National Civil War Museum

A political dispute between the National Civil War Museum (pictured) in Harrisburg and Mayor Eric Papenfuse jeopardized a 14-year-old's Eagle Scout project. DAN GLEITER, The Patriot-News

(Dan Gleiter | PennLive.com, 2012)

A 14-year-old boy's Eagle Scout project has been caught in the middle of a political battle between Harrisburg's National Civil War Museum and Mayor Eric Papenfuse.

The mayor's desire to see Dauphin County hotel tax revenue redirected from the museum to the city pushed the boy to move the bronze sculpture project to Gettysburg.

The boy, a student in Cumberland County and a volunteer with the museum, is a Civil War buff. To earn his Eagle Scout badge, he set his sights on completing a project involving often-forgotten figures from the bloody conflict: Drummer boys his age who sacrificed their lives to help lead tired troops into battle.

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PennLive is withholding the boy's name at the request of his parents who don't want his project affected by negative attention brought by the political dispute.

He approached the museum's board of directors in the fall of 2013 to share his vision for the project dubbed "Unity Park," a small gathering spot he would develop outside the museum. The park's centerpiece would be a bronze drummer boy statue, a member of the museum's board of directors said.

The board saw how much work the boy invested in the concept and approved the project. Not only would the statue be crafted by renowned sculptor Gary Casteel, whose works dot the battlefields of Gettysburg and beyond, it would attract tourists to the city, said Gene Barr, a past chairman and current member of the museum board. He said he knows of no other monument that celebrates Civil War musicians.

Initially, the project progressed smoothly.

The boy raised tens of thousands of dollars in donations, including cash, materials and labor needed to develop the park at the museum.

Things took a turn last fall.

As Papenfuse argued with museum officials over hotel tax revenue, city solicitor Neil Grover sent the boy's mother an email Sept. 15 informing her that her son's project would not be approved if the city had to work with the museum, which he labeled "a third party who already stands at odds with the interests of Harrisburg taxpayers."

PennLive obtained a copy of the email from a source, not the boy's family.

The boy's parents refused to discuss the matter with PennLive and did not permit an interview with their son.

Gettysburg Area School District has confirmed that his Unity Park project now is destined for the district's high school campus. And the National Civil War museum is none too pleased about losing it.

"We are tremendously disappointed in this result, particularly since the city had recruited the young man to bring this project to the city and the museum and various city officials, as well as Susquehanna Township authorities, had given their approval to the work," Barr said. "It is indeed unfortunate that this quality project will be going elsewhere. It could certainly have helped increase attendance at the museum and visitation to the city."

Papenfuse's office did not respond to repeated interview requests for this story.

Initially, the mayor seemed pleased with the project, as his office even highlighted the plans in an April 2014 newsletter.

Other city leaders, including City Council President Wanda Williams got behind the project, too, as did officials in neighboring Susquehanna Township, who had to give their blessing since a section of the museum property sits in the township.

Williams, who said she fought for the project and met with the boy and others involved with it, was upset to learn Unity Park is heading to Gettysburg.

"I am so upset by the fact that we are going to lose [the statue]," Williams said. "It was a wonderful gift."

Gettysburg Area School District confirmed it has approved the Unity Park project, which should be developed on the district's campus by spring. The park will go in at Baltimore and LeFever streets, on a piece of property near the entrance of the middle school and Lincoln Elementary School, said Gettysburg Superintendent Larry Reading.

"(The park's move to Gettysburg) was all initiated by (the boy) approaching our school board. He made a presentation of his concept," Reading said. "It's quite attractive ... (The boy) wanted to get the pathway, concrete work and base to support the statue done anytime the weather is appropriate to pour concrete ... they ultimately want to have a dedication."

The borough is waiting on the Boy Scout's family to complete some minor paperwork details before a building permit is issued for Unity Park, said Scott Dellett , Gettysburg's permit/zoning officer. However, Dellett said he expects to hear from the family and sign off on the project soon.

This story was updated to include additional information and to correct the location Unity Park is planned for on the school district's campus.