|
Department of Parks
New Highway Marker For Downtown Perryville
PERRYVILLE, Ky. – An historical highway marker about Perryville was erected today on Buell Street as preparations swing into full gear for the Battle of Perryville Oct. 7-8.
The marker is double-sided and discusses various aspects of Perryville’s history. One side gives an overview of Merchant’s Row and its history, while other side discusses the fighting in town during the 1862 Battle of Perryville. It stands next to the historic Johnson-Brinton House, and was paid for by the Perryville Enhancement Project. The Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) directs the state highway marker program.
“We are very pleased to partner with KHS on this project,” said Chris Kolakowski, the director of the Perryville Battlefield Preservation Association, which is lead organization for the Enhancement Project. “The Johnson-Brinton House was here during the battle, and suffered damage from the fighting. Plus, we plan to make it the new visitor center for both the city and battlefield. It was a natural location for this marker to go.”
Boyle County Judge-Executive Tony Wilder, a native of Perryville, said it’s important to have markers for historic settings such as Perryville. “The purpose of the commemoration and Merchant’s Row is to tell a story. These markers are a big part of that,” Wilder said.
More than 3,600 re-enactors portraying Union and Confederate troops are scheduled to take part in the Battle of Perryville during the weekend. Three separate battles are planned for the weekend at Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site, about 10 miles west of Danville in Boyle County. Besides the battles, visitors will be able to see demonstrations about soldiers and civilian life in 1862, when the largest Civil War battle on Kentucky soil took place resulting in more than 7,000 casualties.
This year’s battle is unique because it has been designated as the national Civil War re-enactment and will draw re-enactors from across the country. The event is sponsored by the Kentucky Department of Parks and the Perryville Battlefield Preservation Association.
The Perryville Battlefield Preservation Association is a non-profit membership organization charged with preservation and interpretation of the Perryville Battlefield and town. It oversees the Perryville Enhancement Project in conjunction with the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Boyle County, and the City of Perryville. Since 1991 the project has preserved and interpreted over 400 acres of critical battlefield land along with several original structures in the City of Perryville. For more information, visit www.perryville.net.
--30--
The Kentucky State Park System is composed of 52 state parks plus an interstate park shared with Virginia. The Department of Parks, an agency of the Commerce Cabinet, operates 17 resort parks with lodges -- more than any other state. Each year, Kentucky parks draw 7 million visitors and contribute $317 million to the economy. For more information on Kentucky parks, visit our Web site at http://www.parks.ky.gov
|