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News Updates
Johnson Historic Site Needs $500,000 For Repairs, Upkeep
Sun Photo by Phil Gentry This photo shows deterioration of the wall surrounding the Andrew Johnson National Cemetery.
Source: The Greeneville Sun
by Amy Rose
Date: 2008-10-25
The Andrew Johnson National Historic Site needs nearly $500,000 in additional funds to maintain its cultural resources, according to a report released Tuesday by the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA).
The association conducted an assessment of the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site, including the Homestead and the National Cemetery, one of only two active burial sites operated by the National Park Service for U.S. veterans and their families.
According to the assessment by NPCA’s Center for the State of the Parks, the cultural resources of the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site are in good condition, scoring an overall 83 out of 100 points — the highest overall cultural resources score for any park assessed by NPCA to date.
The assessment found that additional funding is needed to repair historic structures, maintain cemetery grounds, and improve visitor safety and accessibility for U.S. veterans, according to a press release from NPCA.
“As we commemorate the bicentennial of President Andrew Johnson’s birth, we must ensure that the National Park Service has the necessary resources to maintain the Homestead and our national cemetery, which is a final resting place for thousands of United States veterans,” said Emily Jones, NPCA program manager in Knoxville.
A system-wide review of nearly 60 national parks indicates the national average for the condition of cultural resources is 61, compared to the Andrew Johnson Site’s score of 83, according to the press release.
“That’s pretty tremendous,” said Lizzie Watts, superintendent of the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site, in regard to the high score.
In an interview Friday, Watts commended the historic site’s staff, previous management and community volunteers for working to maintain the site’s resources.
Despite the high score achieved by the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site, the report finds that additional funding and staffing is needed for basic maintenance and to complete a host of rehabilitation projects.
Mowing Of Cemetery
For example, additional maintenance staff is needed to mow grass surrounding the more than 1,800 headstones and to place headstones at new burials for 40 to 60 veterans and dependents each year.
Watts noted that the site now has two maintenance employees — one full-time and one part-time — and a total of 11 employees.
Also, the report found that funds are needed to repair the National Cemetery lodge’s slate roof, install cemetery handrails, and rehabilitate the wooden porches at the Andrew Johnson Early Home.
Without repairs, these are safety hazards to visitors and staff, the press release said.
“The Andrew Johnson National Historic Site, like many of our national parks, suffers from chronic funding shortfalls, which limits the interpretation of our American heritage and preservation of one of our national treasures,” Jones said. “With only eight years until the National Park Service centennial, we must ensure our national parks are preserved in perpetuity for our children and grandchildren.”
Park Service staff have recently completed a number of important repair and rehabilitation projects, including replacing the roofs on the Andrew Johnson Homestead and his Early Home, replacing the porch deck at the Homestead, rehabilitating sidewalks in the national cemetery, and straightening headstones in the cemetery, the press release noted.
However, $208,980 is needed to complete the rehabilitation of the 100-year-old wall surrounding the cemetery, and $133,016 is needed to install handrails and improve safety and accessibility at the Homestead, according to the report.
These structures need to be repaired because age has caused cracking and drainage problems, and without repair they pose a risk to park visitors, according to the press release.
The site needs a total of $498,571, including $40,500 to develop a temporary access road in part of the cemetery and $20,000 to replace the Early Home porch deck, according to the report.
Watts said her top priority, assuming funds were available, would be the most damaged portions of the cemetery wall, because of the role it plays in honoring veterans who are buried there.
She said the wall is 100 years old, and it has had no major repairs.
Her second priority, she said, would be the monument at Johnson’s grave, which needs to be cleaned and restored.
She said she recently discovered that the beak of the eagle at the top of the monument is broken. Watts said she cannot find any record of the monument or cemetery wall being cleaned or restored.
Her third priority would be development of a temporary road to provide access to the two last sections of the cemetery, she said.
Report findings indicate that increased operational costs, increased fuel, natural gas, and electricity costs, and increases in cost of living adjustments have prevented the park from being able to provide any increased level of visitor services.
“It’s hard to keep historic structures in good shape, especially with a very small budget,” Watts said.
The Andrew Johnson National Historic Site operates on an estimated annual budget of $760,000, according to Watts.
Its staff completes daily preventive maintenance, and its management team conducts quarterly maintenance inspections that are developed into yearly plans based on available funding, Watts said.
She recalled that NPCA visited the Greeneville site in the fall of last year and the spring of this year.
NPCA is encouraging Congress and the next administration to increase federal funding for the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site and all national parks.
To view a copy of the full report, visit www.npca.org/stateoftheparks/andrew_johnson/.
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