CHARLESTON, Tenn. The Charleston-Calhoun-Hiwassee Historical Society is moving closer to using a $200,000 federal grant to create an interpretive greenway in Charleston, which stands on the epicenter of the 1830s Cherokee removal.
"We are thrilled to have been awarded the funding for the first section of the outdoor interpretation of the National Historic Trail," said Melissa Woody, vice president of tourism development for the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce.
The group received the grant eight months after two representatives from the National Park Service conducted a weeklong charrette to assess the possibility of developing an interpretive greenway that would tie in with the Trail of Tears, said Woody.
In a recent presentation of the award in Nashville, state Rep. Dan Howell, R-Georgetown, applauded Woody's involvement and commitment to making the trails experience a reality for Charleston.
"Without her vision, energy and determination we would not be where we are today with this project," said Howell.
He also expressed gratitude for the efforts of Darlene Goins, who serves as treasurer for the historical society, and Melissa Mortimer, who is the historic preservation planner for the Southeast Tennessee Development District.
The first phase of the trail will link the Hiwassee River Heritage Center, established in May 2013 by the historical society, to Charleston Public Park, Woody said.
"This is the section we are calling 'voices of the past,' as it features quotes and images from both sides of the struggle," she said.
One side of the walkway will feature images and quotes of the Cherokee people who were forced from their homes, while the other side will feature the images and quotes of military personnel, new settlers and government leaders who executed the removal.
Environmental requirements have been completed and the bidding process for engineering services is underway, said Woody.
The "trail of voices" was a key concept that originated in the National Park Service visit in March, she said.
Ultimately, the trail will connect the heritage center to the Hiwassee River, said Goins. The grant funding must be allocated to the project within two years.
It's a landmark achievement for the historical group, which was only established in 2008, said Woody.
The whole thing happened quickly, said Goins, stating that Mortimer approached her and Woody at the charrette wrap-up and urged them to apply for the grant.
"It was incredible," Goins said. "We had three weeks to put together this very long and complicated grant and then we receive it in just a few months."
Paul Leach is based in Cleveland. Email him at paul.leach.press@gmail.com.