Thursday, March 13, 2008
Town of Matewan Attempting To Gain National Park Status.
With many miles of a long journey still ahead of them, the town of Matewan is another step closer to attaining its goal of becoming a National Park.During a council meeting earlier this week, Mayor Sheila Kessler read House Concurrent Resolution No. 7, which recently was passed during the regular legislative session session by the West Virginia House of Delegates and the West Virginia Senate.The resolution was passed in supporting of the town’s effort to obtain National Park Status for the National Historic Landmark District.In October 2007, Congressman Nick Joe Rahall (D-W.Va.) introduced the Battle of Matewan Study Act. This legislation would require the National Park Service to complete a special resource study of the sites and resources in Matewan, focusing on those associated with the battle of Matewan. This study is the first step in determining the feasibility of designating certain historic areas as a National Park. The House of Representatives passed the legislation as part of a larger public lands package, the America’s Historical and Natural Legacy Study Act, in December 2007.
The legislation that contains the Battle of Matewan Study Act has been referred to the Senate Energy and Natural Resource Committee.In a letter, dated March 3, 2008, Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) notified Paul McAllister Jr., who has been instrumental in pushing for this designation, that he will be contacting Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), who chairs the committee, about the best way to make certain this matter is quickly sent out of his committee and sent to the Senate floor.“If he suggests that I introduce an identical Senate version, I will do that,” said Rockefeller. “Or if he asks me to publicly state my support for the Rahall bill, that is the course I will follow.”Rahall says he is committed to seeing the important process of creating a National Historic Site in the town of Matewan continue.Since 1996 Matewan has been listed as one of only 20 National Historic Landmarks in the state of West Virginia. Being listed as a Historic Landmark is a prerequisite to becoming a National Park.“If Matewan is designated as a National Park, the town will be greatly enriched with federal funding and tourism,” said McAllister.
Information courtesy of Williamson Daily News.
The legislation that contains the Battle of Matewan Study Act has been referred to the Senate Energy and Natural Resource Committee.In a letter, dated March 3, 2008, Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) notified Paul McAllister Jr., who has been instrumental in pushing for this designation, that he will be contacting Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), who chairs the committee, about the best way to make certain this matter is quickly sent out of his committee and sent to the Senate floor.“If he suggests that I introduce an identical Senate version, I will do that,” said Rockefeller. “Or if he asks me to publicly state my support for the Rahall bill, that is the course I will follow.”Rahall says he is committed to seeing the important process of creating a National Historic Site in the town of Matewan continue.Since 1996 Matewan has been listed as one of only 20 National Historic Landmarks in the state of West Virginia. Being listed as a Historic Landmark is a prerequisite to becoming a National Park.“If Matewan is designated as a National Park, the town will be greatly enriched with federal funding and tourism,” said McAllister.
Information courtesy of Williamson Daily News.
# posted by Joe Kinzer @ 6:55 PM 
