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HISTORIC AND HERITAGE PRESERVATION


Historic Preservation Efforts of Bethel Rural Community Organization’s Historic and Heritage Committee


Rural Beauty

Bethel Rural Community Organization (BRCO) has two major programs that deal with preservation: farmland protection and historic preservation. The Preservation Committee has set the pace in the state for its commendable efforts to preserve farm and rural lands in the community and in Haywood County. The Historic and Heritage Committee of BRCO is concerned with preserving the historic and cultural resources of the community. The committee is charged with directing the Cold Mountain Heritage Tour as a means of showcasing historic sites in Bethel Community and Haywood County. In addition, in Legends, Tales & History of Cold Mountain, Books 1-4, author Evelyn Coltman collects stories, history, architectural information, and data about various individuals and locations in the community that are of historical significance. The book focuses on the sites featured in the Cold Mountain Heritage Tour as well as other important pieces of Bethel history. All proceeds from the book sale are donated to Bethel Rural Community Organization. In 2008 the committee was overseer of the oral history project that resulted in a two hour DVD production that records the memories of various individuals in Bethel Community whose recollections provide valuable insight into important people, places, and events from the community’s past. The title of the DVD is: Walking In The Footsteps Of Those Who Came Before Us: A Collection of Bethel History. This chronicle, produced by Doug Chambers Productions, was outlined by Evelyn Coltman and directed by Ted Carr and Malinda Messer of the Historic and Heritage Committee.


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The Historic and Heritage Committee has also been instrumental in directing Bethel Community’s attention to the need to focus on preservation of noteworthy historic structures in the area. Below are a few of the areas of concern addressed by the committee:


Truss Bridge #79

Truss Bridge #79, North Carolina’s oldest bridge still is use and Haywood County’s only existing ornamental bridge, became the focus of the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s efforts to upgrade river passage from Lake Logan Road to Love Joy Community via Chambers Farm Road. BRCO’s Historic and Heritage Committee held several community meetings to discuss the fate of the historic bridge. North Carolina’s Department of Transportation (DOT) narrowed the future of the bridge to three options. An early option involved dismantling the bridge, but NCDOT gave its approval to follow the community’s desires on the project. Bethel Community supported keeping the bridge. Later, DOT decided to locate a new bridge a short distance upstream from the current site and allowing Truss Bridge #79 to remain as a walking bridge. The community is awaiting NCDOT’s schedule regarding the bridge project.


Inman Chapel

The Historic and Heritage Committee has financially assisted various historic sites in the area. Historic Inman Chapel has been undergoing restoration at the hands of Inman family descendents and community helpers in order to bring this important historic site back to its original grandeur. BRCO has been financially supportive of this effort. This building is the first Universalist Church in North Carolina, the first licensed Universalist daycare in the state, and the location of Haywood County’s first public health clinic. Founder and builder, James Anderson Inman, brother to Inman of Cold Mountain fame, was a carpenter, miller, cooper, farmer, and minister. The unique message of this congregation as well as the church’s important social history is finally receiving the attention is deserves by being a site on the Cold Mountain Heritage Tour.


Francis Mill

Another structure of considerable important to BRCO’s Historic and Heritage Committee is Francis Grist Mill, owned by Tanna Timbes under the auspices of the Francis Mill Preservation Society. Not only has the 1887 mill been an impressive part of the Cold Mountain Heritage Tour, but the multiple-year-restoration-efforts by volunteers have restored the mill to its original status as a working mill. Each year the mill sponsors Music at the Mill, an event that features old time music while showcasing the mill and its history. BRCO has financially assisted the Mill with this program.

On July 8, 2008, Ted Alexander of Preservation North Carolina visited Bethel Community to investigate the feasibility of networking with the organization to initiate some type of preservation project of historic structures in Bethel Community. Pat Carr, Evelyn Coltman, Emily and George Henson accompanied Mr. Alexander on a day long tour of approximately twenty sites worthy of attention. Mr. Alexander presented a program at BRCO’s meeting detailing the impressive work of Preservation North Carolina. Mr. Alexander concluded that Bethel Community is indeed worthy of consideration for both a thematic rock structure designation as well as a farmhouse/farmland preservation district. The Historic and Heritage Committee will investigate what procedures are involved with seeking historic district designation.

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