New ODNR Marker Honors U.S. Army History at Pleasant Valley Wildlife Area

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(Chillicothe) – The Ohio Department of Natural Resources dedicated a new historical marker at Pleasant Valley Wildlife Area which honors the role Camp Sherman had in training Army soldiers ahead of World War l. Camp Sherman, which was located near Chillicothe, opened in September 1917 and was one of 16 U.S. Army training centers at the time.
 
“Ohio played a key role by training thousands of soldiers during World War l and it’s important we recognize this piece of history,” said ODNR Director Mary Mertz. “I am proud to have the historical marker at Pleasant Valley Wildlife Area, showcasing how the land was used during wartime and the purpose it now has today as a protected piece of land for habitat and wildlife.”

More than 1,000 buildings were constructed to house and train the earliest recruits in 1917. It’s estimated that 120,000 soldiers passed through Camp Sherman by the end of the war in November 1918. Camp Sherman was dismantled in 1921 after being used as a decommissioning center for returning troops.
 

 
Pleasant Valley Wildlife Area is now a place where visitors can recreate and hunt (L) and can learn more about Ohio history thanks to the historical marker (R). 

 
Over the years, the campus has been used for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Hospital and was named a National Historic Park. ODNR Division of Wildlife acquired a portion of the grounds through the Federal Sikes Act in 1960, promising to conserve the area by promoting wildlife and natural habitat.
 
Today, Ohioans can hunt, hike, and bird in a place that was full of pacing troops, speeding vehicles, and booming artillery just over a century ago. Pleasant Valley Wildlife Area is 1,469 acres of mostly open fields and woodlands. The area holds numerous species of mammals such as white-tailed deer, cottontail rabbits, and squirrels. Five bald eagle nests are in close proximity to the area. The area is part of a global conservation story where former military sites throughout the world have become biodiverse hotspots.