NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1981 SESSION

 

 

CHAPTER 1010

HOUSE BILL 204

 

 

AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL RESOURCES FOR THE ACQUISITION, DEVELOPMENT, AND OPERATION OF A VISITOR CENTER FOR HISTORIC EDENTON, INC., AND THE JAMES IREDELL HOUSE STATE HISTORIC SITE.

 

Whereas, the public presentation of North Carolina's heritage provides an immeasurable contribution to all citizens of this State; and

Whereas, the historic town of Edenton both preserves and interprets North Carolina's colonial and nineteenth-century heritage for thousands of North Carolinians and other visitors yearly; and

Whereas, both cultural and economic benefits accrue to the State's citizens as a result of the public operation of Historic Edenton and the James Iredell House State Historic Site; and

Whereas, many State citizens directly contribute of their time, money, and interest in order to provide a public visitor program in Historic Edenton; and

Whereas, in excess of one and one-quarter million dollars ($1,250,000) has been spent in the preservation, development, and operation of Historic Edenton and the James Iredell House State Historic Site; and

Whereas, Historic Edenton, Inc., (a nonprofit group) and the Department of Cultural Resources have joined together in a cooperative management program for the better provision of services to Historic Edenton visitors, including those who visit the Cupola House, the original Chowan County Courthouse, St. Paul's Church, the Barker House, and other historic structures and features; and

Whereas, current facilities and operational support at and for Historic Edenton are inadequate to the needs of a broad-based visitor program which encourages tourism, provides direct educational benefits to the State's school- age population and supports the practical and economically beneficial reuse of historic structures; and

Whereas, the citizens of Edenton, Chowan County, and other parts of the State have demonstrated their concern for this situation by obtaining, through Historic Edenton, Inc., an option on the majority interest in the house and other property of the late Fannie Ziegler; and

Whereas, the Ziegler House and property are contiguous to the parking area of the James Iredell House State Historic Site; and

Whereas, the destruction of the Ziegler House would result in the irretrievable loss of an important historic landmark and the diminishment of the historic environment both the James Iredell House and Historic Edenton; and

Whereas, the Ziegler House fronts on Edenton's main thoroughfare and, therefore, is readily accessible to visitors; and

Whereas, the Ziegler House can be rehabilitated, at low cost, to serve both now and in the foreseeable future as a Visitor Center and operational headquarters for both Historic Edenton, Inc., and the James Iredell House State Historic Site; and

Whereas, an appropriation is needed in order to purchase the Ziegler property option, rehabilitate the Ziegler House and grounds, and provide adequate public services at the new facility; Now, therefore,

 

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

 

Section 1. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Division of Archives and History, Department of Cultural Resources, for the 1981-1982 fiscal year, the sum of sixty thousand dollars ($60,000) for the purpose of acquiring and rehabilitating the Ziegler House and property and the provision of visitor services at the James Iredell House/Historic Edenton, Inc., Visitor Center.

Sec. 3. Funds appropriated in this act shall be expended only in accordance with G.S. 121-11 and G.S. 143-31.2.

Sec. 4. This act is effective upon ratification.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 9th day of October, 1981.