Advertisement

Danville gives $5,000 to help disassemble log house

January 29, 2008|TODD KLEFFMAN

After months of taking a wait-and-see approach, Danville City Commission on Monday finally joined efforts to preserve an historic log house discovered on Third Street last year.

In a 4-1 vote, commissioners agreed to contribute $5,000 toward moving the home, believed to date back to Danville's settlement by John Crow in the late 18th Century, safely into storage so it can be reassembled for public display at a later date.

"I really think the city ought to contribute to this," Mayor Hugh Coomer said.

Before the city's donation, about $22,000 had been raised and another $3,300 was needed to disassemble the cabin, test for its date and remove it to climate-controlled storage.

Mike Perros has donated $10,000, Boyle Fiscal Court $7,000, Boyle Historical Trust $2,500, and citizen donations, $2,200.

"How many communities can go back and isolate the founding father's homeplace?" Perros asked the commission. Boyle Judge-Executive Tony Wilder said the city and county have always "partnered on things like this."

Advertisement

Citizen Gordon Howell didn't think the gift was a good move, given that the city is fighting over the cost of a new police/administration building and has cut back on donations to other agencies.

"How many historic buildings do we need to be satisfied?" Howell asked.

Commissioner Terry Crowley voted against the contribution. He suggest a foundation be formed, which should return to ask the city for money when it is considering next year's budget, like others seeking funds are required to do.

Crowley said he was concerned that cost estimates to have the cabin reassembled in the future range from $140,000 to $200,000 and there is no plan in place to raise that kind of money.

"There's no guarantee this thing will be seen all the way through," he said.

Central Kentucky News Articles
|
|
|