Officials celebrate transfer of Constitution Square

Several dozen people filled a room Wednesday at Grayson's Tavern to celebrate the state's official announcement that Constitution Square State Historic Site will be turned over to Boyle County.The announcement comes after months of talks between county and state officials about the details of the arrangement for one of the state’s smallest historic sites.On Wednesday, Boyle Judge-Executive Harold McKinney signed the deed and easements for the property, completing the county's obligations, but the deal won't become official yet.Matt Sawyers, deputy secretary of the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, said officials are awaiting the approval of the secretary of the Finance Cabinet, something that should happen relatively soon. A press release from the Tourism Cabinet distributed Wednesday said the transfer is expected to be completed in January.Sawyers said the cabinet has completed a similar transfer of Ben Hawes State Park to the city of Owensboro, but the situation with Constitution Square is unique because of the historic nature of the site. He said the transfer makes perfect sense."This is a central part of the community here, and it can be better utilized as a county asset," Sawyers said.The county is not paying anything for the property but will be required to do some maintenance on the buildings and grounds and keep the park open to the public. Historical preservation standards must be adhered to as part of the agreement with the state.McKinney, who started working on the project with state officials in early 2011, said a cash flow analysis was done early on, and costs for upkeep at the park versus what it will mean economically make it a wash.  "We may spend a little money to start with, but this is a wonderful investment in our history and our future," McKinney said.Plans are still in place for organizations that make up the Danville-Boyle County Economic Development Partnership to occupy a number of the buildings on the property. Representatives from the office of U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler, who was scheduled to appear but was still in Washington, D.C., were also on hand to talk about the $500,000 federal Housing and Urban Development grant that will go toward renovating the buildings for reuse.EDP President and Chief Executive Officer Jody Lassiter talked Wednesday about Grayson's Tavern, now the office for the Convention and Visitors Bureau, as the backdrop for those who hammered out Kentucky's statehood. Lassiter said the EDP is ready to proceed with moving the partner organizations, and they can begin accessing the grant money immediately.Current plans are for the Boyle County Industrial Foundation and Chamber of Commerce to occupy buildings on Fisher’s Row in Constitution Square. The Heart of Danville and a gift shop will go into the Goldsmith House.The building known as the School House will be used as a conference center, while The Watts-Bell House could be used for several things, including a space for start-up businesses. The Convention and Visitors Bureau and visitor's center will remain in Grayson’s Tavern. The buildings and the park also will be made a wireless Internet hot spot.Constitution Square was built on three acres of land donated by Emma Weisiger in memory of her brother, John G. Weisiger, to honor the signing of the state’s constitution in Danville in 1792. Work started in 1937 and was completed in 1955. The park has several replicas of early buildings, including the jail, as well as the original log post office.