Saving History Saturday – Preservation Victories in the Shenandoah Valley

An update to last month’s news about the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation’s effort to save core battlefield at Cedar Creek in the center of Middletown: The Middletown Town Council voted to approve the deed of easement, subject to final approval of both parties, on 23-acres of the Cedar Creek battlefield.

Immediately adjacent to the historic Wayside Inn, this 23-acre tract is owned by the Town of Middletown, and SVBF is currently fundraising to purchase a preservation easement on the property. As part of the agreement, the town will use the funds from the purchase of the easement to create a battlefield park, installing interpretive trails and signage, as well as restore the landscape to that of the time of the battle.

Additionally, at Cedar Creek, SVBF has announced that they have a preservation victory at the historic Hite Farm. This 74-acre tract saw heavy fighting on October 19, 1864, in both the Confederate attack as well as the Union counterattack.

SVBF also has a preservation victory on the Tom’s Brook battlefield. The 3-acre parcel is part of the field where Merritt’s Union cavalry moved to attack their Confederate counterparts. It’s located adjacent to the Manassas Gap Railroad corridor, along the stream.

As part of the 160th anniversary of the battle of Cedar Creek, there will be events announcing and celebrating the preservation.

To learn more about this, and everything that the Shenandoah Battlefields Foundation does, visit their website.