partnership between the National Archives and Records Administration and the Foundation for the National Archives -- opens April 30, 2010 at the Lawrence F. O'Brien Gallery of the

National Archives Building in Washington, DC, and eventually will travel around the country. It will present the most extensive display ever assembled from the incomparable Civil War holdings of the National Archives, including letters, diaries, photos, maps, petitions, receipts, patents, and Constitutional amendments. Combining the Archives' great Civil War treasures, including a brief showing of the fragile and rarely displayed Emancipation Proclamation, with engaging touch-screen interactives incorporating social media tools, the exhibition invites visitors to take a fresh look at the war through the lens of 2010 technology. The exhibition, which is free, will be shown in two parts in Washington before traveling as one exhibition. Part I opens April 30, 2010 and runs through September 19, 2010. Part II opens November 19, 2010 and runs through April 17, 2011. "In 1999, AT&T gave $1 million towards the reopening of the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom and the creation of new museum spaces, and it is so gratifying to work with them again as we expand our programming and our audiences," said Thora Colot, executive director of the Foundation. "Thanks to generous corporate and individual donors, we are able to fulfill our mission to help more people discover the power of primary sources and the original documents held in trust for the American people by the National Archives."



A ‘Civil War Williamsburg’ on the Rapphannock? By Allison Brophy Champion, Culpeper Star-Exponent (VA), January 8, 2010 Union forces clashed with Confederates in two separate fights at Rappahannock Station — the wartime name for modern-day Remington — in August 1862 and November 1863. A major crossing here was the Orange & Alexandria railroad bridge, which the Yankees burned in October 1863, the Library of Congress records. Both sides wanted control of the vital waterway at the site and many died fighting for it. Now, a local developer wants to return the place to its roots with the establishment of Culpeper Crossing, a Civil War-themed tourist destination on 14 acres of wooded, riverfront land adjoining the battlefield. Bob Currier, in addition, has already placed a much larger parcel of actual battlefield into permanent conservation easement. “We need a Civil War Williamsburg,” said the Remington resident, whose family has owned 100-plus acres at Rappahannock Station for more than a century. “It will be the only thing like it — on a battlefield where trenches are still intact.” Located about five miles north of the more famous village at Brandy Station — the site of North America’s largest cavalry engagement in June 1863 — Remington sits about half a mile from the Rappahannock River in Fauquier County, though a portion of it sits within the border of Culpeper County. Currier, who has a background as a builder, plans to get started on his

“reproduction Civil War town” on the Culpeper side of the river this spring. Besides an 18-room bed and breakfast and a museum, the secluded, riverfront development will include shops, a church, restaurant and live theater — the potential for up to 20 buildings in all, according to Currier. He also plans to incorporate other periods of history relevant to the area including a Native American village, French and Indian War fort and Revolutionary War attractions. Currier said he’s found hundreds of arrowheads and two dozen stone axes on the property. He wants to offer wildlife exhibits and the arts at Culpeper Crossing as well. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources sees the possibilities. “Your concept for Culpeper Crossing offers an exciting opportunity to present the rich history of this area in an engaging format and setting,” wrote DHR director Kathleen Kilpatrick in a letter to Currier last year. “We look forward to working with you to develop a sensitive and important new asset for Virginians and the nation.” She encouraged “the use of local building tradition … to link Culpeper Crossing with the cultural heritage of its location.” It’s something Currier remains committed to doing as he moves forward, having ordered bronze statues of Gens. George Meade (Union officer from Pennsylvania) and Robert E. Lee of Virginia, who met in Remington. Civil War soldiers who fought in Culpeper — believed to be the most marched upon county during the war — surely would never have guessed the history-themed recreation that awaits the river land at Rappahannock Station.

One letter in Currier’s collection of correspondence drafted in this area from that time stands out especially. “I hope the time is not too distant when all who live may see this war ended and peace flow again in one unbroken stream through all our valleys — from east to west and from north to south,” wrote John M. Lovejoy of the 121st New York Regiment, stationed near Brandy Station in 1864. Conservation easements Currier wants his family’s land to remain unbroken by rampant development, which has crept closer to Culpeper’s battlefield sites in recent years. And so about a year ago, he placed 189 acres of Rappahannock Station battlefield — adjoining Culpeper Crossing — into permanent conservation easement, meaning it’s going to stay as is forever. He admitted that his foremost reason for pursuing the conservation easements through the DHR was for the money — easement holders can sell the tax credits they receive for cash. Currier did just that, getting about $3 million for the tax credits. According to the terms of the easement designation, the land can never be subdivided and it carries strict limits, for perpetuity, on very limited development. Currier credited family friend Sandra Stevens, an easement consultant from McLean, for helping him navigate the complicated process. “What she is doing has dramatically affected the county,” he said of other easement projects Stevens worked on last year, including battlefield land in Brandy Station. “I wouldn’t have gotten through it without her.”



Property value Stevens, who has a background in lobbying, began her easement consulting business with Currier back in December of 2008. “I did his and decided this was something I love doing,” she told the Star-Exponent in a recent interview. “It gives me an appreciation for the value of people’s property and how they feel about it.” Successfully obtaining easement status is a complicated process, Stevens said, that spans about nine months. In Virginia alone, she said, there are 34 different land trusts, including DHR, the Civil War Preservation Trust and Piedmont Environmental Council, that hold properties in easement. It’s an altruistic motive to put your land into easement, Stevens said, but these days many folks are doing it for the money too – to save the family farm. She said she has thousands more acres in Culpeper County “in the pipeline” for easement designation. The benefit to the county of historic easements is open space preservation, Stevens said. “The state of open land in the county right on U.S. 29 has definitely changed,” she said. “We won’t be having overpasses and congested traffic areas like it would have been if had been developed as originally planned,” Stevens said, referring to the previously planned large development at Willow Run, property that she helped put into easement in 2009. Wendy Musumeci, the DHR’s easement program coordinator, said her department holds 1,175 acres in historic conservation easement in Culpeper County. Of those, 641 acres were added last year, she said, noting, “Future

generations have to abide by these land restrictions.” Culpeper County Planning Director John Egertson, speaking for himself and not the county, said conservation easements are a positive thing for the county because they maintain its overall rural character. On the other hand, he noted, conservation easements could be detrimental if they prevented development in areas intended for growth, like the county’s technology zone next to the Daniel Technology Center. “As for the various easements which have put into place to date, I am supportive of them all.” Union soldier W.H.B. Dudley, camping near “Rapperhannac Station” in September of 1863 did not feel so supportive of the other side. “We had a nice cav fight,” he wrote to his nephew George Payson. “We drove the rebels about 15 miles; they did run, tore up things good. I could see lots of dead rebels.”

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