TCWPA recognizes leaders from across the state for work in their communities to protect and interpret our Civil War sites. “The Ragland Award goes to a community member(s) who has made outstanding contributions to the preservation and interpretation of Tennessee’s Civil War battlefields or lesser-known sites,” said TCWPA President Hodges. In 2024, two leaders from Franklin were selected, and both reflect the outstanding commitment to preservation efforts in Middle Tennessee.
Civil War preservation happens in communities across our state, and it takes boots on the ground preservationists like Hoover and Ireland to make it happen. Here are Bob and Mike’s stories: Bob Ireland is working with the owners of Homestead Manor in Thompson’s Station to develop a historic interpretation program. Bob’s story is one of persistence, patience, and passion. Bob has studied the Battle of Thompson’s Station for his history and GIS course work and while preparing battlefield preservation and interpretation assessments for the TCWPA in 2020-2021. During this time, Homestead Manor was undergoing a change in ownership, and when Bob realized that the new owners were interested in historic interpretation as part of their community outreach efforts, he arranged for a meeting to pitch his ideas to property manager Aaron Sanders. While the Battle of Thompson’s Station is known for the heroics of Alice Thompson and the death of Forrest’s horse Roderick, Bob took a different approach when he met Aaron. Believing that many wonderful stories were being overlooked, Bob told the story of the 22nd Wisconsin, who fought in the battle after gaining fame and notoriety as “the abolition regiment”, who helped runaway slaves reach freedom while they were based in Kentucky. Bob also told the story of William S. McLemore who was born in Thompson’s Station and fought in the battle there, whose life was saved when a bullet hit his canteen. Believing these human-interest stories were important to tell along with the history of the house, its owners, and the battle, Aaron wanted to move ahead. Unfortunately, the work involved in taking over the 50-acre property with multiple buildings prevented Homestead Manor from immediately pursuing the interpretation project. Bob continued his research, gathering more and more pictures, stories and accounts. Now, two years after the initial meeting, the interpretation project is moving ahead, as plans are being made, grant applications are being prepared, and fundraising will soon begin. In addition, the preliminary plans have been reviewed with the Town of Thompson’s Station, who have reacted favorably, and may become part of the project. It has been a long journey, but persistence, patience, and passion pay.
Mike Hoover first became involved with the Spring Hill Cemetery around 2012 after a staff member at Rippa Villa found an1866 news article where a local resident, named Martha Bond, listed names in the newspaper of soldiers that were either already buried or reinterred in the cemetery. There was a large empty space in the cemetery that was noted on cemetery documents as a Confederate cemetery but until the article was rediscovered, the names had been forgotten. Mike was asked to help research and confirm the identities of the soldiers listed in the article to get tombstones for each of the soldiers. Since then, we have marked 42 of the 49 soldiers listed in the cemetery. In 2013, the Sons of Confederate Veterans installed a monument for Captain Samuel Freeman, who was listed in the article. The previous cemetery board members had tried to get the City of Spring Hill to take over the cemetery, but the city declined. In 2017, MikeI was one of several people who volunteered to take over maintenance of the cemetery. Mike currently serves as president of the cemetery board. Besides the group’s work on the Confederate section, they have also replaced the cemetery entry way sign, straightened and repaired broken stones, and are currently working on historical marker signage.
The TCWPA website now features Boots on the Ground: A Manual for Battlefield Friends Groups developed by ABT and Board member Phil Walker. This is a great resource on how to make Civil War preservation happen in your community. These Boots on the Ground efforts are led by individuals and friends’ groups — typically volunteer-driven, non-profit entities that offer support to their associated battlefields and lesser-known Civil War sites. This resource can be found at www.tcwpa.org/preservation-plan/ and on ABT’s website www.battlefields.org.
(Left) President Hodges and Board member Countess presented the 2024 Peckham / Ragland Award to Bob Ireland. (Right) President Hodges presents the 2024 Peckham / Ragland Award to Mike Hoover.
