HAMPTON — Nash Farm Battlefield and Museum announced on Tuesday plans to close the museum, apparently after Henry County District 2 Commissioner Dee Clemmons requested they remove their Confederate flags from display at the property.



The museum property, owned by Henry County, housed a large artifact collection, period clothing exhibits, and history of the Nash Farm and family from the Civil War era battles that were fought on the site.



“These stories were told mainly through primary sources, sometimes secondary, but never tertiary sources. To exclude any Confederate flag would mean the historical value has been taken from our exhibits, and a fair interpretation could not be presented to each guest,” the Friends of Nash Farm Battlefield Inc. on the Nash Farm Battlefield Facebook page. “Confederate flags were on this hallowed ground, as were the Union flags. To remove either of them would be a dishonor.”



Bill Dodd is the museum’s curator and member of the Friends of Nash Farm group. He told the Herald Wednesday that the owner of the majority of the museum’s collection felt as though he was no longer welcome at the museum and did not have the support of Clemmons.



Dodd explained that over the last few months Clemmons has requested changes including the removal of an entrenchment replica used for living history tours and re-enactments.



“We did that,” Dodd said.



Weeks later, Dodd said a Henry County employee showed up on behalf of Clemmons and removed the Confederate battlefield flag from the flag pole. The employee took it into the museum and told volunteers they could display it only inside the museum.



“Two weeks ago Saturday, (Clemmons) came into the museum and stated that all Confederate flags needed to be removed,” Dodd said.



Dodd said the closing of the museum is a loss to the community.



“Over the years we’ve had more than 10,000 school children visit the battlefield for our living history program and visitors from 15 foreign countries and every state in the union,” Dodd said.



At this point, Dodd said he’s “done.”



“I’m tired of doing battle with our commissioners,” he said. “It’s not (Clemmons’s) decision alone, but if I don’t have the district commissioner’s support, how can I expect to have the support from any other BOC members.”



The only items remaining in the building are display pieces relocated to Nash Farm from Heritage Park and approximately 3,000 artifacts that belong to Henry County. The pieces were discovered during archaeological digs on the battlefield site.



Lets have Dee Clemons History as a commissioner erased!!!