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By Cathy Willoughby, staff writer
Advertiser-Tribune (Tiffin, OH)
11-20-99
A grade school letter writing campaign in Maumee culminated in a celebration and press conference Friday morning.
The youngsters at Fort Miami Elementary School were celebrating the passage of legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives Thursday, designating the Fallen Timbers Monument, Fallen Timbers Battlefield site, and Fort Miamis as national historic parks.
Although they will remain under the management of the Toledo Metroparks System, this bill opens the way for development.
Heidelberg College archaeology professor G. Michael Pratt was on hand. He was the one who discovered the site of the historic 1794 battle in Maumee. Another spot had been thought to be the site.
"When I began the historic and archaeological research on both sites," Pratt said. "I knew that they were nationally historic sites. I never though we would get through the political process to recognize them officially. I think it's reached the point where preservation is inevitable."
Also present at the school for the Friday morning press conference were an aide to U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur's office; Jean Ward, director of the Toledo Area Metroparks; Marianne Duvendack, director of the Fallen Timbers Battlefield Commission; and the children who spent weeks writing to both senators and representatives, as well as making posters to urge the community to join them.
"The 1794 battle between the settlers and the Indians gave the United States the city of Detroit and secured Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois for settlement," said Jonathan, spokesman for the fifth grade class. "Maumee and Toledo are putting $7.5 million into this activity. Hopefully, Mr. Clinton will sign the bill into law."
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