Historic battlefield home open to visitors

By Bill Robinson

KINGSTON June 27, 2009 10:01 pm

— A home that survived the 1862 Battle of Richmond and now forms the centerpiece of Madison County’s Battlefield Park is open to visitors two days a week this summer.
Pleasant View, located at 1546 Battlefield Memorial Highway, will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays through the end of August.
Volunteers from the Battle of Richmond Association (BORA) will serve as hosts when the home is open and answer questions about the home and the battle, according to Paul Rominger, the association’s managing director.
Some period furniture and flags are on display in the house.
BORA is a friends group founded in early 2002 dedicated to preserving and properly interpreting the battlefield, Rominger said.
Interior renovations are planned for the Pleasant View house in the near future, according to Phillip Seyfrit, Madison County historic properties director.
“The renovation will return the home to its Civil War appearance,” he said. “Renovations to the original slave quarters located near the home should begin later this summer.”
In addition to the historic dwelling, Battlefield Park features two miles of walking trails lined with interpretive markers.
Battlefield Park, along with the Battle of Richmond Visitors’ Center, are maintained by the county’s historic properties division.
The visitors’ center at the Junction of US 25/421 north of the park is open to the public Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Exhibits at the visitors’ center include a 12-minute video shot during the annual battle re-enactment and a laser illuminated topographical map that depicts the terrain and roads from Big Hill to beyond Richmond.
Another video describes the battle’s main stages as the laser lights trace troop formations and movements on the map.
The sword and pistol of Gen. Malon Manson, the Union’s second in command during the battle, are on display, along with his field manual, china, crystal, writing table and other effects.
The annual Battle of Richmond re-enactment, organized by BORA, will be staged Aug. 29-30, the actual battle dates.
For more information about Battlefield Park and events, call Seyfrit at 624-0013 or Rominger at 248-1974. Information also can be obtained from the Web site: battleofrichmond.org.
Battlefield Park also is home to the Rose Barn Theatre, at which Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” will be performed July 9-12. Call 893-7778 for details.

Bill Robinson can be reached at brobinson@richmondregister.com or at 624-6622.