The impact

of a true Civil War attraction in Coweta County could be

enormous, according to a representative of the

Newnan-Coweta Historical Society.

Ellen

Ehrenhard told the Coweta County Commissioners this week

that Civil War tourism is on the rise and Coweta County

has a perfect opportunity to capitalize on it.

The Battle

of Brown's Mill was fought in the county, and the newly

appointed director of the historical society has been

working hard to try and secure part of the battlefield to

be used as a park.

Part of the

site, near Corinth and Old Corinth roads, is already

developed, but another part is still virgin land and is

owned by a paper company.

Ehrenhard

has been in contact with officials at the paper company

and is hopeful the firm will donate or sell off part of

the historic site.

If the site

can be obtained, the director wanted direction from the

county on whether the facility should be a state or a

county park.

She cited

figures showing the impact of battlefields such as

Gettysburg and Mannasas on local economies, and said the

county would definitely reap some economic benefits.

Additionally,

the site could be used by local school groups as a field

trip to really bring the Civil War home.

Commissioners

agreed with Ehrenhard's efforts to preserve the site and

adopted a resolution endorsing her efforts to secure the

facility as a park.

But the

commissioners asked the director not to narrow her scope

to just a county park until the land is acquired. At that

time, county officials would check into the possibilities

of the state running the facility.

The

Historical Society director wants to incorporate the

battlefield and the old train depot in Newnan, currently

under renovation, as a Civil war attraction and attract

more visitors to the area.

She pledged

to keep the commissioners updated on her efforts.