I can shed a little light on the debate over Disney's America
in Northern Virginia, I hope.  I'm a native Prince William County
(where Disney was planning to go) resident, and my parents are
very active in county affairs - my mother is on the county
Historical Commission and my father is on lots of roads committees.
Obviously I hear both sides of the argument.
 
Disney decided (in October, I think) that their "America" had
generated too much controversy from all sides.  Historians had
banded together to protest Disney's approach to the content, and
local preservationists had banded together to protest the location.
Part of the problem was the location they had chosen. The Haymarket
area (western end of Prince William County) is relatively open and
sparsely populated, which Disney liked.  Their park, however, would
have eliminated the town of Thorofare, a historically black town
with lots of roots.  In addition, Disney and all its "amenities"
would have totally overwhelemed the area.
 
The state and local governments loved the idea of Disney and its
promised jobs, and bent over backward to accommodate them, even
offering to pay for all necessary road improvements (Michael
Eisner could afford them with his own salary).  There is still a
debate in the county about the types of jobs and the money that
Disney would have brought in.  But now the point is moot.
 
As a historian and a resident, I'm pleased with Disney's decision.
Now we have to see where they decide to take their park -- I don't
think they will go away...
 
Sara Phinney Kelley
 
--
Lehigh County Historical Society
PO Box 1548, Allentown, PA 18105
(610) 435-4664
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