Saving History Saturday: New Preservation Efforts At Elmira Civil War Prison Camp

This week Friends of the Elmira Civil War Prison Camp announced two new successes for their preservation and interpretation efforts in New York. Two vacant houses adjacent to replicated prison and near the original site had recently been purchased, and this Tuesday the structures were safely removed, free of charge by a local demolition company.

Martin Chalk, president of the Friends of the Elmira Civil War Prison Camp, spoke enthusiastically in an interview about getting access to the lots and open fields while helping the community by removing the two houses which were in bad condition.

Although most of the prison camp buildings were dismantled after the war, one was disassemble and saved. It was been reassembled and completed in 2016. The following year the preservation friends group constructed a replica barracks building and has been pursuing opportunities for historical education and more preservation moments. Further expansion and fundraising efforts are planned for the future, but details have been delayed due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

The original news article is available here: https://www.stargazette.com/story/news/local/2020/06/09/elmira-civil-war-prison-camp-plans-major-expansion-facility/5325849002/

To learn more about Elmira Prison Camp and the Confederate soldiers who were held there, check out Derek Maxfield’s new book in the Emerging Civil War Series: Hellmira