Joseph Greer House - UPDATE (Aug 2024)
General
On May 30, 2023, the Elk Valley Times announced the securing of $500,000 in state funding for the Camp Blount Historic Site, including the reconstruction of the Joseph Greer House. Now, a year later, no funding has yet been spent for the reconstruction efforts of the Joseph Greer House or the access road to the site. I can attest to the dedication and persistence of our organization. We received permission from the landowner to recover the remains of the Joseph Greer House in 2016. Since then, we have tirelessly worked to raise funds and acquire materials necessary for the house's reconstruction at Camp Blount. The site for the Joseph Greer House was established early on, and archaeological assessments by the Tennessee State Historical Commission were completed in December 2019. Modern architectural drawings for the house were also submitted to the state.
Our small organization has managed to raise a significant amount of funding, which has been spent on materials to lay concrete footers and build the initial concrete piers for the main "mud sill" logs. Additionally, members have made personal sacrifices to obtain authentic hinges, cut nails, create detailed drawings, and collect old timbers and stone. Our spirits were lifted upon learning about the state grant to aid in completing the Joseph Greer House.
On May 30, 2023, the Elk Valley Times announced the securing of $500,000 in state funding for the Camp Blount Historic Site, including the reconstruction of the Joseph Greer House. Now, a year later, no funding has yet been spent for the reconstruction efforts of the Joseph Greer House or the access road to the site. I can attest to the dedication and persistence of our organization. We received permission from the landowner to recover the remains of the Joseph Greer House in 2016. Since then, we have tirelessly worked to raise funds and acquire materials necessary for the house's reconstruction at Camp Blount. The site for the Joseph Greer House was established early on, and archaeological assessments by the Tennessee State Historical Commission were completed in December 2019. Modern architectural drawings for the house were also submitted to the state.
Our small organization has managed to raise a significant amount of funding, which has been spent on materials to lay concrete footers and build the initial concrete piers for the main "mud sill" logs. Additionally, members have made personal sacrifices to obtain authentic hinges, cut nails, create detailed drawings, and collect old timbers and stone. Our spirits were lifted upon learning about the state grant to aid in completing the Joseph Greer House.
However, in the past year, progress has been hindered by bureaucratic requirements identification of contractors who are capable of doing the work properly and coordination of official contracts.
Communication and understanding of a new Camp Blount elected officers as well as the financial personnel in the Fayetteville City government have caused some delays and stalled the progress on the Joseph Greer House. The primary logs and stone on site at Camp Blount, and other materials, are stored in protected structures to prevent weather deterioration. Numerous volunteer hours have been invested in recovering, accumulating materials, and managing logistics for storage and transport. The recovered logs have withstood the test of time since 1804, waiting over 220 years for this moment. It is time to honor our heritage and see this project through to fruition.
The contract bid for the "wood" structure has been accepted and quite possibly will begin in September 2024.
Foundation Document
Primarily effecting the overall management of Camp Blount, in June of last year, Camp Blount received a $16.5K grant to complete a "Foundation Document." Recently, I learned that the state requested an extension for the document's completion to next year in 2025.
No Live Fireplaces? All is OK now.
We were told that the two stone chimneys which are at each end of the dogtrot house cannot be working chimneys. My understanding is they do not want any working flues in the chimneys and no fire can be built in the fireplaces. Yes, that is correct, they "did" not want this interpretive project used in an authentic way and will turn it into a static display. We know the structure is not 1804 complete, we have recovered other old materials from other structures to match the character and color of the original house. We have raised money to buy materials for areas of importance, such as tongue and groove oak plank for floors, poplar sheeting for the roof, floor puncheons, roof rafters, to name a few items in the long list. Our striving for authenticity goes all the way down to door hinges, door locks and cut nails.
Our striving for authenticity has been a driving force in obtaining and augmenting timber and stones for this very historically relevant project. The original Joseph Greer house logs were recovered and moved to Camp Blount in 2018, set on blocks and covered. Since before 2018 Mr. Bill Wendt (Chapter Past president) has at his own expense collected cut nails, door and shutter hinges. He even had found and purchased a period correct door lock/lever mechanism. Since we needed two for each "pen" of the house, and no more were available in antique venues, he had a second mechanism copied and fabricated using the original as pattern.
I think the TWC was confused in the determination of “New” and “Historical” Construction in the application of fire codes. I am now told that real working fireplaces are now OK.
The same contractor for the wooden structure contacts was also recently awarded the masonry contract for the remaining stone piers and chimneys.
All proceeds from the sale of the "House of the Messenger" support the Joseph Greer Chapter and the Tennessee Society, Sons of the American Revolution. The funds will be allocated to historical and educational programs dedicated to the founding principles of the republic and the Constitution of the United States.
Comments