Historical or histerical

virgil · Dec 22, 2004

I saw a show on the history channel the other night.

It was about the Cival War. Antetium, and other battle grounds up there in the north east.

Coming from a farming background, I noticed all the "investigators", "historians", and other "professionals" out there stomping around, prodding, digging, crossing fences, and generally destroying someones crop.

This kind of behavior would never be tolerated where I was raised unless there was some sort of compensation (money) for the producer.... Yes, down here even the universities must pay to come onto the farm and stomp the crops into the ground all in the name of history.

Perhaps there was some sort of compensation for the producer. The story did not say. Perhaps these precious grounds are "public" property. I don't know

Could some of you Maryland folks satisfy my curiosity about the rights of the land owner / producer. In other words, could I come up there, any time, and enter these hallowed grounds, and start digging around?

By the way, it was an excellant show.

MikePA · Dec 22, 2004

I've been to Antietam (Sharpsburg, MD) and all the places they were digging, e.g., Sunken Road, Cornfield, etc., are within the Antietam National Military park and not on private property. No compensation needed. I've also been to most of the military parks in the mid-Atlantic area from Gettysburg to Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg, etc. Very moving places to visit. And, no, you can not search the grounds of a military park with a metal detector, unless you have permission.

kensfarm · Dec 23, 2004

I'm sure they compensated the farmer in some way or had gotten permission.. even if it is public land rented out to a farmer... you can't just trample his crops.

Trespassers.. I don't think they let us just bury them anymore.. we have to compost them! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

virgil · Dec 23, 2004

thank you mr mikepa

sneaky_pete · Dec 23, 2004

Virgil,

Did you get snow yesterday? We are NE of Weatherford, between Veal Station and Azle, and everything is completely covered (maybe 1"?) and it's not melting so I guess we'll have a white Christmas.

Pete

MikePA · Dec 23, 2004

I'm sure they compensated the farmer in some way or had gotten permission.. even if it is public land rented out to a farmer... you can't just trample his crops. 
AFAIK, the park keeps corn planted in the Cornfield so that visitors can see what it looked like during the battle. It is not public land rented out to a farmer to plant and harvest a crop from.

virgil · Dec 23, 2004

yes we got about 1 inch on the ground.
I watched "bumper car cartoons" yeasterday.
Typical Texans are not able to stay on the raod during rain, much less a little slush on the road..
Roads are dry, people are still freaking out.
Got to had it to the yankies--they know how to handle the snow..
Forcast I heard is 65 degrees by monday.

kensfarm · Dec 23, 2004

Sorry Mike.. I wasn't referring to "Cornfield".. but to public land that is rented to farmers. I drive down Rt 116 every day on my way to work in Hanover, PA.

sneaky_pete · Dec 23, 2004

( yes we got about 1 inch on the ground.
I watched "bumper car cartoons" yeasterday.
Typical Texans are not able to stay on the raod during rain, much less a little slush on the road..
Roads are dry, people are still freaking out.
Got to had it to the yankies--they know how to handle the snow..)

Always amuses me too. If not experience, then you'd think a little common sense would clue folks in to starting and stopping a little slower, particularly on a bridge or overpass. And the guys driving pickup trucks apparently have no idea how light their rear ends are.