National Register Record for FIRST SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICT DEDICATION SITE

Historic Name: FIRST SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICT DEDICATION SITE
Current Name: CLAUDE BESS FARM
Address: 2 MILES WEST AND 1 1/2 MILES NORTH OF CITY
City: EUFAULA VICINITY            County: MCINTOSH
Section: S 1/2 OF NW 1/4 OF SE 1/4 AND NORTH 1/2 OF SW 1/4 OF SE 1/4 OF SECTION 28           Township: 10N           Range: 16E          
Description of significance: THIS SITE INCLUDES THE GROUNDS AND DEMONSTRATION SITE FOR THE FIRST SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICT IN THE UNITED STATES, THE MCINTOSH COUNTY SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICT. THIS 40 ACRE SITE MARKED THE BEGINNING OF THE PRACTICE OF EXTENSIVE SOIL CONSERVATION ON PRIVATELY OWNED FARMS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. IT REPRESENTED THE FIRST CONCENTRATED EFFORT IN THIS COUNTRY TO CONSERVE SOIL AND WATER, IN AN ATTEMPT TO REGAIN PRODUCTIVITY AND USE OF SOME OF THE MOST ACUTELY ERODED LAND IN THE STATE. LISTED IN NATIONAL REGISTER 9/20/1982.

Type: SITE
Historic Function: AGRICULTURE/SUBSISTENCE
Current Function: AGRICULTURE/SUBSISTENCE
Area of Significance 1: AGRICULTURE
Area of Significance 2: CONSERVATION
Architectural Style: None
Architect: UNKNOWN
Year Built: 1938            Original Site: YES
Condition: EXCELLENT
Restricted: N
Documentation Source: None
Date Prepared: AUGUST 1980