DALTON, Ga. — Jaidan Hight and fellow members of Boy Scout Troop 67 in Varnell were among those who helped pick up trash, trim tree limbs and perform other duties at the Prater’s Mill Heritage Park on Saturday as part of Park Day, a nationwide effort.

Hight, a sixth-grader at North Whitfield Middle School, said it’s important to keep the community clean. 

“A bunch of people litter and I want to pick up trash that might hurt the environment,” he said. 

About 30 volunteers participated in Park Day at Prater’s Mill, which was organized by Mike Manly. He said he appreciates the volunteers who spent their morning helping out.

Jeff Gowan, assistant scoutmaster for Troop 67, said the scouts are always participating in volunteer projects in the community.

“We’re definitely involved with Prater’s Mill,” he said. “We come out here during the year to camp and have activities.”

The Prater’s Mill site is on the banks of Coahulla Creek in northwest Whitfield County. The site includes a working grist mill built in 1855, an 1898 general store, the 1915 Shugart cotton gin, the 1935 Westbrook barn, an office dating to 1890 of Dr. John Lacewell, a 1974 train caboose and other structures. An annual country fair is held there in the fall (Oct. 14-15 this year). The site, which also hosts events such as weddings and family reunions, is operated by the Prater’s Mill Foundation.

Gowan said the scouts’ biggest project is helping with parking during the annual country fair. The scouts also use the park for their cooking competition and archery practice. 

“We’re tied in with Prater’s Mill quite a bit,” he said.

Manly said Park Day is a joint effort between Prater’s Mill and the Civil War Trust, a nonprofit organization devoted to the preservation of America’s battlegrounds. 

“During the Civil War, both Union troops and Confederates camped here (at Prater’s Mill), depending on who held the land at the time,” he said.

Prater’s Mill board member Debby Peppers said the goal of Park Day is to make sure people are comfortable when visiting.  

“It’s important to keep up repairs and maintain,” she said. “If you don’t maintain it will fall apart.”

Peppers spent the morning spring cleaning inside and around the general store. 

“It’s in pretty good shape already,” she said. “I’m just knocking down spider webs, dusting and sweeping.” 

Peppers said she appreciates the community’s support.

“We’re trying to make Prater’s more available for events and try to get people out here to see what we have,” she said. 

Prater’s Mill was one of more than 130 sites in 30 states that were part of Park Day. The Confederate Cemetery at West Hill Cemetery in Dalton was also on the cleanup list.

Local Civil War historian Marvin Sowder said for the past 15 to 20 years he’s been volunteering on Park Day. He said he loves walking around the Confederate Cemetery and seeing how good it looks.

“Everyone here are volunteers,” he said. “They are here because they want to be.”

The group of about 12 trimmed tree branches, raked leaves and straightened gravestones. 

“We just want to beautify the cemetery and get it presentable for the Confederate Memorial Day service on April 22,” Sowder said. 

Volunteer Sheila Clark said it’s important to preserve the cemetery. 

“We must keep this (the cleanup effort) going and teach our children to do the same,” she said. 

Clark said people don’t realize how much history the cemetery has.

“Not all of these graves are unknown, some have names, dates and state of residence,” she said. “Their families come several times a year asking to help find a grave, so this is not just history, it’s genealogy.”

Clark said all national parks and cemeteries are important.

“Any of them are like a living link to our families’, nation’s and community’s past. That’s why we’re out here today, making sure everything is kept up,” she said.