HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93010_1236PRESENTATION FROM BETH CARTER ON BEHALF OF THE FORT
DOBBS ALLIANCE: Ms. Carter, President of the nonprofit 501(c)(3) Fort Dobbs
Alliance, introduced Kay Williams, the North Carolina Director for Historic Sites, Dr.
Jerry Cashion, the Chairperson for the North Carolina Historic Commission, and Lewis
Alexander, another member of the Alliance. Carter briefed the board on the role that
Fort Dobbs played in colonial history.
Ms. Williams read the following resolution and requested its adoption
RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT
FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT OF FORT DOBBS AS A LIVING HISTORY ATTRACTION
IN
IREDELL COUNTY
t
WHEREAS, Fort Dobbs was built in 1756 to protect colonial North Carolina's
backcountry in the French and Indian War (1754-1763); and
WHEREAS, Fort Dobbs was a "good and substantial building" by December 1756 and
withstood a Cherokee attack in 1760 making it an ideal location to interpret native American as
well as European and African American frontier history; and
WHEREAS, early efforts by Mary Colvert Talley and the Daughters of the American
Revolution in 1909 led to preservation of almost ten acres, including the fort site; and
WHEREAS, Fort Dobbs opened as a State Historic Site in 1976 and provided valuable
history to the public until October 2003; and
WHEREAS, tourism in 2001 was the nation's third largest retail industry, providing
more than 7 million jobs and supporting another 9.2 million jobs, and the number of visitors to
North Carolina in 2003 was 44.4 million (sixth in person -trip volume by state); and
WHEREAS, Iredell County is at the crossroads of Interstates 40 and 77, not far from
major urban centers, and Fort Dobbs gives Iredell County an exceptional opportunity to become
a heritage destination; and
WHEREAS, Fort Dobbs holds a unique place in local, state and national history and, if
developed, would be the only reconstructed French and Indian War military outpost in the
Carolinas, among a handful in the entire nation; and
WHEREAS, in 2003, state budget cuts resulted in the temporary closing of Fort Dobbs
and placed it in a developmental phase working towards reconstruction of the fort; and
WHEREAS, the Division of State Historic Sites plans to develop Fort Dobbs as a
living history attraction in partnership with the nonprofit Fort Dobbs Alliance; and
WHEREAS, some of the most highly successful and innovative historic attractions in
our state and nation rely on imaginative public-private partnerships; and
WHEREAS, the Iredell County Commissioners understand that plans for Fort Dobbs
include ongoing research, planning, and fundraising for future interactive programming, special
events, reconstruction of the fort, and a visitor center with museum exhibits; and
WHEREAS, the Iredell County Commissioners comprehend that this bold venture will
require Iredell County citizens and other North Carolinians to support the Fort Dobbs Alliance
and the Division of State Historic Sites; and
WHEREAS, North Carolina has a proud military heritage, which can provide vital
reassurance in uncertain times.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Iredell County Board of
Commissioners in Statesville, North Carolina, unanimously endorses the development of the
Fort Dobbs State Historic Site as a living history attraction and recommends the project to all
citizens of Iredell County and the state, and that a copy of this resolution be spread upon the
minutes of the board of county commissioners.
(end of resolution)