PARKERSBURG -The Greater Parkersburg Convention and Visitors Bureau announced the production of a Mid-Ohio Valley Civil War documentary Wednesday.
Steve Nicely, president of the CVB, announced the Walkabout Company, a Wheeling-based video production firm, will create a half-hour documentary of the area's Civil War links in conjunction with the state and the nation's sesquicentennial commemorations of the Civil War.
"This is an incredibly important project for the CVB," Nicely said during a press conference at Fort Boreman Historical Park.
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Photos by Jody Murphy
Members of Carlin’s Battery prepare to fire the cannon from Fort Boreman Historical Park during Wednesday’s press conference. Henry Burke, author and Underground Railroad historian, is set to fire the cannon. Burke is one of several local historians who will be interviewed as part of the documentary about the area’s Civil War ties.
Nicely said the documentary will feature interviews with noted local historians and gather footage of historic Wood County sites.
Historians include Henry Burke, author and Underground Railroad historian; Robert Crooks, local historian; Bob Enoch, president of the Wood County Historical and Preservation Society; Brian Kesterson, author and local historian; Dave McKain, author and local historian; and Ray Swick, Blennerhassett State Park historian.
Nicely said the documentary will be completed by the spring of 2010 and it has already drawn interest from West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
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Nicely said the documentary will provide a unique opportunity for the county to display and promote its Civil War heritage to visitors. It will cost $33,000 to complete the half-hour production. Nicely said funding for the project will come from the CVB's budget as well as a grant from the McDonough Foundation. The CVB will also seek out additional grants to help defray the cost.
Nicely said the documentary will provide an opportunity for the county to display and promote its Civil War heritage to visitors.
The documentary is just one part of the Civil War heritage project, according to Nicely.
The CVB will also produce a full-color brochure, a direct-mail campaign, promote a driving tour and conduct several local programs.
Nicely is hoping to connect with West Virginia University-Parkersburg for a Civil War Symposium and the Parkersburg Art Center to display local artifacts.
"We hope a number of organizations in the area will want to do something," Nicely said. "Our role will be to coordinate it as one package."
