POMEROY — A project is underway to amend the existing National Register of Historic Places nomination for Buffington Island Civil War battlefield in Meigs County and a community meeting has been set for 7 p.m. tonight (Tuesday) at the Meigs County Historical Society annex for public input.

Joseph Brent, who is preparing the project to amend the existing registry nomination will be conducting the meeting at which time the project will b e discussed.

“Everyone is invited to come and learn more about the efforts of the Meigs County Historical Society, Buffington Island Battlefield Preservation Foundation, Ohio Historic Preservation Office and the American Battlefield Protection Program in moving this important project forward, ” said Brent.

Currently, only the four-acre Buffington Island State Memorial is listed in the National Register. A recent American Battlefield Protection Program study determined that the battlefield encompasses over 1,200 acres in the Portland bottom area.

The National Park Service’s American Battlefield Protection Program is funding this project through a grant to the Ohio Historic Preservation Office of the Ohio Historical Society. Brent’s company, Mudpuppy & Waterdog, Inc. of Versailles, Ky. was awarded the contract to handle the project through a competitive bidding process.

Tonight’s meeting will be the second of three community meetings. The final meeting will be held in Portland on Sept. 25, and the project will be completed in December.

“This stage of the project is important. Now is the time for the people of Meigs County to provide their input. The battlefield is an important part of the rich history of the county. The Civil War Sesquicentennial marks the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War. This timely project seeks national recognition for this battlefield, which is often overlooked,” said Brent who encouraged interested residents to come out to the meeting.

For more information residents can contact Joseph Brent at (859) 879-8509 or by email at jbrent1@windstream.net or call the Meigs County Historical Society Museum at (740) 992-3810.