MADISON COUNTY, TENNESSEE

CIVIL WAR HERITAGE DEVELOPMENT:

A STATUS REPORT

MICHAEL THOMAS GAVIN

PRESERVATION SPECIALIST

NOVEMBER 2009

Introduction

The Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area can play an important role in Civil War heritage development in Madison County, Tennessee. By establishing strong partnerships with local organizations, the Heritage Area can provide research, expertise, and guidance, as well as some financial support, for quality projects related to the Civil War and Reconstruction-era, such as exhibits, driving tours, and interpretive signage. New research and new approaches to military history have shed light not just on the Civil War itself, but on the battlefields and the sites that interpret the conflict.

Historical scholarship has also evolved, challenging many of the assumptions held in the past about this era. Scholars themselves often disagree on their interpretations of the Civil War period and it is important to present differing views. The war was a struggle between competing visions for a nation. It was experienced differently, depending on one’s age, gender, race, cultural background, place of residence, and wealth. All of these factors must be considered when planning exhibits and tours in Madison County that interpret the war that became America’s greatest challenge.

Hopefully, by utilizing local resources, this approach will convey the significance and relevance of the Civil War in all its aspects to a varied and diverse twenty-first century audience. The Heritage Area has produced this preliminary status report to guide its further projects in the county.

Active Partnerships One partner with great potential is the Discovery Museum of West Tennessee

(DMWT). Located in downtown Jackson, the museum is attempting to enlarge its revenue stream. The primary role of the museum is education and the goal of the Board of Directors is to bring in quality traveling exhibits, as well as establishing permanent displays, that tell the most compelling of Jackson’s many stories as the hub city of West Tennessee. Among these narratives, the Madison County seat has a rich and important Civil War and Reconstruction history that needs to be presented. Recently, the Heritage Area has awarded a matching grant to the DMWT to develop an exhibit about the Civil War in West Tennessee which should be completed by the end of 2010. Another valuable partner in the region is the Big Black Creek Historical Association (BBCHA), which serves several of Madison County’s rural communities. The association was founded in 2006 with the express purpose to identify, preserve, and promote historical sites near Denmark, Mercer, Leighton, and Woodland, all small towns west of Jackson. The area saw considerable activity during the Civil War as both sides struggled for control of the transportation routes. Currently there are 12 members

on the BBCHA Board of Directors. The Board’s projects are supported by private donations, some of which could be used as matching funds for any grants they may obtain. The organization has the support of the current Madison County Executive, Jimmy Harris.

Discovery Museum of West Tennessee

The Discovery Museum of West Tennessee has moved from its former location into the old Carnegie Library at 305 East College Street in Jackson. This building is owned by the city. The organization now occupies the recently renamed Carnegie Center and has put up a few temporary exhibits (Civil War artifacts, puppet collection). The interior spaces are very well suited for this purpose and the staff continues to search for travelling exhibits to install there. They had the "Hoofbeats in the Heartland" exhibit earlier this year, for example.

The museum has a 16-member board led by Harbert Alexander, president, and Bill King, vice president. Pat Mingledorff is one of the board members and is the acting museum manager. In the past, the museum was funded by grants, private donations, and fundraisers. The move to a new building has given them a new revenue stream derived from hosting events such as wedding receptions.

The Heritage Area has awarded a matching grant to the museum for a Civil War exhibit, but the move to a new home and changes in management have delayed the implementation of this project. With these issues now resolved, the board is now ready to get started on designing and fabricating the exhibit. Their goal is to become a regional hub for telling the West Tennessee Civil War story. The board envisions this exhibit as the museum’s anchor. There are a large number and variety of period artifacts held in local collections that would be available for display.

The museum’s Board of Directors has identified four major themes with four sub-themes that would be presented in the Civil War exhibit:

1. Cavalry and the Railroads. -- Battle of Britton Lane

2. Home Front and Occupation -- Burning of Jackson 3. African American story 4. Unionist story -- Hurst Nation -- Fort Pillow

Work on this exhibit should commence as soon as possible.

Big Black Creek Historical Association

In the last few years the Board of Directors of the BBCHA, led by Bill King, has taken responsibility for a number of historic properties, the most important of which are identified in the following pages. Three of these sites are Civil War-related and could provide strong partnership opportunities for the Heritage Area: the Denmark Presbyterian Church, the Britton Lane battlefield, and Estanaula Landing. These are some of the most significant sites in the county. The three places are linked historically and shared interpretation efforts at each could be mutually beneficial.

One advantage to these connections is that one is an indoor site located in town, while the other two are situated outdoors in the country. Educationally speaking, the church could function as a classroom and the battlefield and landing as laboratories. In general, the artifacts and exhibits that need protection, security, and extensive interpretation would be sheltered inside a substantial building, while the hardier items and displays could be presented outside to encourage interaction with them.

The top priorities of the BBCHA are the Denmark Church and the Britton Lane Battlefield. The Board’s stated goal is to use the Denmark Church as a museum once the ongoing restoration is completed. It could also function as a base for Civil War interpretation and as the starting point for tours. The Heritage Area could provide a matching grant to fund a Civil War and Reconstruction-era exhibit at the church that tells the local stories, beginning with the Battle of Britton Lane, and also the lesser known ones.

The main purposes for establishing and maintaining a park at the Britton Lane site were to protect the historic resources associated with this Civil War battle, to convey the significance of the event, to provide a setting for quiet contemplation, and to inspire the community to preserve this place for future generations. With this in mind, the current situation at the battle site needs some resolution. Although it is a county park, its operation has been entrusted to non-profit heritage groups.

Recently, the management of the park has been turned over to BBCHA. The time is right for a comprehensive interpretive plan that states the goals for the park and the ways to implement them. An up-to-date interpretive plan will support the BBCHA's effort to make Britton Lane Battlefield an educational and heritage tourism site. It would suggest options for the main park trail and the signage that tells the story of this battle. These would include description of the site, discussion about the battle itself, the significance of the military action, and how all of these factors fit into the larger context of the Civil War in West Tennessee.

Over the years, various people or organizations have placed memorials, signs, and other objects on the grounds. It is unclear what the criteria for these additions have been, if any. Some of these texts may present incomplete, outdated, or even erroneous information. All should be evaluated and revised if necessary. Some of the artifacts have little or no interpretation at all, such as the log house and covered wagon. These

also should be scrutinized and their interpretive role at the park clarified. As a first step, an inventory of all the artifacts with a complete description, including condition, should be taken. After this is completed, they should be evaluated to determine which are relevant to the stories being told. Then the results could be integrated into an interpretive plan.

1. The approved plan should enhance the sense of place by cultivating an emotional connection to the area’s history and legends, as well as its landscape and natural history. 2. The plan should provide for the interpretation of the site-specific features which focus on significant topics that will connect visitors to actions that occurred within the local environment. Specific stories would be told in the most appropriate location and fashioned from the most suitable media. 3. The plan should provide for an expanded interpretation at other sites by directing visitors to places that can tell certain stories in greater detail, namely the Denmark Church or Estanaula landing. Often, topics that require deeper exploration are better treated in indoor locations, but outdoor settings can provide real connections to designated places and events.

To sum up, the Heritage Area could have the greatest impact on Civil War heritage tourism in the western Madison County area at this time by producing a comprehensive interpretive plan in concert with BBCHA. This plan would focus primarily on the Battle of Britton Lane site, and extend to the Denmark Presbyterian Church and Estanaula Landing sites which are linked historically to the battle. The most important part of the proposed plan is identifying the main themes; that is, the most important and compelling stories that will resonate with a diverse and multicultural visitor audience as well as the local folks. Once an acceptable plan is decided upon, other heritage tourism products – exhibits, guided tour brochures, historical publications, etc. could be developed at a later time to fit within the chosen guidelines. The following pages contain brief descriptions of the major projects being undertaken by BBCHA. Although the list is impressive and ambitious, it may be wise for the organization to turn their immediate focus on the projects that will have the greatest impact in the long run. An increase in heritage tourism can be expected because of the coming 150th anniversary of the Civil War and will present new opportunities for the BBCHA to tell their region’s stories to the world and simultaneously provide educational and economic benefits for their communities. The following pages contain illustrations and brief descriptions of a number of local cultural resources that are maintained by the BBCHA. In addition, the organization is attempting to locate, record, and clean up historic cemeteries in the area.

BBCHA Projects

1. Denmark Presbyterian Church and Masonic Lodge # 154

The Big Black Creek Historical Association has many current and planned projects but the most important is the restoration of the old Denmark Presbyterian Church. The church is the centerpiece of restoration efforts in the area. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is part of the Tennessee Civil War Trails. The grant money for completing the work on the 1854 Denmark church building should be released and available for use in the near future. The building will used as a museum after repairs are completed.

2. Britton Lane Battlefield

BBCHA has taken over overseeing the battlefield park. They have installed new signage and a Civil War Trails Marker has been installed recently. The park is open daily from 7:30 a.m. until sundown. An interpretive plan is needed for this resource.

3. Britton Lane Log House

The log house with an open hall located at the rear of the park needs some attention. Local tradition suggests that this log building was used as a field hospital by both sides during the battle. At the present time there is little interpretation here, but there is great potential to tell several related stories at this location: Civil War-era medical practices and the home front, for example. Recently, BBCHA has requested a physical assessment of the building with restoration recommendations from the Heritage Area. This information would be contained within an interpretive plan.

4. Estanaula Landing

The Estanaula landing and ferry on the Hatchie River were important places located at the junction of several major West Tennessee transportation routes. The Union army stationed troops here to guard their communications and built a pontoon bridge to improve their efficiency. The BBCHA wants to place a Civil War Trails marker at this site and plan to put in an application for one in the near future. This is an excellent start to recognizing the importance of the site. Although there is some additional research that needs to be done, the Estanaula story is an integral part of the Battle of Britton Lane and the history of the Civil War in the region and easily can be incorporated into the overall narrative. The Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge includes 11,556 acres along the Scenic Hatchie River and any planned activity within the refuge should be discussed and approved in advance with the Refuge manager.

5. Cumberland (Ebenezer) Presbyterian Church, Mercer The roof, doors, and other repairs have been completed and the building is open. The current plan is to use it as a community center and make it available for exhibits, weddings, gatherings, banquets, and showing movies free to the public. Local church choirs will present their Christmas music here.

6. Telephone Office, Mercer

The BBCHA has signed a long-term lease for a small residential building formerly used as the telephone office. Built in 1910, it is located behind the Ebenezer Church. The building will provide spaces for an exhibit hall, kitchen, and bathrooms to support the activities held at the Ebenezer Church.

7. Pennington Building, Mercer

A WIFI hotspot, broadband, and cell service may be coming to the Mercer, Denmark, Leighton, and surrounding areas. The BBCHA has been working with several individuals to obtain grants from different sources to have these services originate in the old Pennington Building in Mercer. News should be coming shortly. Plans are to use the restored building as a learning center.

8. Hatchie Station Bridge

The wheels are in motion to install a new floor in "The Bridge to Nowhere," as it has been referred to since it was built around 1929. It was never utilized fully due to the lack of a road on the opposite side of the river. The plan is to turn the bridge into an observation platform and the roadbed into a greenway, surrounded by a park that will be used as a community gathering place.

9. Booker Knob School

This school was built as a subscription school, as Madison County did not have public schools at the time. Madison County took over the operations of the school in 1907, and this is probably when the name of the school was changed from Booker Knob to Leighton. The school was closed around 1929, when it consolidated with another one in Mercer. After the Leighton school closed, the building was converted into a private residence. Plans are for the BBCHA to restore it to its original appearance.

10. Dickinson House This tornado-damaged single-pen log house will be disassembled and stored. BBCHA intends to rebuild it in an undetermined place with parts from other log houses at some time in the indefinite future.

11. Shaw House

This grand old Louisiana Cajun house seems to be out of place in the middle of a field in Haywood County. It is not known why a house like this was built so far from the Deep South where it would be much more common. The BBCHA would like to save this building from almost certain destruction but does not have enough funds to cover the required move and restoration at this time.

12. Coble Monument After much consideration, there seems to be a consensus by interested parties to remove Private Coble’s remains to the nearby Salem Cemetery. Presumably, the monument also would be relocated there at the same time.

Recommended Next Steps for Civil War Heritage Development in Madison County

1. Have Heritage Area Director facilitate a meeting of interested partners and property owners on future Civil War heritage development needs.

2. Prepare Civil War heritage resource survey for Madison County. This report is a start in that direction, but more attention needs to be given to the Heritage Area themes such as Home Front, Occupation, and Emancipation, and to such properties as Salem Cemetery and Battlefield and other historic cemeteries.

3. Prepare a comprehensive interpretive plan for the Britton Lane Battlefield.

4. Heritage Area staff could work with the Discovery Museum of West Tennessee to prepare text and select images for a Civil War and Reconstruction exhibit. The Heritage Area Historian, with graduate student assistance, would be assigned to work on the exhibit.