Freedom Trail Group Meets to Advance Historic Preservation and Grant Opportunities
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Freedom Trail Group Meets to Advance Historic Preservation
and Grant Opportunities
Photos by Jodi Bond
Bill Claiborne discussing the history of Tennesseans in the Revolutionary War.
By Jodi Bond
The Norris Highland Correspondence Committee, commonly known as the Freedom Trail Group, held a meeting Tuesday at the Swain Education Building, located at the Scott County Museum. The gathering brought together key community leaders and historical advocates from across the region.
Among those in attendance were Tennessee State Representative Kelly Keisling; Scott County Mayor Jerried Jeffers; Town of Oneida Mayor Lori Phillips-Jones; Scott County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Stacey Swann; and representatives from the historic societies of Scott, Campbell, Anderson, Claiborne, and Union counties.
Featured speakers included David Jeffers of the Scott County Historic Society, Bill Claiborne of the Campbell County Historic Society, Dustin Burke of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Adam Velk of the Green McAdoo Cultural Center, and Jeff Swanson, director and curator of the U.S.S. TN Museum.
The “Freedom Trail” refers to a region stretching from Alvin C. York State Park to Cumberland Gap and extending south to Oak Ridge—an area rich in American history, forming an inverted triangle across East Tennessee.
Discussion at the meeting focused on Tennessee’s upcoming celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. The Tennessee Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial, also known as Tennessee America 250, was established to plan and promote statewide recognition of this milestone and to honor Tennessee’s role in shaping the nation’s history.
As part of the initiative, Tennessee America 250 is offering two grant opportunities to support local storytelling and historical projects:
Project Support Grants (up to $20,000)
Community Support Grants (up to $25,000)
A total of $3.5 million has been allocated for these programs. More information, including application guidelines, is available at TN250.com.
Speakers urged counties throughout the region, all of which are steeped in history from the Revolutionary War onward, to collaborate through their historic societies and pursue these grant opportunities. The group emphasized the importance of preserving local heritage and sharing Tennessee’s unique story on the national stage.