9:58 am County’s two state parks may get funding boost from state
Efforts to revitalize the historic Sabine Hill House and refurbish the campground at Roan Mountain State Park received a boost Wednesday with the announcement of funding proposals by Governor Bill Haslam.
Photo by Danny Davis - The Sabine Hill House, photographed on Thursday afternoon, has been included in Governor Bill Haslam’s 2012-2013 budget proposal. In the budget, the property is to receive $1.1 million, which would be used by the Tennessee Historical Commission to restore the home and open it to the public. The budget also includes $1.26 million for upgrades of the campground at Roan Mountain State Park.
Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park Superintendent Jennifer Bauer said she was “very excited” when she heard the news that $1.1 million has been proposed by Haslam for Sabine Hill. The home, located in the west end of Elizabethton, was purchased by the state of Tennessee in 2007, but funding to restore the home has not been available.
If approved by the state legislature for the 2012- 2013 budget year, Sabine Hill will be completely restored and opened to the public. Patrick McIntyre, executive director of the Tennessee Historical Commission, said local residents may begin to see work on the home by the start of 2013.
Bauer said the THC will be in charge of restoration efforts. “We have submitted proposals every year for Sabine Hill,” McIntyre said.
Back in 2007, the historic home near the intersection of W. G Street and W. Elk Avenue was slated for demolition, when a developer had planned to build a condominium complex on the property. Several local residents and Taylor descendents were outraged by the plans. Two citizens, Historic Commission Chairperson Helen Wilson and former Elizabethton mayor Sam LaPorte, decided to purchase the property. The purchase was made to stop demolition crews from tearing down the house. The state later purchased the home with the goal to develop the site into an historic park.
Since 2007, however, the economic downturn has made it difficult for the state to fund the project.
Now five years later, the governor has finally put Sabine Hill into the budget.
The funding will be used to pay for archeological research, complete restoration of the home’s exterior and interior and construction of all necessary amenities. McIntyre said there are several “modern intrusions” which will be removed from the structure, including false walls and modern materials. The purpose, McIntyre explained, is to give the home the appearance as if it was 1815.
McIntyre said Sabine Hill is one of the finest examples of federal-style architecture in the state. He added that it has been featured by the Library of Commerce’s Historical American Buildings Survey. The nearly 200-year-old home was built by General Nathaniel Taylor and his wife following the War of 1812, and several Taylor family members have lived here over the years. The Taylor family is one of the most revered families in Carter County and Tennessee, which have included generals, senators and governors. McIntyre said other than its architectural significance, it is important to restore the home to remember the Taylor family.
McIntyre said Sabine Hill will be a “nice” addition to the historical, cultural and tourism industry in not only Elizabethton and Carter County, but also the state. The operation of Sabine Hill will be similar to the Carter Mansion on Broad Street Extension. Both will be managed by Sycamore Shoals Park.
The county’s other state park, Roan Mountain, is also proposed to receive additional funding under the governor’s budget. Approximately $1.26 million has been budgeted for the park. The money is expected to be used to improve the campground.
“It’s just too early in the entire process to give specifics but typical campground upgrades would include improvements to the roads, electric service, water lines, as well as enlarging the sites,” Tennessee State Parks Deputy Commissioner Brock Hill said Thursday. “Items to also consider would be the provision of new campsite amenities such as grills, tables, lantern poles, and etc., etc. Campground bathhouses could also be renovated as a part of this project as needed.”
Hill, who was on the road Thursday, said, “Tennessee State Parks currently has a capital maintenance backlog, which has been growing steadily for many years. This funding will have a positive impact on many dated facilities. We are thankful to Governor Haslam for his understanding of the needs of the Tennessee State Parks System and its importance to Tennesseans.”
The Tennessee Historical Commission director said that in addition to funding for Sabine Hill and Roan Mountain, $300,000 has been proposed for the Rocky Mount Historic Site in Piney Flats. The funding will be used to build a new roof, which McIntyre said has been needed for many years.
“The governor’s budget provides funding that will greatly improve historic sites in the region,” McIntyre said.
McIntyre said only one more THC property has been funded under the governor’s budget. Hawthorne Hill in Sumner County may be awarded $900,000 for restoration.
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