Shepherdstown Battlefield Preservation Association volunteers cleaned up Trough Road in the vicinity of the battlefield in April of this year. From left; Alex Feezer, Cindy Feezer, Sharon Capriotti, Josh Alemar, Steve Alemar, Mick Feezer, Karen Alemar. Photo by SBPA President Dr. Mike Nickerson.
River Road, east of Shepherdstown is a sleepy part of Jefferson County today. In September 1862 it was a pretty busy place, with an estimated 1,700 Union troops crossing the Potomac River from Maryland to engage 3,000 Confederate troops positioned on the south bank and cliffs above. One hundred and sixty years later, you need to look closely to see any signs of the two-day battle, other than a roadside marker.
The Shepherdstown Battlefield Preservation Association was organized in 2005 to help preserve the still relatively undeveloped lands that encompass the battlefield site and to help educate the public about the battle. To support these efforts, the Preservation Association has worked with national organizations such as the American Battlefield Trust, the National Park Service, and the US Department of Agriculture, as well as with local organizations such as the Historic Landmarks Commission and the Farmland Protection Board in Jefferson County. To date, approximately 500 acres have been preserved by various programs and efforts are ongoing to expand protection to additional land that covers the core battlefield site.
The Preservation Association relies on many local volunteers to assist with maintenance and education activities. Volunteers also help organize local fundraising efforts — many of the national funding programs are designed to generously match and expand upon local efforts, so local support plays a key role in attracting and prioritizing the grant funding from national preservation organizations.
Shepherdstown Battlefield Protection Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit. The SBPA can arrange tour guides for the extended battlefield site and welcomes new members and donations to support ongoing efforts to preserve the battlefield site and provide public education about the battle. The Association will have a booth at the Shepherdstown Street Fest (Jun 25) with literature as well as volunteers available to talk about their work. More info at ShepherdstownBattlefield.org.
