Clay County has been chosen as the subject of a comprehensive survey of historic buildings and landscapes. The architectural survey will intensively document historic buildings and landscapes from the 19th century through the 1970s, including those in Hayesville and rural areas. Data gathered during the survey will assist Clay County in planning for the preservation of its historic resources for years to come.
Dr. Michael Ann Williams and Audrey Thomas, architectural survey specialists with the State Historic Preservation Office (HPO), will complete the project. Fieldwork will be conducted through May 2024. Survey of the town of Hayesville is anticipated to occur during the summer of 2024. The project will conclude in the fall 2024.
Architectural survey entails documentation of buildings and landscapes that are at least fifty years old. Fieldworkers take photographs, draw site plans, and collect oral history from people they meet on site. They conduct a limited amount of archival research to establish countywide patterns of historical development. Dr. Williams and Ms. Thomas will also identify properties that appear to be potentially eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, either individually or as historic districts. National Register properties are potentially eligible for state and federal tax credits for certified historic rehabilitation. The Clay County Comprehensive Architectural Survey will culminate in a final report that analyzes the history of the county through the lens of its historic architecture.
At the conclusion of the survey, the HPO will retain all materials from the survey as part of the statewide architectural record. Public access to the information will be available through HPOWEB, the HPO’s geographic information system, which is accessible online at http://gis.ncdcr.gov/hpoweb/. The survey material will facilitate the environmental review necessary for state and federal undertakings and will aid in planning for future economic and community development projects. Survey products also will be useful for the continued development of heritage tourism programs in Clay County.
For more information on the Clay County Comprehensive Architectural Survey, contact Elizabeth C. King, Architectural Survey Coordinator for the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office, at elizabeth.king@dncr.nc.gov or 828-250-3108, or Michael Ann Williams at michaelann.williams@dncr.nc.gov or Audrey Thomas at audrey.thomas@dncr.nc.gov or 828-296-7230.
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.
The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit https://www.dncr.nc.gov.