YanceyVillage
Preservation
Mission / Vision Statements & History
YanceyVillage Preservation Mission Statement: To preserve, protect, and promote rural Caswell County’s rich history through such projects as the restoration of historically significant structures and the creation of a heritage tobacco farm & museum. To support and promote art in Caswell County through education and such projects as the creation of an art guild and establishment of an enclave to provide artists with a place to create and display their work and to teach classes.
Vision Statement: YanceyVillage Preservation will be a dynamic resource in Caswell County, one that encompasses historical preservation and promotion of the arts through building restoration, education, and by providing an environment for the exciting exchange of ideas which will enrich the quality of life in Caswell County.
YanceyVillage Preservation
History
Caswell County is located in the northern Piedmont region of North Carolina. In November 2003, a reconnaissance team comprised of representatives from various divisions of the NC Department of Commerce interviewed leaders from local government, business, industry, education and other community stakeholders in order to gather information outlining the needs of the community. Following the situational analysis, the 21st Century Committee partnered with the county to develop a plan to ensure economic and educational growth in Caswell County in the 21st century. After determining that Caswell County has the “potential to become an attractive location for tourism” and that “the county is ideally situated geographical to the Research Triangle Park and Piedmont Triad,” the committee listed several critical areas limiting Caswell’s growth and development. Some of these needs included: 1) need to promote the agricultural potential while preserving the agricultural heritage of the county; 2) need to increase funding for education programs; 3) need to encourage the formation of a non-profit corporation for the promotion of new ventures.
Some of the suggested solutions involved: 1) development of a coordinated tourism theme and strategy; 2) restoration of historic features in the county; 3) establishment of parks; 4) development of historic home and architectural tours; 5) founding of an arts and crafts guild; 6) recruitment of a country restaurant; 7) establishment of an agricultural museum focusing on the agricultural heritage of Caswell County; 8) development of youth leadership programs; 9) providing educational opportunities for children and adults.
The idea for Yancey Village Preservation began with a house—The Bartlett Yancey House—built circa 1807 and purchased by Yancey House Property LLC, of which Dr. Willis is a minor shareholder. The BY House was transformed in 2005 into the Yancey House Restaurant.
The Bartlett Yancey House is the most historically significant structure in Caswell County for several reasons. First, it was the home of lawyer, educational reformer, and Congressman Bartlett Yancey, Jr. Second it is a lovely example of Federalist, Greek Revival, and Victorian architecture, and third, the woodwork in the 1856 section of the house was crafted by Thomas Day, a free black cabinet maker from Milton. The rich history of this site and the surrounding buildings (the largest tobacco barn in NC and Bartlett Yancey’s law office) led to a desire on the part of Dr. Willis and concerned Caswell citizens to preserve the site.
Upon reading the report compiled by the Caswell County 21st Century Communities Project: Economic Development Strategic Plan (January 2005), Dr. Willis, former academician & chef at the restaurant, decided to establish YanceyVillage Preservation, a non-profit organization that would address some of these needs. The dual focus of the organization would be on historic restoration and the development of cultural and educational opportunities. Dr. Willis and other directors of YVP formulated the following mission statement: “To preserve, protect, and promote rural Caswell County’s rich history through such projects as the restoration of historically significant structures and the creation of a heritage tobacco farm & museum. To support and promote art in Caswell County through educational andcultural program, as well as art fairs.
The group foresees YanceyVillage Preservation as becoming a dynamic resource in Caswell County, one that will encompass historical preservation and promotion of the arts through building restoration, education, and by providing an environment for the exciting exchange of ideas which will enrich the quality of life in Caswell County.
The most ambitious project
for YVP will be the creation of a heritage tobacco farm and museum. Tobacco:
no other single tangible element better defines Caswell County than tobacco.
In North Carolina, which often is called the "Tobacco State," Caswell
County was the home of Bright Leaf Tobacco. It was in Caswell County that
Abisha Slade's slave Stephen in 1839 unwittingly cured the first barn of Bright
Leaf tobacco upon which the fortunes of the Dukes and the Reynolds were made.
The tobacco barn located on YanceyVillage, once the property of Congressman
and educational reformer Bartlett Yancey, is considered to be the largest
pack barn in North Carolina. Yancey House Property LLC will offer a 30-50
year lease on the barn and Bartlett Yancey’s law office to YanceyVillage
Preservation for $1 per year for the preservation of these historically significant
structures. The 200 year old 6-room tobacco barn, for example, was constructed
entirely of oak and tells the story of the role tobacco played in the county’s
rich history. The heritage farm and educational museum will increase an awareness
and understanding of Caswell County’s agricultural history.
Another non-profit organization that has agreed work with YVP to make this
dream a reality is the Caswell County Historical Society which has already
completed some of the leg-work for this project. We also plan to work with
the NC Department of Commerce and NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer
Services. YVP and other organizations will also provide volunteers to staff
the museum as well as to plant and maintain heirloom tobacco around the barn,
offering opportunities for research development and seed preservation.
The heritage tobacco farm and museum will showcase the work of area community
craftsmen. Heritage crafts to be promoted include woodwork and blacksmithing,
quilting, basket weaving, and broom making, as well as heirloom gardening
and seed preservation. In addition to showcasing heritage crafts, classes
will be offered train future generations of craftsmen and thus preserve the
craft.
YVP believes that the creation of the arts and crafts guild will serve a number
of purposes. First, it will provide support for individuals who showcase their
work on the heritage farm. Its primary mission, however, will be to promote
community awareness, understanding, and appreciation of the visual arts and
to maintain a support network for artists and craftsmen in Caswell County
and the surrounding areas. The guild will be committed to the preservation
and enhancement of arts and culture in the community, as well as to providing
educational, mentoring, and marketing opportunities. YanceyVillage LLC has
agreed to offer the pavilion (which seats 250) rent free to YVP for art fairs,
as well as classes and workshop in art, crafts, music, and theatre.
Caswell County is an area rich in history. The County seat Yanceyville is
home to a magnificent ante-bellum courthouse built around 1861. In addition
both Milton and Yanceyville boast National Register historic districts. Its
small town, rural atmosphere, beautiful surroundings, and clean environment
have been recognized by the 21st century committee as Caswell County’s
greatest assets. However, the committee also noted that there is a lack of
countywide, unified vision and a surplus of undereducated workforce. It is
the vision and hope of the Board of Directors for YanceyVillage Preservation
that this non-profit organization becomes that unifying force in our County
which will bring to reality the suggestions offered by the 21st century committee.
Submitted by Lucindy Willis, Ph.D., Chair
September 2006