NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1981 SESSION

 

 

CHAPTER 1108

HOUSE BILL 982

 

 

AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR THE PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION OF THE RICHMOND HILL LAW SCHOOL IN YADKIN COUNTY.

 

Whereas, Richmond Mumford Pearson was one of the great legal minds produced in North Carolina, occupying such positions as Superior Court Judge from 1837 to 1848, Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court from 1848 to 1858, and as Chief Justice from 1858 to 1878; and

Whereas, Judge Pearson established in 1847-48 a law school at his home above the Yadkin River, called Richmond Hill; and

Whereas, from 1848 to 1876 Justice Pearson conducted at Richmond Hill one of the State's best known private law schools of the day, educating there three Governors, six Supreme Court Justices, more than a dozen Superior Court Judges, three Congressmen of the United States, one Confederate Congressman, numerous State Legislators, and various Ambassadors, Cabinet Officers, and other luminaries; and

Whereas, Judge Pearson's ca. 1860 home at Richmond Hill has been placed in the charge of the Historic Richmond Hill Law School Commission, which with local, foundation, State and federal funds has stabilized and restored the exterior of this structure and begun restoration of its interior; and

Whereas, federal funds have been used to develop the surrounding 24 acres as an historic nature park maintained by Yadkin County; and

Whereas, the Law School Commission needs additional funds to complete the interior restoration of the house; Now, therefore,

 

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

 

Section 1. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Division of Archives and History, Department of Cultural Resources, for the 1981-82 fiscal year the sum of seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500) for the continuation of the interior restoration of Judge Pearson's home at Richmond Hill, provided a like sum is raised by the Historic Richmond Hill Law School Commission to match the grant-in-aid on a dollar-for-dollar basis. The Commission may apply to the Division, from time to time, for the funds appropriated under this act, as it raises the matching funds. Any appropriated money not used or not matched shall revert to the General Fund.

Sec. 2. Funds appropriated in this act shall be expended in accordance with G.S. 121-11 and G.S. 143-31.2.

Sec. 3. This act shall become effective upon ratification.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 10th day of October, 1981.