By Jeff Eason
If you’ve ever visited an old coastal town in South Carolina, or just about any old town in Virginia, you’ve probably noticed historical markers informing tourists and residents alike about the significant buildings, events and people who made each town what it is.
The Blowing Rock Historical Society and the Blowing Rock Arts and History Museum (BRAHM) would like to see some of those historical markers in their town. On Tuesday evening, April 8, the Blowing Rock Town Council endorsed a plan by the two organizations to enact a Marker Program for the village. The tentative plan is for the organizations to have three markers ready to put into place by the town’s 120th birthday, March 11, 2009. If all goes as planned, the two organizations will add approximately three markers a year and might eventually create a walking tour of the historic sites of Blowing Rock.
The Town Council endorsed the program unanimously. “I think it’s a great project,” said town council member Keith Tester.
David Harwood, who represented the Blowing Rock Historical Society and BRAM at the meeting, stated that the two organizations began to discuss the project about six months ago.
“We formed a joint committee for a plaque and marker program for the town and have found quite a number of sites of significance that we would like to point out to citizens and tourists,” said Harwood. “In downtown Blowing Rock, we have identified at least 125 buildings that are at least fifty years in age.”
The proposed marker project would create two sizes of plaques, a smaller one for historical homes and buildings, and a larger one for more significant sites such as the Blowing Rock tourist attraction.
“We would welcome self-nominations and we hope to consider everything that is worthy, significant and eligible,” said Harwood.
In other Blowing Rock Town Council news...
The town council voted unanimously to give a property tax refund of $180.36 to one resident after an adjustment had been made on the value of that person’s property.
The town council also voted unanimously to accept an invitation to hold a formal meeting at the Mariam and Robert Hayes Performing Arts Center on Monday, May 5. The noon meeting was declared a formal meeting of the town council and the motion was passed unanimously.