Local Preservation

[ltdan25th]

One thing that has been on my mind for some time and was wondering how one might start some local preservation at "home" .I should explain that one so people don't misunderstand. I am all for donating to pereserving Battlefeilds and such but one thing that seems to almost always slips peolpes minds in the local town commons that have monuments for the Civil War veterans. I am very interested in finding out how or where to start to atleast raise awareness about them and start preserving them.Up here in New England (Mass) alot of efforts have always seem to have been focused on the Rev War and the Civil War ,I don't want to say they have been forgotten but maybe neglected. The local historical societies don't seem to be too much help in doing much. There are a few monuments that could definatly use some cleaning up and repairs.
Anyway jsut my two cents on some preservation ideas. Hope to get some positive feedback from those of you who obviously know more about these kind of projects

[dusty27]

Matt,

My advice would be to join your local historical society and see what they have done/can do in the area that you were talking about. You can also write your local paper's editor to bring up your concerns for the public.

You might get other civic groups (boy scouts, girl scouts, VFW) interested and working to raise money.

Good luck. Let us know how it goes.

[Matthew.Rector]

Matt,
First, as Dusty has mentioned, become a member of a local preservation or historical society or group. That way there is a group that will hear your concerns of a specific issue and a group you can attach yourself to. Find out what their position of the matter is and see if you can’t generate some support. If there isn’t much response there then you have the option of starting a community forum. Writing your local paper’s editor is an excellent idea. I’ve done it myself-whether it makes a difference or not is one thing, but at least you are doing what you can. Bringing attention to a historic preservation issue is very important. Make sure you provide your contact information so you can work together. Also, think about contacting your state historic preservation office or state historic preservation not for profit organization.

Civil War monuments are an often over looked aspect of Civil War preservation, I
believe. Recently we have increasingly seen these monuments vandalized or even run over.

They certainly deserve some more attention. Most of these monuments are wonderful works of art that need to be recognized and preserved. Good luck on your work Matt!

[DougCooper]

Good advice from our twin preservationists! I did just that after reading a note from Dusty and then something from CWPT and lots started to happen. We came to find out about the CS one of a kind cannon languishing up here in the park I spoke of...in Payette Idaho. We raised enough heck with everybody we could until the town moved it indoors and they are now buying a carriage, etc.

We found out a local historical home was built by a member of the 5th NY Zouaves, and are painting that this year.

Cleaning graves of vets, raising awareness, being a pain in the butt till somebody does something. Nobody has money to do much, so we find folks that do and release pots of money we never knew about. Gives ya another reason to get up in the morning.

[trippcor]

As with everything else with this hobby, it all starts with research. First research what groups already exist. The research what needs to be done. Then research......

[ltdan25th]

Great advice. I am looking into my local Historical society and hopefully will get some answers from there. I appreciate all of your advice. We have had a long hard road in my hometown of Uxbridge replacing two of the four cannonballs on the 25th Mass Inf monument on the town common but we eventually did it on our own with the only outside help from the Sons of Union Veterens. Thanks again for the advice.