Department of Parks
Perryville Battlefield to Restore Landscape at High Water Mark of Confederacy in the West

PERRYVILLE, Ky. -- Some of the most important landscape at Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site will be restored to its 1862 appearance, as Perryville Battlefield staff and Boyle County Public Works will remove the former manager’s house at 2410 Whites Road after the Boyle County Fire Department uses it for training.

This project is a partnership between the Kentucky Department of Parks, Judge Harold McKinney and the Boyle County Fiscal Court, Boyle County Public Works, and the Boyle County Fire Department.  The work should be complete by the beginning of 2009.

“We are very excited to get this land restored to its 1862 appearance,” said Kurt Holman, Perryville Battlefield Park Manager.  “This is some of the most important land in the park.  Boyle County is a great partner for us, and we are pleased to help them as they help us.”

The Boyle County Fire Department will use the house for basic and advanced firefighter training for several weeks.  Once they are finished with the house, it will be demolished by the Boyle County Public Works Department.  Perryville Battlefield staff will complete the scenic restoration, and return the area to its 1862 appearance.

The house and surrounding farm were previously owned by Wilma Gibson, who sold it to the Perryville Enhancement Project in 2002, and they deeded it to Parks the following year.  As a condition of the land transfer, the Kentucky Heritage Council required that the house be demolished by 2011 at the latest.  Several other outbuildings have already been removed from the property.  From 2002-2006 the house was used as Park Manager’s Quarters until a new house was acquired at 911 Battlefield Road in August 2006. 

The former Gibson farm is known as the High Water Mark of the Confederacy in the West, and marked the furthest advance of Confederate forces at the Battle of Perryville on October 8, 1862.  Near the house’s present location the 22d Indiana Infantry sustained the highest percentage loss of any unit at Perryville, and Confederate General Leonidas Polk narrowly escaped capture on a reconnaissance.

Assistant Chief Tony Broyles of the Boyle County Fire Department said, “It’s not often that we get a modern house to train in.  We appreciate the opportunity to help with this project and to be able to provide realistic training to our firefighters.”

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The Kentucky State Park System is composed of 53 state parks plus an interstate park shared with Virginia. The Department of Parks, an agency of the Tourism, Arts & Heritage 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.