Battlefield Guide Services

Monday, April 6, 2009

Handing Over History?



As I write this, I am waiting for official word from Spotsylvania County, but it appears that after 228 years of Ellwood being a cultural resource of the County, they, in their infinite wisdom have decided that this historic structure actually belongs to Orange County, just over the line upon which it sits. Two centuries of the people living within its walls paying taxes to Spotsylvania, every census taker since 1790 dutifully registering its occupants as residing in Spotsylvania County. Suddenly folks, its in Orange County because they really wanted it.
As I said in opening this post, I am waiting for official word that this is true, but from everything that has been communicated to me today it is a fact.
It makes no sense to me.
The photo I post here is of the newly restored headquarters room of General Warren, used during the Battle of the Wilderness. Ellwood is also famous for its cemetery that contains the arm of General Stonewall Jackson. Ellwood is maintained by the National Park Service and has been diligently restored by the efforts of the Friends of the Wilderness Battlefield.