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Fisher’s Hill and Tom’s Brook Battlefields Preservation Plan, Shenandoah County, Virginia
Fisher's Hill

With Shenandoah County and the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation as clients, Sympoetica prepared this preservation plan for two of the County’s important battlefields. Both battlefields straddle Route 11. Working with a landowner steering committee, Sympoetica developed a series of preservation recommendations for land and easement acquisition and also suggested design guidelines to protect views of the battlefields from local roads. Already, as a result of the adoption of this plan, the SVBF has been able to purchase a large parcel of prime battlefield land along Route 11 in Fisher’s Hill and another key parcel along Route 11 in Toms Brook.

Cross Keys & Port Republic Battlefields Preservation Plan, Rockingham County, Virginia:

This first battlefield preservation plan of the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation has been well received by battlefield landowners, the SVBF Board, Rockingham County, and the National Park Service. Sympoetica prepared a plan that focuses on preservation of battlefield resources through both private and public means. An array of preservation techniques is included, all honed to meet the needs of local landowners, many of whom served on the plan’s advisory board. According to National Park Service Preservation Planner, Tanya Gossett, “this plan is perhaps the best battlefield preservation plan the American Battlefield Protection Program has seen.

Third Winchester (Opequon) Battlefield Preservation Plan, Frederick County, Virginia:


Sympoetica prepared an interpretive and preservation plan for the Third Winchester Battlefield, classified by the Federal Civil War Sites Advisory Commission as one of the most significant and threatened battlefields in the United States. The planning effort evaluated all land within the core of the battlefield for its historic significance, integrity, and threat of development, identified the critical historic resources to be preserved and interpreted, and identified parcels for preservation. After a series of interactive public forums, Sympoetica prepared an interpretive master plan addressing visitor access and parking, visitor center location, information kiosks, interpretive and directional signage, trails, re-enactment and events area, and restoration of historic structures and features.

Historic Edinburg Mill Restoration, Edinburg, Virginia:

Sympoetica prepared a TEA-21 grant application for purchase and rehabilitation of the historic Edinburg Mill on the Valley Pike (US Route 11) in the scenic Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Conducted historic research and prepared a site development plan and cost estimates. In 1999-2000, the project was awarded $360,000 by the Virginia Department of Transportation; it is the cornerstone of this historic town's revitalization and tourism promotion efforts.
Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District Commission, Shenandoah Valley, Virginia:
Phoebe Kilby was a member of this federal commission charged with developing preservation and management strategies for 10 Civil War battlefields in the Shenandoah Valley. She was Chair of the Property Management and Land Acquisition Committee and the Commission's representative to the Alliance of National Heritage Areas. She was highly involved in the preparation of the District's Management Plan, which was signed by Secretary of the Interior, Bruce Babbitt, in October, 2000.
Virginia Civil War Trails, Shenandoah Valley, Virginia:


Ms. Kilby has served as team leader for the Shenandoah Valley portion of Virginia Civil War Trails, a series of driving tours connecting major battlefields and historic sites of the Civil War. She coordinated preparation of the ISTEA grant application for valley sites and worked with 8 jurisdictions to plan for and install interpretive and directional signs and to publish promotional brochures. Sympoetica prepared the interpretive site plan for the Battle of Tom's Brook pull-off along the trail.

Also of note:

  • Flint Hill Property Cultural Landscape Report, Fishers Hill Battlefield, Shenandoah County, Virginia