_{Published by the Fort Attaway Preservation Society, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of Rome, Georgia’s Fort Attaway.} 

OUR STORY

Without the past there is no future, and much of the past is in the ground. In the project to widen Highway 27 in Rome, Georgia, the Department of Transportation is planning to dig up a large portion of Rome’s only battleground, Fort Attaway. The Fort Attaway Preservation Society has been formed to save this battleground from being developed on, destroyed and forgotten. 

The initial motivation to save Fort Attaway was in the efforts to keep the Georgia DOT from condemning a strip of the Fowler property and moving the railroad very close to their homes. However, as you will see we have put a lot of hard work into the fort and we are very excited to be involved in such an interesting and vital cause. History is very important for the future of our new generations, and we are proud to be involved in its preservation. As Charlie Crawford, president of the Georgia Battlefields Association, was quoted in the recent Atlanta Journal and Constitution article Civil War fort vs. DOT, “Preservation people will accept people into the fold regardless of motive…Sometimes the biggest zealots are the converts. Fowler’s heart is in the right place from a preservationist standpoint.” 

OUR EFFORTS SO FAR

No expense has been spared in the efforts to preserve Rome’s Fort Attaway, and a large amount of personal funds has been used in this good cause. Our series of efforts have led us to incorporate the non-profit organization, Fort Attaway Preservation Society, Inc and to apply for 501(c) 3 Application for Recognition of Exemption with the IRS. 

NRHP Nomination Update

We have the Historic Property Information Form almost completed. The only thing missing is the Sketch Map with our photos keyed to it. We plan to grid the fort into 20 foot squares, survey the contours and draw the fortification features from our measurements. We have been looking for a surveying company that would donate their services for this project. We have pictures of most of the features of the fort, which consist of ditches, cannon ball dents, look out points, dwelling placements, gun placements, trails, and artillery bunker. 

Once we have our application finished we will send it to Gretchen Brock, the National Register Coordinator of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources – Historic Preservation Division, for her department to review it before it is sent to the National Register for review.

Most Endangered Battlefields List

Melissa Noyes, Office Manager of the Civil War Preservation Trust, suggested that we nominate Fort Attaway for the Civil War Preservation Trust Most Endangered Battlefield’s list. A nomination would give Fort Attaway recognition on the State level and if accepted onto the list, national recognition. Below is the link to the nomination form for the list http://www.civilwar.org/newsroom/nominationform.pdf. We have filled out the form and have sent it in.

Visitors to Fort Attaway

We have tried and succeeded in getting those who are deeply involved in Civil War preservation to view Fort Attaway and provide any advice and direction to help us preserve what is left of this prime example of earthen work fortifications.

Oliver Keller / Elaine Rivers / Charlie Crawford – Georgia Battlefield Association. Mr. Keller advised us to contact Ron Cescutti to view the site and give his thoughts. 

Ron Cescutti – Ron Cescutti has been a major force in preserving important pieces of Rome’s history. Two accomplishments are monuments erected for the founder of Rome, and another at the graves of the Alabama soldiers’ that died at Farmer’s Bridge at Armuchee Creek. Ron has been a major help in advice and has found most of the artifacts that have been found so far. He and his son Ricky are the only ones permitted to search.

John Carruth – John has done enormous amounts of preservation work for Rome, Georgia. He has visited Fort Attaway and provided us with vital information on the history of the fort.


Serena Bellew, Environmental Review Coordinator – Department of Natural Resources, Historic Preservation Division / Scott Butler – Brockington & Associates, Inc.

Serena and Scott viewed the fort and agreed that the boundaries set by the GA DOT do not encompass the entire fort. Serena provided good advice on the writing of our NRHP nomination and Scott drew new boundaries for the fort.

Tanya Gossett, Preservation Planner / Glenn Williams, Historian – National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, American Battlefield Protection Program, Heritage Preservation Services

Tanya and Glenn were out this way from Washington, D.C. for some work at Kennesaw Mountain and were good enough to visit Fort Attaway and the surrounding areas that led up to the skirmish at Fort Attaway and Little Dry Creek. They provided advice, encouragement, and the information to the “Closing Ranks” conference in Albany, New York.

Barry Brown, Trails Coordinator – Department of Natural Resources, Historic Preservation Division
Dan Childs, Commissioner – Georgia Civil War Commission

Barry and Dan provided us good feed back on the talk going on about our efforts for Fort Attaway. They suggested we write a Vision Statement for the Fort Attaway Preservation Society that shows our clear and pure intentions for the fort. They also suggested that we give a presentation to the GA Civil War Commission about our work and what our goals are.


Quarry Issue: before or after the fort?

Many have been talking about whether the quarry came after or before the fort. Information from the Rome History Museum on Rome’s Broad Street, informed us that the quarry came before, and that the fort was built on top of it. The fort was not quarried after the Civil War. 


“Closing Ranks” Conference

We will travel to Albany, New York for the National Park Service American Battlefield Protection Program and The Civil War Preservation Trust Sixth National Conference on Battlefield Preservation “Closing Ranks”. We will set up a table with our information about Fort Attaway and attend workshops provided by the conference.


Fort Attaway Media Releases

Melissa Noyes, of the Civil War Preservation Trust, pointed us in the right direction to getting articles published in various newspapers and Civil War magazines. Below are articles about Fort Attaway:

The Civil War News
Atlanta Journal and Constitution http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/epaper/editions/monday/metro_d3f18eb580be017e00ef.html
Civil War Interactive http://www.civilwarinteractive.com/attaway.htm

Rome News Tribune www.romenews-tribune.com
Articles: Rome defense impressed Union general, DOT’s plans worry friend of fort, and Layout, trenches of typical Civil War

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 Fort Attaway Preservation Society, Inc.
1202 Desoto Avenue, Rome, GA 30165  (706) 234-0537
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