NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1971 SESSION

 

 

CHAPTER 1033

HOUSE BILL 672

 

 

AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO ASSIST IN THE RESTORATION OF THE OLD WILKES COUNTY JAIL IN WILKESBORO.

 

Whereas, the Old Wilkes County Jail was completed in 1859 and has long been associated with the history of Western North Carolina, having been used by the Confederacy during a portion of the Civil War and later by the State as the place of incarceration of the famous Tom Dula; and

Whereas, the building is one of the best remaining examples of nineteenth century penal architecture in North Carolina, retaining its primitive security and sanitary devices; and

Whereas, the building, no longer in active use, is in a deteriorated condition and needs to be restored for adaptive purposes; and

Whereas, Old Wilkes, Incorporated, has been formed for the purpose of restoring and dedicating the structure to public use as a reception center, museum, and library; and

Whereas, Old Wilkes, Incorporated, has pledged to raise matching funds for said restoration and to maintain and operate the restored building without acceptance of further State funds; Now, therefore,

 

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

 

Section 1.  There is hereby appropriated from the general fund to the State Department of Archives and History for the 1971-73 biennium, subject to provisions of G.S. 121-8.2 and 143-31.2, the sum of $20,000 for the purpose of assisting in the restoration of the Old Wilkes County Jail, subject to the raising of a like amount by Old Wilkes, Incorporated.

Sec. 2.  This act shall be effective on and after July 1, 1971.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 21st day of July, 1971.