Episode 78 - Gary Knepp - Clermont County Historian

Ep. 78 — Gary Knepp on Camp Dennison and Clermont County’s Civil War History We’re back after last week’s storms and power outages with two weeks of news from across Clermont County. We start with a potentially massive advanced-manufacturing development in Williamsburg Township, where county officials have approved a tax-abatement agreement for a project that could begin with roughly one million square feet of manufacturing space. We also look at major stream-restoration and stormwater work, plans for a $100-million-plus expansion of the Lower East Fork wastewater treatment plant, and what those infrastructure projects may tell us about Clermont County’s continued growth. In Batavia, Village Council has given itself final approval over major planned developments, adopted a new policy toward residential tax abatements and annexation, and the effort to put dissolution of the village before voters has been rejected by the Clermont County Board of Elections — although a court challenge could still follow. We also cover West Clermont Schools’ worsening financial outlook, New Richmond Schools’ improved budget forecast after major spending reductions, Loveland’s $14 million PFAS treatment financing package, Tate Township’s proposed zoning rewrite, and a potential expansion of Union Township’s marijuana-related Joint Economic Development District. Interview — Gary Knepp Clermont County historian and author Gary Knepp returns for his third appearance on the show to talk about his new book, The Story of Camp Dennison – 1861–1865. Camp Dennison was one of Ohio’s largest Civil War military facilities, serving as a training camp, hospital and discharge center for tens of thousands of soldiers. At its peak, the camp held enough men to rival some of Ohio’s largest cities. Gary explains why the camp was established near Cincinnati, how its access to the Little Miami Railroad and river made the location valuable, and how fears of a Confederate attack helped shape its early mission. We also talk about the Siege of Cincinnati, when soldiers and civilians mobilized to defend the region as Confederate forces moved through Kentucky. But Gary’s book goes far beyond dates and troop movements. Drawing on letters, diaries, military records, photographs and years of archival research, he reconstructs the experiences of the people who actually passed through Camp Dennison. Those stories include a Quaker officer who entered the war but refused to carry a firearm, a chaplain who rode under fire to bring water to wounded soldiers, prisoners who survived Andersonville, soldiers facing disease and primitive medical care, and Clermont County men whose wartime experiences eventually carried them to some of the Civil War’s most important battlefields. Gary also describes everyday life at the camp — learning to march, drilling with rifles, eating hardtack and salt pork, battling measles and other diseases, visiting nearby churches, writing letters home and finding ways to pass the time between assignments. The conversation explores Camp Dennison’s enormous military hospital and the transformation of Civil War medicine after battles such as Shiloh produced casualties on a scale the country had never experienced. Gary explains the realities of battlefield wounds, amputations, disease and the work of the Sisters of Charity, who cared for soldiers at Camp Dennison before serving in hospitals closer to the fighting. We also talk about Gary’s research process. The book took roughly 25 years to complete and sent him through the National Archives, historical societies, museums, battlefields and small towns across the South as he followed the stories of individual soldiers. Along the way, he uncovered forgotten records, tracked down locations described in wartime letters and worked with private collectors whose photographs and artifacts help bring the story of Camp Dennison to life. Finally, Gary discusses what remains of Camp Dennison today, efforts to map the original camp using modern technology, and upcoming walking tours that give people a chance to explore the site themselves. Links from This Episode Visit Gary Knepp’s website Find The Story of Camp Dennison – 1861–1865 on Amazon News A challenge over a proposed data-center ban in Trenton heads to the Ohio Supreme Court after city officials reject the petition over a dispute about the number of signatures required Clermont County approves a Community Reinvestment Area agreement for a potentially massive advanced-manufacturing project in Williamsburg Township The Williamsburg project could begin with roughly one million square feet of manufacturing space and may ultimately include multiple phases Public records strongly suggest the development may be connected to Lonza’s proposed $1 billion biotech manufacturing project, although that relationship has not been publicly confirmed The Adams-Clermont Solid Waste District announces a free scrap-tire collection event at the Clermont County Fairgrounds Clermont Soil and Water moves ahead with its largest stream-restoration project to date along the Lower East Fork Little Miami River Plans continue to remove the old Cloverlick Creek low-head dam near Bethel Clermont County begins work toward updating its countywide comprehensive land-use plan Soil and Water reports increasing stormwater, flooding and drainage demands alongside continued development Clermont County prepares for more than $100 million in improvements and expansion at the Lower East Fork Wastewater Treatment Plant The long-term plan could increase the plant’s normal treatment capacity from roughly 9 million to 14 million gallons per day Batavia Village Council gives itself final approval authority over detailed plans for major planned-unit developments Batavia adopts a new development policy discouraging residential property-tax abatements except in extraordinary circumstances The village also says it will no longer actively pursue annexation simply for the sake of growth The Clermont County Board of Elections rejects the petition seeking to put dissolution of the Village of Batavia on the November ballot Petition organizers could still seek review from the Ohio Supreme Court West Clermont Schools says recent Ohio property-tax changes could reduce projected revenue by roughly $40 million to $50 million over the next several years West Clermont officials point toward a possible property or income-tax levy in 2027 as the district faces declining reserves Loveland secures $14 million in Ohio EPA financing toward a roughly $17 million project to remove PFAS from its drinking water Tate Township moves forward with a comprehensive rewrite of its decades-old zoning code Tate’s proposal includes new rules for data centers, short-term rentals, home businesses, solar development, accessory dwelling units and other land uses Union Township schedules an October public hearing on an expansion of JEDD No. 9, the district associated with retail marijuana dispensaries New Richmond Schools says aggressive cost cutting has dramatically improved its near-term financial outlook following revenue losses tied largely to the closure of the Zimmer Power Plant New Richmond administrators warn some of those reductions are now contributing to larger class sizes and reduced capacity for open-enrollment students Work continues at New Richmond’s riverfront docks, which remain closed to the public Events Union Township Farmers Market Natural Dye and Nature Trivia Milford Farmers Market Stonelick Township Junk Disposal Day Simmons Farms Saturday Farmers Market Concert in the Park featuring Zac Attack Music in the Park in New Richmond Premier Car and Truck Cruise-In Goshen Ohio Farmers Market Dog Days of Summer Dog Hike Chillseekers Women’s Summer Hike Series Hike with Park Staff at Pattison Park Lakeside Union Township Farmers Market Union Township Summer Concert featuring the Marty Connor Band Full Moon Paddle at Chilo Lock 34 Milford Farmers Market Follow Let’s Talk Clermont on Facebook and Instagram, and sign up for the Thursday newsletter. 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