Old Village to get new home
Carla Gwaltney Owens Sentinel Writer

Ann Doran/Sentinel photo One of the old homesteads to be moved to new site in Hayesville.

The Nelson Pioneer Village, the loving endeavor of Kathleen and Garnett Nelson and their family for many years, will find a new home as plans are underway to move the village from its current location on the Nelson's property to land next to the Historical Arts Museum located in downtown Hayesville.

According to Director of Community in Schools Theresa Waldroup, moving the village will be a combined effort of many in Clay County who have a desire to see the village preserved for generations of local residents for many years to come. Waldroup said that with the help of grant money, county funding and many volunteers the village which includes 17 historic buildings and replicas will be relocated and renovated over approximately three years.

Waldroup recently presented the entire relocation plan to the Clay County Commission, asking for $7,000 in site-preparation funding to be included in their next fiscal year budget. Waldroup said that two grants have been applied for and will hopefully provide a major portion of the funding for the project, however, local funds are necessary to help get the ball

rolling and will act as "seed money."

According to Waldroup's report to the Commission, the purpose of the village is to preserve the history of life in Western North Carolina in the

Nineteenth Century for students and residents of Clay County. The village offers a unique educational experience not only to local residents but to visitors as well. Through the renovation and relocation of the village,

Waldroup said that the valuable education of our past will be preserved.

The Nelson's have spent many years collecting items depicting life in Western North Carolina in the late 1800's and early 1900's. A home on the Nelson's property built in the style of a late 1920's home was the beginning of the Pioneer Village and has grown over the years to include many other buildings, furnishings, tools, and machinery. Waldroup said the Nelson's have been instrumental in the collection of historic items which they have collected or have had given to them by area residents over the years. The continued preservation of these items is the reason Waldroup and others are making the effort to raise funds through grants, donations, and local government funding. Waldroup recently told the Clay County Commission that moving the village closer to town will make it possible for local school children to benefit from the historical village, as well as be an attraction to visitors from neighboring communities and even other states.

What really has Waldroup excited is the prospect of two specific grant, one from Design Corps, a non-profit organization whoprovides design services to communities, and a grant from The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina.

Waldroup said that these grants would provide a "highcaliber" individual with a degree in architectural design to overseethe project. The grants would pay a one-year salary for such an individual to actually reside in Clay County for the entire

first year of the project. Waldroup explained that this individual would not only oversee the design and construction at the new site, but would also help with the first phase of relocation. In addition, the individual would also assist the community in researching other funding options and even possibly help secure future grant funding for the remaining portions of the project. Waldroup said her hope is that these grants will allow for a professional to be hired who will be able to offer such expert advice and oversight of the renovation and relocation of the pioneer village that what is currently a three-year, several phase project would be able to be completed much more quickly and that all the necessary monetary support would be found.

"This is going to happen," Waldroup said of the renovation and relocation of the Pioneer Village. "It is just too important to the community. (The grants) just mean it will happen a lot sooner and it will be a professional job. This would be similar to the County actually hiring a professional engineer to come in and do this for us." Waldroup added that hiring a professional firm to come in and complete the project would cost the county upwards of $300,000, but through community volunteers and the grants, several hundred thousand dollars will be saved.

The first phase of the project, which currently has a price tag of approximately $100,000, includes site preparation, parking lot construction, restroom construction, building renovation, preparation and moving, purchase of additional land, and landscaping. This first phase is planned to begin in 2007, according to Waldroup, and includes moving of the first five structures from the current village. Waldroup told Commissioners that the Pioneer Village will be a working, active replica of an early 1900's community as it will be staffed by volunteers who will demonstrate for visitors how our ancestors actually lived. "The eventual goal will be to have the Village open year-round," Waldroup stated.

Working together to see the project become a reality are several local groups including the Historical Arts Council, Community in Schools, Clay County Schools, CCCRA, Clay County Cooperative Extension Service and the Nelson family. Debbie Jackson, who is serving as Chair of the Nelson Pioneer Village Steering Committee, is also receiving help from local professional including Attorney Larry Ford and Contractor Tighe White. Waldroup said that the Nelson family has agreed to donate the buildings at the current location to the county. "Garnet and Kathleen Nelson had such a great love of their heritage," Waldroup commented. And what began as a love of their community and heritage and simply collecting things throughout the years and adding them to their little village has become an educational opportunity for thousands to enjoy.

Waldroup, the Pioneer Village Committee and the CCCRA are asking local individuals who might have items of historical value to consider donating them to the Pioneer Village by contacting Jackson at 361-7193. The CCRA will be raising funds to help with the cost of the project. Anyone interested in making a monetary donation to the project may do so by sending it to

CCCRA, PO Box 841, Hayesville, NC, 28904. Individuals interested in volunteering their time to help with the project are also asked to contact Jackson. "I would like to thank the Nelson family for their generosity, dedication, time and love," Waldroup commented. "Thank you very much for the families continued support of the project and for the years you spent keeping the village up and going for our community."

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