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Benton, TN - According to State transportation officials, federal regulations require that a project to expand a four-lane segment of US 411, be instead rerouted around the Nancy Ward Memorial and Burial site and Clemmer House located in Benton, Tennessee. The Tennesse Department of Transportation (TDOT) is calling for a bypass around the community in southeast TN, near Chattanooga, as the alternative.

The Nancy Ward Memorial and Burial site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Nancy Ward was a Cherokee Indian, who befriended white soldiers and settlers. Ward is known to the Cherokee People as "Beloved Woman", a designation that is ranked as important as a chief or president. The brick pattern used in the Clemmer House's construction makes it eligible to be listed on the NRHP.

State Rep. Chris Newton, R-Turtletown, estimated that a bypass would cost up to $1 million more than the expansion of an already existing road to a four-lane. "It doesn't make any sense", Newton said, predicting that a bypass could force as many as 30% of Benton businesses to close.

According to preservatinists Nancy Ward's brother, Longfellow, and Five-Killer, are also buried in the cemetary. Locals contend there is no hard evidence that shows this to be true. The owner of the Clemmer House, Ken Bishop, has offered to tear down the house and donate the property to the state, if the state will simply widen 411 through town. This can't be done, according to TDOT Commissioner Bruce Saltsman, because federal law prohibits the state from funding projects that uses land from a historic site.

State Rep. Frank Buck, D-Dowelltown, asked what right the federal government has to stop Bishop from tearing down his own house. Saltsman replied that it would not make a difference because the land is also classified as historic and said, "we are only doing what we have to do."

Related URLS:

Tennessee Department of Transportation
Tennessee State Government
Contact Information: Tennessee House of Representatives
"101st General Assembly"