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Locals honored for
preservation efforts
Published Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009
By Brant Sappington
Staff Writer
Local efforts to preserve the region’s historical treasures for future generations were honored by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Thursday with a series of awards recognizing those who have led the way.
The MDAH Board of Trustees spent Thursday and Friday in the area touring historic sites, hosting a special event at the Corinth Library and holding their regular board meeting in the city. A reception was held Thursday evening to honor key figures in the region’s historical preservation work.
MDAH Director Hank Holmes said Corinth’s successful efforts to preserve the properties associated with the Siege and Battle of Corinth and the area’s other historical sites should serve as an example for other communities to follow.
“Saving the sites associated with the Siege and Battle of Corinth has been one of the most important grassroots efforts in Mississippi history. The people of Mississippi, the people of America, are in your debt for this grassroots effort,” said Holmes.
He said the group’s tour of the area showed them that Corinth’s wealth of Civil War treasures is not the community’s only claim to fame. He said he was truly impressed with all of the preservation efforts in the area and pledged his agency’s commitment to assist in continuing the work.
MDAH Board of Trustees President Kane Ditto told the crowd gathered at the historic Corinth Coliseum-Civic Center the commitment to preservation shown by the people of the area will pay dividends not only for tourism and future historical research but by helping create a quality of life in the region that will make people want to live in the area and bring jobs and opportunities with them.
Ditto presented a series of resolutions from the MDAH board in honor of those who have played key roles in the preservation of the area’s history. Those honored included:
• Mississippi Speaker of the House Billy McCoy of Rienzi for his support of preservation at the state level including his leadership in establishing a number of grant programs promoting preservation in the state.
• Rosemary Williams, chair of the Siege and Battle of Corinth Commission and Vice President of the MDAH Board of Trustees, for her decades of leadership in efforts to protect the area’s historical treasures.
“I don’t think it is an exaggeration to say that at the local level no other individual has accomplished more for historic preservation in our state,” said Ditto.
Williams was quick to give credit to all those who have been involved in the efforts.
“One person alone can’t do this and if all of you hadn’t helped, we wouldn’t be where we are today,” she said.
• the City of Corinth and Alcorn County for the municipalities’ commitment to support of historic preservation
• Shiloh National Military Park Superintendent Woody Harrell and Park Historian Stacy Allen for their study and work on the Corinth-area sites that are now included in the Corinth Unit of the Shiloh park.
• the Corinth Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
• the Jacinto Foundation for efforts to preserve and protect the Jacinto Courthouse
• the Black History Museum of Corinth for efforts to preserve and share the history of area African Americans
• the Corinth Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy for preservation efforts including the donation of and upkeep of the Battery Robinett memorial site near the Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center.
• the Corinth African American Historical Society for leadership in the preservation and interpretation of the Corinth Contraband Camp historic site and other significant historic sites
• the Col. W.P. Rogers Camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans for work preserving and protecting numerous historic Civil War-related sites
• Sonny Boatman for preservation work including leadership with the Corinth Preservation Commission
• Van Hedges for leadership with the Friends of the Siege and Battle of Corinth and the Corinth Preservation Commission
• Dr. William Jackson for work with the Sons of Confederate Veterans, the Siege and Battle of Corinth Commission and the Verandah-Curlee House Board of Directors
• Stephanie Sandy for her years of local historical research and preservation
• Rebecca Spence for leadership in numerous cultural promotion and preservation efforts
• Anne Thompson for work with the Friends of the Siege and Battle of Corinth and the Corinth Convention and Visitors Bureau A special award was also presented to the North Mississippi Regional Library for efforts to support historical preservation and research.
