Ribbon cutting celebrates management agreement for new Salem Historic Park

JACKSON, Tenn. — Local leaders and community residents met for a ceremony to commemorate a milestone on the courthouse lawn.

Representatives from Madison County, the Tennessee Historical Commission, Tennessee Wars Commission and Madison County Parks signed the management agreement for the new Salem Historic Park.

The vision for the 120-acre civil war battlefield site will have several natural areas, benches, restrooms and paved parking. Representatives from the Tennessee Historical Commission, the state’s Historic Preservation Office and the Tennessee Wars Commission were present for the announcement.

“This is an opportunity for us to essentially kill two birds in one stone. We’re able to commemorate a civil war history site, a battlefield site of a monumental battle in the war. Although it was small, it affected change that really shifted the war during that time so we’re able to commemorate that and understand the significance of that,” said Madison County Mayor A.J Massey.

The state will retain ownership of the site while the Tennessee Historical Commission will be the managing agency and the general maintenance will be handled by the county.

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