Over the next few years, the nation will be celebrating the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. Our local area has a direct connection to that past as the Sullivan Campaign marched over our landscape in 1779. The many ubiquitous signs and monuments to that campaign remind us of the role this area played in the Revolution. It is only through preservation of that memory, and the sites where it happened, that we can make that link to our past.
Historic preservation provides a sense of identity and cultural heritage by preserving our local sites of historical interest. History is not just about the past, but also about the present. Preserving historic sites, buildings, and documents that help us understand where we came from and provides meaning about the past and how it shaped our present.
The Newtown Battlefield State Park, which overlooks the Chemung River and the valley where the Battle of Newtown took place, preserves the unique story of Chemung County’s role in the Revolution. It is part of our heritage that sparks tourism bringing economic benefits to the area. Having a connection to an important part of our past gives a community character and a sense of pride that can attract people to visit the area, or even choose to live here.
Sullivan’s Monument and the many roadside markers about the campaign can spark a learning opportunity to teach about the past, as well as promote reflection about the positive and negative impacts of those events we commemorate. That reflection can provide an understanding of diverse perspectives and give us an understanding of other points of view.
Preserving the site of Barracks No. 3 as part of our Civil War heritage is also an important part of this work. The Civil War and the Revolution are closely connected as both sides believed they were fighting for the principles of the founding fathers. The Civil War did a great deal to protect and enhance the ideas of freedom, democracy, and equality, and Elmira played a role in that.
It is a great opportunity when we can stand in a place where history happened, and experience it, feel a part of it, rather than just read about it. By preserving our past, we leave a legacy for future generations to experience it as well.