CIVIL WAR PRESERVATION TRUST LISTS YADKIN RIVER BRIDGE AMONG AMERICA'S 25 MOST ENDANGERED BATTLEFIELDS
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Development of High Rock Raceway would build parking lots and a racetrack on 200 acres of the heart of the Yadkin River Bridge Civil War battlefield. This project also would block access to the 1818 Ithiel Town Bridge, the Ferry crossed by Jefferson Davis at the close of the Civil War, as well as a stream along which Revolutionary War armies camped in the fall of 1780. The racetrack property was annexed by the Town of Spencer, which granted it a Conditional Use Permit. The racetrack developer still needs to raise financial backing, pay off old debts, conduct environmental cleanup of previous contamination of the land, and obtain a number of other permits.
Bulldozing over hallowed ground. Repeatedly ignoring admonitions and a "stop work" order from Rowan County, the developer of a proposed racetrack bulldozed over hallowed ground where Confederates won their last N. C. victory in the war which tested the unity of the nation. Work was finally stopped by a court-ordered restraining order.
More information and What You Can Do ...
Also see Race Track Watch and News for more information.
OTHER THREATS IN THE TRADING FORD AREA
The Trading Ford area of the Yadkin River contains an incredible concentration of historic sites: Native-American; early roads, fords and ferries; early bridges; a Revolutionary War battlefield and campsites; a Civil War battlefield; and possibly a 16th century Spanish fort. This highly-significant historic area now faces threats from development and the failure of federal preservation laws.
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Duke Energy's application to build a new power plant threatens the historic Trading Ford itself and the heart of the Revolutionary War battlefield. An inadequate archaeology survey done in 2000 failed to recognize the proximity to the Trading Ford and the presence of the Revolutionary War site. Duke Energy conducted additional study, but side-stepped evaluating the impact on the Revolutionary War and Trading Ford sites. This project may fall solely within the jurisdicton of NC's state preservation laws, which offer far less protection of historic sites than federal preservation laws. Duke Energy is more interested in getting clearance to proceed with the project than in preserving irreplacable historic properties.
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE REPORT TO CONGRESS GIVES HIGHEST NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE TO TRADING FORD REVOLUTIONARY WAR SITE. read more ...
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Realignment of I-85 "widening" project threatens the Trading Path, the Yadkin (John Long's/Cowan's/Hedrick's) Ferry, the Trading Ford Monument, and the Yadkin River Bridge Civil War Battlefield. Careful planning could have widened the interstate while doing little damage to historic properties. Instead, NCDOT fought the recognition of these historic sites, and gained approval without resolving National Register eligibility issues. The project has been delayed by unexpected statewide funding cutbacks.
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Federal preservation survey of 38 miles of the Yadkin River done by Alcoa Power Generating, Inc. (APGI) as part of its relicensing process for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) recognized the significance of the Trading Ford area, but provides lesser recognition and protection for battlefields, roads, fords, and ferries than for pre-contact archaeological sites. Additionally, since late 2002, APGI has managed High Rock Lake at near full-pond levels much of the time, threatening to destroy historic road beds through erosion.
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