Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Grant will help preserve history

Abraham Lincolns Gettysburg Address might be one of Americas most famous speeches. While Nevada Countys own Civil War sites wont likely ever rival the number of visitors who flock to Pennsylvania to visit the site of that famous battle, there are local points of historical interest.

According to the National Park Services records for 2000, visitors spent approximately $76.6 million and supported 2,354 jobs either directly or indirectly.

In Nevada County, three different Civil War battles took place. The first was the Battle of Okolona, which began in Clark County and trickled south. In this gruesome struggle, 38 Union soldiers were killed along with 38 Confederate fighters.

Usually the death tolls in these skirmishes were uncharted, Prescott Depot Museum curator, David Sesser said. More attention went toward seizing and defending territory.

Nevada County was recently chosen to receive a historic grant from the American Battlefield Protection Program for the purpose of further preserving these grounds, in an attempt to make them as celebrated and cherished as Gettysburg. However, the grant will also send Sesser to Washington D.C. to receive formal training on exactly how to create a resume for the National Park System. If accepted, the grounds of the Prairie of DAne and Elkins Ferry will be included as symbols on the nations map of actual Civil War battle scenes.

The establishment of state parks in these sites are a must, Sesser said. It would entice an economic boom in the county. Historical tourism is just as important as industrial development and we need to have an equal balance.

Director of Nevada County Chamber of Commerce Mary Godwin shares Sessers views.

When people come down to visit the historic sites and attractions it helps the city in many different ways, Godwin said. If tourists get hungry they can stop and eat at one of our local restaurants. Or, if they want to do some studying, they can stay at our motel. The entire city can benefit economically from the different things we have to offer.

There have also been talks of officially designating downtown Prescott as a historic district.

Not all the possible tourist attractions in Prescott are historic. Prescotts Raceway Park typically attracts a younger demographic, but the track is another way of bringing people to the county.

White Oak Lake State Park is another reason for people to travel to the region. White Oak Lake provides camping opportunities, and those who camp may stop in Prescott to go sight-seeing, pick up supplies or purchase supplies.

With all the changes that are in place, Prescott and Nevada County could be on the verge of seeing its population increase, Sesser said. All it will take is a little pruning.